A force as mighty and respected as the Army must have law and order at
all times, in all places. The Military Police (MPs) are tasked with the
enormous responsibility of maintaining security and discipline. The SAF
Provost Unit has recently acquired Honda CBX750P motorbikes and Hyundai
Elantra highway patrol cars to aid in mobile Law-enforcement.MPs play a
vital role in the security of Army camps as well as MINDEF. They also help
protect VIPs, train dogs for law-enforcement, and
serve as Presidential Guards for the Istana,not forgetting the Precision
Drill Display (Above) They are men of intelligence, integrity and honour.
The Presidential
Guards
The main role is sentry duty at the Istana Main Entrance on Orchard
Road and at the entrance of the Istana Building. The average age of these
Guards is 19. One Unit of 20 guards from Singapore
Armed Forces Provost Unit (SAFPU) would
perform duties in the Istana for one month before another unit takes over.
The take-over by a new unit is signified by the Changing of Guards Ceremony.
Guards on sentry duty at the
Main GateGuard-of-Honour
preparing to welcome a State guest.
Changing
of Guards Ceremony
When the late Encik Yusof Bin Ishak took office as the Yang Di-Pertuan
Negara at the Istana on 3rd December 1959, the Istana was guarded by combat
troops from the only infantry regiment we had at that time, the 1st Battalion
of the Singapore Infantry Regiment. The guards were posted round the clock.
There was no Changing of Guards Ceremony. Mounting and dismounting of guards
were done within the Istana itself.
The use of combat troops to guard the Istana ceased in 1968 with
the formation of the Singapore Armed Forces Guards Unit (SAFGU). In 1969,
it was decided that a Changing of Guards Ceremony be held on every
first Sunday evening of the month.
The Ceremony was held in 1969 and has continued ever since.
The format of the Ceremony is based on the British Changing of
Guards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, England. Thirty-six Guards and two
Guard Commanders are involved in the Ceremony. The Guards, are specially
selected and trained for their turnout, bearing and drill.The in-coming
Guards march from the Yan San Building near HMV to meet the out-going Guards
at the main entrance of the Istana. The Changing of the Guards Ceremony
is then carried out at the entrance of the Istana with military bands in
attendance.Included in the ceremony is a Rifle Precision Drill Performance
(below) to entertain the spectators.
