Army Deployment Force
{{short description|Singapore military unit}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Army Deployment Force
| native_name =
| image = Army deployment force logo.png
| caption = Logo of the Army Deployment Force
| image_size = 150px
| motto = "Always Ready"
| dates = 2016 – present
| country = {{flag|Singapore}}
| branch = {{Army|SGP}}
| type = Rapid deployment force
| garrison = Nee Soon Camp
| role = {{unbulletedlist|Counter-terrorism|Rapid deployment|Expeditionary warfare|Humanitarian aid|Disaster relief}}
}}
The Army Deployment Force (ADF) is a rapid deployment unit of the Singapore Army responsible for conducting counter-terrorism and expeditionary operations. It consists of only regular servicemen, primarily from the Guards formation.{{cite web |last1=Koh |first1=Jeremy |title=SAF to fight terror with rapid response |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/saf-to-fight-terror-with-rapid-response |website=The Straits Times |date=July 2016 |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701054815/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/saf-to-fight-terror-with-rapid-response |archive-date=1 July 2018 |url-status=live }} The ADF was established in 2016, in response to modernised terrorist attacks such as the November 2015 Paris attacks.
History
The Army Deployment Force was officially inaugurated on 12 July 2016 in Nee Soon Camp,{{cite web |last1=Tham |first1=Thrina |title=Rapid Response Force |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/pioneer/article/cover-article-detail/ops-and-training/2018-Q3/jul18_cs |website=Pioneer |publisher=So Drama! Entertainment |access-date=20 May 2022}} with roughly 600 regular servicemen at the time of inception. This discrete rapid deployment battalion is operationally-ready to a high readiness state, ready to respond to any civil emergencies and actively able to respond "at the push of the button". The motto "Always Ready" stands for always ready for any national exigency.
Its first operational mission began in August 2016, when ADF servicemen were rotationally deployed to Iraq as cover safety and protection for the medical teams by Singapore to assist the international coalition forces that are in combat with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).{{cite web |last1=Driscoll |first1=Shea |title=SAF to send medical support team to Iraq, Army Deployment Force to protect the team |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/saf-to-send-medical-support-team-to-iraq-army-deployment-force-to-protect-the-team |website=The Straits Times |date=3 August 2016 |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701054804/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/saf-to-send-medical-support-team-to-iraq-army-deployment-force-to-protect-the-team |archive-date=1 July 2018 |url-status=live }}
The unit received their regimental colours from President Halimah Yacob on 1 July 2021, as part of the SAF Day Parade.
Role
File:Army Deployment Force members during AOH 2022 300522.jpg
The ADF's primary role is to provide rapid response to terror threats or national exigencies in both urban and non-urban settings, and supporting the Special Operations Task Force (SOTF), Island Defence Task Force (IDTF), as well as the various Home Team agencies.
Secondarily, it can respond to civil emergencies or Peace Time Contingency Operations (PTCO). Additionally, it is also capable of being deployed for both Peace Support Operations (PSO) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations (HADR) both within and around Singapore.{{cite web |title=Army Deployment Force |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/arc/our-careers-army-deployment-force.html |website=Singapore Army Careers |publisher=Singapore Army |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701054812/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/arc/our-careers-army-deployment-force.html |archive-date=1 July 2018 |url-status=live }}
Training
ADF troopers are trained to provide the army with niche capabilities, with much of the training for the Singapore Guards coming into play as troopers develop their roles in the unit. ADF training is primarily conducted in Nee Soon Camp.
=Combat Qualification Course=
In order to be inducted into the Army Deployment Force, aspiring soldiers are required to complete the grueling 21-week long Combat Qualification Course (CQC). The course trains and equips ADF troopers with key capabilities enabling them to respond to any threat or peacetime contingency quickly and effectively, it also serves to test the physical and mental readiness of trainees before they are posted to the ADF's operational companies.
The course covers a range of skillsets such as weapon proficiency, unarmed combat, conventional warfare, urban operations, fast-roping and rappelling, Peacetime Contingency Operations (PTCO), as well as Peace Support and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response (HADR) operations.{{Cite web |title=Army Careers |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/arc/careers/army-deployment-force/ |access-date=5 September 2024 |website=www.mindef.gov.sg |language=en}}
As part of their graduation criteria, trainees are required to complete a 10km march in 90 minutes, a warrior competition that tests their combat fitness and weapon competency, and an 18-hour finale exercise.
Equipment
Some of the equipments of the ADF include:
- Milkor MGL
- Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle (PRV)
- SAR 21 Variants
- SIG Sauer P226
- Heckler & Koch P30LS
- Remington 870 MCS
- Taser
Other than weapons, ADF also uses the Water Purification Units (WPU) trucks and Protected Light Utility Vehicles (PLUVs). ADF's equipment varies depending on their tasks and mission.{{cite web |last1=Ting |first1=Jeo |title=SAF sets up high readiness unit in the face of new threats: Dr Ng |url=https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/imindef/resourcelibrary/cyberpioneer/topics/articles/news/2016/jun/30jun16_news.html |website=Ministry of Defence Singapore |publisher=Cyberpioneer |access-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624081843/https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/imindef/resourcelibrary/cyberpioneer/topics/articles/news/2016/jun/30jun16_news.html |archive-date=24 June 2018 |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Army Deployment Force}}
{{Singapore Armed Forces}}
Category:2016 establishments in Singapore
Category:Counterterrorism in Singapore