The
Ministry of Defence (
AbbreviationAn abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
:
MINDEF; Chinese: 新加坡国防部 ; ; ) is a
ministryA ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
of the
Government of SingaporeThe Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of
SingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It is the headquarters of the
Singapore Armed ForcesThe Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
. It has a policy of
Total DefenceTotal Defence is the name of Singapore's comprehensive defence strategy, adapted from countries like Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria...
which consists of Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence and Psychological Defence.
History
The Ministry of Defence, together with the
Ministry of Home AffairsThe Ministry of Home Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for public safety, civil defence and immigration. It is also known as the Home Team. It is headed by the Minister for Home Affairs....
was created on 11 August 1970 by splitting up the then-
Ministry of Interior and DefenceThe Ministry of Interior and Defence of Singapore was set up in 1965, with Dr. Goh Keng Swee as the first Minister. The Ministry was responsible for both internal and external security, controlling both the Police Force and the Armed Forces....
.
Mission
The SAF's declared mission statement is to "enhance Singapore's peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor."
Defence policy
The aim of MINDEF's defence policy is to ensure that Singapore enjoys peace and stability, and that Singapore's sovereignty and territorial integrity are protected. Hence, diplomacy and deterrence form the twin pillars of defence. MINDEF develops and maintains good relations with other countries through diplomacy. These diplomatic efforts are wide-ranging and span many fields, not just in defence. At the same time, deterrence is presented by contributing to regional resilience and through the concept of
Total DefenceTotal Defence is the name of Singapore's comprehensive defence strategy, adapted from countries like Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria...
.
Defending Singapore In The 21st Century states that two key thrusts in the coming years will be to:
- Strengthen dialogue, confidence-building and co-operation in the region and beyond.
As Singapore's neighbouring nations continue to evolve, they recognise the value of efforts to promote confidence-building, co-operation and dialogue on issues of common security concern. MINDEF thus develops extensive links with armed forces in the region and beyond. In addition, the SAF can also aim to help promote greater understanding and trust among regional and extra-regional armed forces by leveraging on these links to help strengthen bilateral and multilateral defence co-operation and dialogue, and participating in confidence-building efforts.
- Strengthen Total Defence
Total Defence is the name of Singapore's comprehensive defence strategy, adapted from countries like Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria...
.
In light of a new security environment, Singapore faces a diverse range of new and unconventional threats. To tackle these challenges, all five tenets of Total Defence will thus be strengthened. The SAF will continue to maintain its conventional capabilities to ensure that the military component of Total Defence remains strong. At the same time, it will work more closely with other government agencies to develop an effective defence against new security challenges, especially the non-traditional threats that may arise.
Departments & divisions
- Centre for Strategic Infocomm Technologies
- Defence Management Group
- Applied Behavioural Sciences Department
- Defence Finance Organization
- D'eXecutive Services
- Legal Services
- Manpower Division
- MINDEF Scholarship Centre
- SAF Counselling Centre
- Defence Policy Group
- Defence Policy Office
- Information Department
- Military Security Department (MSD)
- MINDEF Public Affairs (PAFF)
- NEXUS (Central National Education Office)
- Public Communications Dept
- Defence Technology and Resources Office
- Civil Resources Authority
- Special Project Office
- MINDEF Chief Information Officer Office
- MINDEF Tele-Services
- MINDEF/SAF Manpower Centres
- Central Manpower Base (CMPB)
- Manpower Operations and National Servicemen Branch
- MINDEF Human Resource Department
- National Service Affairs Department
- Naval National Servicemen Branch
- SAF Careers Centre
- SAF Formations
- Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
(RSAF)
- Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
(RSN)
- Physical Training and Sports Centre
- Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command
- SAFSA
- Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
- Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
- Foreign Military Liaison Branch
- Headquarters Medical Corps
- Joint Intelligence Directorate
- Joint Logistics Department
- Joint Manpower Department
- Joint Operations and Planning Directorate
- General Staff (Operations)
- Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
Headquarters
- Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
Headquarters
- SAFTI Military Institute
The SAFTI Military Institute is a tri-service military training institution for officers of all ranks of the Singapore Armed Forces . Located within an 88 hectare campus in Jurong West, it was officially opened by the then-prime minister Goh Chok Tong on 25 August 1995...
Headquarters
- Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
Headquarters
- Training Schools
- Basic Military Training Centre
The Basic Military Training Centre is a military training facility located in Ladang, Pulau Tekong, in Singapore...
School 1 (BMTC)
- Basic Military Training Centre
The Basic Military Training Centre is a military training facility located in Ladang, Pulau Tekong, in Singapore...
School 2 (BMTC)
- Basic Military Training Centre
The Basic Military Training Centre is a military training facility located in Ladang, Pulau Tekong, in Singapore...
School 3 (BMTC)
- Basic Military Training Centre
The Basic Military Training Centre is a military training facility located in Ladang, Pulau Tekong, in Singapore...
School 4 (BMTC)
- Officer Cadet School (Singapore)
Officer Cadet School is one of the several training establishments within the SAFTI Military Institute camp complex. Its role is to train officers of all three services of the Singapore Armed Forces...
(OCS)
- Specialist Cadet School (SCS)
- Security and Intelligence Division
-Other Notes:...
(SID)
External links