The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the armed forces have four service branches: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Digital and Intelligence Service. An integrated force, it is one of the most capable, robust, technologically sophisticated and, powerful militaries in Southeast Asia and the surrounding regions. The SAF is headed by the chief of defence force, appointed by the president of Singapore, on the advice of the Cabinet.
Lim Kim Choon is a Singaporean civil servant and former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2001 and 2006.
Ng Yat Chung is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2003 and 2007.
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).
Neo Kian Hong is a Singaporean civil servant and former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2010 and 2013.
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) is a decoration awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service, or the furtherance of links with overseas forces.
Ng Chee Khern is a Singaporean civil servant and former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2006 and 2009. He previously served as Permanent Secretary under the Prime Minister's Office, and Chairman of the Government Technology Agency. He was appointed Permanent Secretary (Manpower) in April 2022.
The Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) is a special operations command of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for conducting special operations. The SOTF is composed of only highly-trained regular servicemen from the Army's Special Operations Force (SOF) under the Commandos formation and, the Navy's Special Warfare Group (SWG) under the Naval Diving Unit (NDU).
Lim Chuan Poh is a Singaporean civil servant, diplomat and former lieutenant-general who is currently the Singaporean Ambassador to Israel. He previously served as the Chief of Defence Force between 2000 and 2003. After leaving the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 2003, Lim served as Permanent Secretary for Education until 2007 before serving as Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. After his retirement in 2019, Lim was appointed Chairman of the Singapore Food Agency.
The Chief of Defence Force is the head of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), who holds the rank of Lieutenant-General or Vice-Admiral. The Chief of Defence Force also serves as the aide-de-camp to the president of Singapore. The current Chief of Defence Force is Aaron Beng.
Ng Chee Peng is a Singaporean civil servant and former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2011 and 2014.
Ng Chee Meng is a Singaporean politician, union leader and former lieutenant-general who has been serving as Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress since 2018. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Punggol North division of Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC between 2015 and 2020. He served as Minister for Education (Schools) between 2015 and 2018, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office between 2018 and 2020.
Hoo Cher Mou is a Singaporean former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2013 and 2016. He was the first non-pilot to serve as Chief of Air Force.
Perry Lim Cheng Yeow is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2015 and 2018.
Lai Chung Han is a Singaporean civil servant and former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2014 and 2017. He has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Education since 2019.
Melvyn Ong Su Kiat is a Singaporean retired lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2018 and 2023.
Mervyn Tan Wei Ming is a Singaporean former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2016 and 2019. He has been serving as the chief executive of Defence Science and Technology Agency since 2021.
The SAF Day Parade is an annual military parade and ceremony of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) held on 1 July in commemoration of the founding of the SAF. It is the second military parade in seniority to be held in Singapore next to the Singapore National Day Parade on 9 August. It is usually held at the SAFTI Military Institute in Jurong West, with the presence of the president of Singapore. Salutes are also taken by the prime minister of Singapore, and the chief of Defence Force.
Goh Si Hou is a Singaporean former major-general who served as Chief of Army between 2018 and 2022. He is currently serving as the chief executive officer of the Public Utilities Board (PUB).
Aaron Beng Yao Cheng is a Singaporean vice-admiral who has been serving as Chief of Defence Force since 2023. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Defence Force, he served as Chief of Navy between 2020 and 2023. He is the first naval officer to serve as Chief of Defence Force, and the first to hold the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
