Gallery
Indoor Air Weapons Range at SAFRA Yishun
Swimming pool at SAFRA Yishun
Adventure Sports Centre at SAFRA Yishun
SAFRA National Service Association is an organisation that was formed as a social and recreational club for National Servicemen from the Singapore Armed Forces. It was originally formed in 1972 as the "Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association". [1]
SAFRA was started on 2 July 1972 and was launched by, then Defence Minister of Singapore, Dr Goh Keng Swee. [2]
From 1996 to 2012 (Sunday 17 June, Fathers Day) SAFRA and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) co-organized the National Runway Cycling & Skating at Paya Lebar Air Base with 6,000–8,000 participants. ("Skating" was included in the events name from 2008 on, when skaters grew more.) [3]
The SAFRA Mission
"To be a dynamic institution effective in bonding NSmen through a network of quality lifestyle clubs, services and activities. We shall be reputed for our good value and innovation."
This was to reward servicemen for their service to the nation with some relaxation from their hectic lives.
There are currently 7 SAFRA clubhouses located across the island: [4]
| SAFRA Mt Faber | SAFRA Jurong | SAFRA Punggol | SAFRA Carpenter Street |
| SAFRA Tampines | SAFRA Toa Payoh | SAFRA Yishun | SAFRA Choa Chu Kang |
An Armed Forces Day, alongside its branch-specific variants often referred to as Army or Soldier's Day, Navy or Sailor's Day, and Air Force or Aviator's Day, is a holiday dedicated to honoring the armed forces, or one of their branches, of a sovereign state, including their personnel, history, achievements, and perceived sacrifices. It's often patriotic or nationalistic in nature, carrying propaganda value outside of the conventional boundaries of a military's subculture and into the wider civilian society. Many nations around the world observe this day. It's usually distinct from a Veterans or Memorial Day.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the armed forces have four service branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Digital and Intelligence Service. An integrated force, it is one of the most capable, robust, technologically sophisticated and powerful militaries in the Southeast Asia region. The SAF is headed by the chief of defence force, appointed by the president of Singapore, on the advice of the Cabinet.
The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) are a series of bilateral defence relationships established by a series of multi-lateral agreements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, all of which are Commonwealth members that once belonged to the British Empire.
The Singapore Army is the land service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The largest of the four branches of the SAF, the Singapore Army traces its origins to the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, which was formed in 1957, when Singapore was still under British colonial rule. After Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965, the Singapore Army Bill was passed in Parliament on 23 December 1965, and National Service (NS) was subsequently introduced in 1967. Mostly made up of conscripts, the Singapore Army can mobilise all operationally-ready military reservists in the event of war or national exigencies.
Yishun, formerly known as Nee Soon, is a residential town located in the northeastern corner of the North Region of Singapore, bordering Simpang and Sembawang to the north, Mandai to the west, the Central Water Catchment to its southwest, Ang Mo Kio to its south, as well as Seletar and Sengkang to its east and southeast respectively.
Orders and decorations conferred to military personnel of the Singapore Armed Forces in Singapore, listed by order of precedence:
The National Day Parade (NDP) is an annual parade held in Singapore to commemorate its independence. Held annually on 9 August, it is the main public celebration of National Day, and consists of a parade incorporating contingents of the Singapore Armed Forces, Ministry of Home Affairs, local institutions and community groups, followed by a cultural presentation featuring music, dance displays, parachuters, and a fireworks show.
A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is usually a former active-duty member of the armed forces, and they remain a reservist either voluntarily, or by obligation. In some countries such as Israel, Norway, Finland, Singapore, and Switzerland, reservists are conscripted soldiers who are called up for training and service when necessary.
Singapore maintains an active conscription system in accordance with the regulations set by the Government of Singapore, known as National Service (NS). This requires all qualified male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents to serve a period of active duty military service in the uniformed services.
The Singapore Armed Forces Band form the musical arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. Consisting of the SAF Central Band and the SAF Ceremonial Band, the SAF Band provides musical support for key events such as the National Day Parade, SAF Day Parade, Passing Out Parades, Change of Command Parades and other military duties. Other than discharging ceremonial duties, the SAF Band also presents public concerts that aim to bring a wide range of music to the populace. They also seek to build up the band's music repertoire into an extensive array of styles and variety.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the ceremonial commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the country. The Ministry of Defence provides policy framework and resources to the armed forces to discharge their responsibility in the context of the defence of the country. The Indian Armed Forces and Indian Coast Guard under the Ministry of Defence are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of India.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has five rank schemes for active and reservist personnel, with a sixth for the auxiliaries of the SAF Volunteer Corps. The SAF has a unique rank structure as an integrated force, ranks are the same in the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).
Yishun Park is a 14-hectare park located in Yishun, Singapore. It is within the vicinity of Northland Primary School, SAFRA Yishun Country Club and Yishun Park Hawker Centre. The park is connected to Yishun Pond Park by an 84-meter elevated bridge.
So Drama! Entertainment is a Singapore media company owned by SAFRA National Service Association. In their portfolio are four brands - 883Jia, Power 98, Music and Drama Company and PIONEER.
The Changi Air Base is an airfield military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) located at Changi, in the eastern tip of Singapore. Sited at two locations to the east and west of Singapore Changi Airport, it co-shares runway facilities with the civilian airport and currently occupies a third runway slated for future expansion for civilian use by Singapore Changi Airport. Together, the two airfields house 121 Squadron, 112 Squadron, 145 Squadron, the Field Defence Squadron, the Air Logistics Squadron and the Airfield Maintenance Squadron. The air base badge carries the motto Together in Excellence.
Dads for Life (DFL) is a national men's movement in Singapore promoting active fatherhood.
Yishun Sentek Mariners is a semi-professional football club based in Yishun, Singapore, that plays in the Singapore Football League (SFL) Division 1. Founded in 1975, the club have won the Singapore FA Cup, Singapore National Football League 1 and 2 titles once each.
Phua Bah Lee was a Singaporean politician who was a member of the People's Action Party. He was Member of Parliament for Tampines constituency from 1968 to 1988. During his political career spanning twenty years, Phua was first appointed parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Communications and later became senior parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Defence. He was also the first president of the Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association (SAFRA) from 1972 to 1989.
The Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) is the digital service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for providing military intelligence to the armed forces, building up the country's digital defence capabilities, and protecting the psychological defence of its military personnel. It was established on 28 October 2022, in response to the increased number of attacks by non-state actors, and the resulting damage from the Russian–Ukrainian cyberwarfare.