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2nd People's Defence Force
2nd People's Defence Force
Active	April 1985 – present
Country	Singapore
Branch	Singapore Army
Role	Counter-terrorism; Homeland security
Part of	Singapore Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Clementi Camp
Motto(s)	"Steadfast We Stand"
Website	Official website
Commanders
Commander, 2nd People's Defence Force	COL Chua Eng Khim

The 2nd People's Defence Force (2 PDF) is a division of the Singapore Army responsible for maintaining peace within Singapore and carrying out mainly counter-terrorism and homeland security operations^[2]

History

The 2nd People's Defence Force traces its origins to October 1965 when the People's Defence Force Headquarters (PDF HQ) was established as part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence and tasked with recruiting 3,200 volunteers to defend Singapore. In 1968, the PDF was reorganised to take on operational roles in maintaining internal security within Singapore.^[2]

In May 1974, facing dwindling numbers of volunteers, the 101 People’s Defence Force Battalion (101 PDF) was formed, amalgamating various other volunteer units.^[3]

On 1 April 1985, the 101 People’s Defence Force Battalion was disbanded and split between two commands, the 1st People's Defence Force (1 PDF) and 2nd People's Defence Force,^[3] the latter of which became HQ of the PDF.^[4] On 6 December 2004, 1 PDF disbanded and had its units transferred across the three combined arms divisions.^[3]

After 9/11, HQ 2 PDF Command was reorganised to form the multi-agency Island Defence Headquarters (IDHQ) to protect Singapore against terrorism. They initiated operations to provide round-the-clock protection of key military and civilian installations around Singapore.^[2]

In 2010, the IDHQ became the Island Defence Task Force (IDTF) and the 1st Singapore Infantry Brigade (1 SIB) was created, taking command of the 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions, Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR). The Military Police Command, Military Band and Gombak Base (Ministry of Defence headquarters) came under the 2nd People's Defence Force's command in 2011.^[2]

In 2015, the 2nd People's Defence Force introduced the Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle (PRV)^[5] to replace the V-200s previously used for island defence operations.^[2]

Home to many special operators and a myriad of intra-vocational subject-matter experts, Clementi Camp is home to the Island Defence Task Force as a counter-terror force to be reckoned with.

References

^ "Army Organisation Structure". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "2nd People's Defence Force". Ministry of Defence (Singapore). Archived from the original on 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c "People's Defence Force is established". National Library Board (Singapore). Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
^ Lions in Defence: The 2 PDF Story. Singapore: 2 PDF Command Officers' Mess. 2000. p. 97. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
^ Mahmud, Aqil (8 July 2015). "Stronger armoured vehicle to support servicemen". Today. Singapore. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.