The Singapore Armed Forces Signal Formation can trace its beginnings to 1954, when the Singapore Corps of Signals, established as a volunteer organisation within the framework of the Singapore Volunteer Corps, was reformed into the Independent Brigade Signal Squadron of the Singapore Military Force. When Singapore merged with the Federation of Malaya in 1963, the squadron was absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces as the 4th Federal Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron, based at Fort Canning. During the reorganisation of the Malaysian Signals in 1965, the squadron was renamed the 4th Malaysian Signal Squadron. During the initial period following the separation of Singapore from Malaysian in August 1965, the 4th Malaysian Infantry Brigade continued to operate in Singapore, and the Singapore elements within the squadron continued to serve in the brigade until mustered out on 28 February 1966. With separation, there was an urgent need to build up an indigenous signal corps to support the rapid growth of the armed forces of the independent Republic of Singapore, and on 1 March 1966, 1 SAF Signals Corps was formed at Beach Road Camp from the Singaporean signal contingent. The Signal Formation was presented with the State Colours and Regimental Colours on 22 January 1977 by President Benjamin Sheares.
Structure
The Signal formation consists of Headquarters Signals and Command Systems, the Signal Institute, and a number of battalions, both active and reserve. Each brigade of the army has a signal company which forms part of the brigade's headquarters. The army's three combined arms divisions are each served by a respective signal battalion.
Headquarters Signals and Command Systems (HQ SIG)
In June 1966, the Communications and Electronics Department was set up within the same year of the formation of 1 SAF Signal Corps as part of the General Staff Division of the Ministry of the Interior and Defence, located at Pearl's Hill. The C&E Department was later upgraded to a specialist staff HQ and renamed HQ C&E in August 1970 to cope with the increasing demand for the provision of essential communications in the SAF. HQ C&E would later be redesignated as HQ Signals on 1 March 1982 and HQ Signals and Command Systems in 2006. In 1988, HQ Signals moved to its present location at Stagmont Camp.
Signal Institute (SI)
The immediate need for institutional signal training for the newly formed Singapore Armed Forces was met with the establishment of the SAFTI Signal Wing on 22 July 1967 at Pasir Laba Camp. As the demand for signal officers and NCOs continued to grow, the Signal Wing was officially recognised as an independent unit in 1968 and renamed the School of Signals. In 1983, the School of Signals and the Reserve Signal Training Centre were relocated to Stagmont camp. On 31 March 2003, the Signal Institute was formed from an amalgamation of the School of Signals, Signal Training Centre and the training branch of HQ Signals to enable an integrated approach towards doctrine, training and evaluation.
1 Signal Battalion (1SIG)
Shortly after its formation in 1966, personnel from 1 SAF Signal Corps were reconstituted as the MID Signal Battalion on 6 February 1967, with Captain Winston Choo as Commanding Officer. Its task was to provide communications to the Ministry Of Interior and Defence. Following the establishment of MINDEF, the battalion was renamed the MINDEF Signal Battalion and later 1 Signal Battalion in October 1982. Its motto is From Each His Best.
6 Signal Battalion (6SIG)
6 Signal Battalion was inaugurated on 1 February 1977 as a reserve Signal Support Battalion to the 6th Singapore Division. In 1985, the battalion was placed under the Reserve Signals Training Centre before returning to the command of the 6th Division on its conversion to a combined arms division in 1991. It currently resides at Mandai Hill camp with HQ 6DIV, and provides the communication support requirements of the entire division. Its motto is Swift and Effective.
9 Signal Battalion (9SIG)
9 Signal Battalion was formed on 9 October 1978 at Slim Barracks to undertake the responsibility of the proficiency training of the 9th Singapore Division's signal reservists. This responsibility was later transferred to the Reserve Signal Training Centre. In 1987, the battalion shifted from Slim Barracks to Selarang Barracks to co-locate with 9th Division headquarters.
