Like their counterpart in the United States, the United States Marine Corps, the Guards formation will be the first on the ground in combat situations, leading the charge when conflict arises.
SAFGU was renamed 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards (1 Guards) on 1 July 1977. On 1 April 1978, 8 SIR became the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Guards (2 Guards).[7] 7 SIB was designated as an elite brigade on 1 April 1978. On 6 April 1979, 1 Guards held a parade during which Major-General Winston Choo, Chief of General Staff, presented the soldiers with berets with new cap badge backings to denote their elite status.[8][3]
On 31 July 1980, the soldiers of 7 SIB received stable belts as another symbol of their elite status.[8][3] In that same year, 7 SIB was reorganised into a brigade consisting of only Guardsmen. 7 SIR was renamed 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards (3 Guards).[7] The three Guards battalions received their colours on 11 June 1983. On 23 June 1989, the Guardsmen received the Guards tab, which they wear on the left sleeves of their uniforms.[8][3]
On 9 June 1994, the Guards adopted the khaki beret to replace the olive green beret, which is still used by the Infantry formation. On 11 October 1994, the Guards formally became a formation of the Singapore Army.[8] All Guards units, including 7 SIB, are now under the administration and command of HQ Guards.[3]
To qualify as Guardsmen, enlistees need to complete the Guards Vocational Training, while officers and specialists will need to complete the Guards Conversion Course (GCC).[9][3]
Guardsmen are trained for heliborne insertions into combat zones. They can do this either by rapid disembarkation while the helicopter is landing, or by rappelling from a hovering helicopter, or fast-roping straight onto rooftops.[6] As landing zones may be hostile, Guardsmen train in various forms of combat rappelling.[10] This may involve rappelling head-first.
They also train for exigencies. If, due to an injury they are unable to brace themselves against a cliff face, they may be required to rappel unconventionally, with their backs facing the cliff, or with a stretcher.[10] Other methods include Australian rappelling.[11]
Equipment
A Guardsman and a United States Marine examine a SAR 21 during the 2009 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.Spider LSV with SPIKE ATGM launcher extended at the 2008 Singapore Airshow.LSV at the 2022 Army Open House.
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