The Singapore Armed Forces (abbreviation: SAF, Malay: Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura, Simplified Chinese: 新加坡武装部队) comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The SAF relies heavily on a large pool of conscripted soldiers in the active and reserve forces. It is capable of mobilising over 300,000 reserves and has an active force of 72,500 for the defence of Singapore.

History
Deterrence and diplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Singapore's military defence policy. Through the years, the military has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries. In recent years, there has also been an increased emphasis on international peace-keeping and relief operations, notably the peace-keeping operations in East Timor and the Persian Gulf and disaster relief in the Indian Ocean earthquake-tsunami of 2004, 2005 Nias earthquake and 2006 Yogyakarta earthake in Central Java, Indonesia.
According to military and strategic analysts, such as Tim Huxley in Defending the Lion City, Singapore is known to be using a forward-defence military doctrine. Press statements from MINDEF describe the SAF as a deterrent force.
The SAF's mission statement is to deter war and if that fails, to secure a swift and decisive victory.

Defence policy
In 1984, the Total Defence concept was introduced to augment the need for the entire country, and not just the military, to contribute and work together in national defence issues. Consisting of five key aspects, namely Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence, and Psychological Defence, it is actively promoted annually in schools as well as to the general public through schemes, programmes, courses as well as utilising the mass media to spread its message.

Total Defence
The size of Singapore's resident population does not allow for a military fully composed of regular soldiers. National service was thus introduced in 1967 to build up the required manpower resources in a relatively quick and cost-effective fashion. Today, a career military force of 20,000 is supplemented by 30,000 men on active National Service duty. The main force actually comprises 300,000 or so Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (ORNSmen).
The SAF's policy towards Malays, who share a religion and ethnic ties with Singapore's largest neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia, has been a source of controversy over the years. Malays were virtually excluded from conscription from the beginning of the draft in 1967 until 1977

Manpower

Main article: National Service in Singapore National Service
All combatant troops go through a 3-month Basic Military Training (BMT), held either at the Basic Military Training Centre on the offshore island of Pulau Tekong, or at the various military units which accept direct-intake recruits. Recruits go through courses including field craft, basic jungle survival, camouflaging, operating their personal weapon and basic marksmanship. They are also accessed during the course to pick potential officers and specialists, who are thereafter posted to the Officer Cadet School or the School of Infantry Specialists respectively. Other recruits are posted to various units or schools, where they may continue on specialised vocational training.
Due to limited space within Singapore's territorial land and waters, some training programmes and facilities are located overseas.

Training
Initially, commissioned officers were drawn exclusively from the ranks of Singaporeans who had completed their A levels or embarked on tertiary studies.
Officers receive their initial leadership training at the tri-service Officer Cadet School (OCS) in the SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI), which is the Home of the Officer Corps. As they progress in their career, they may undergo further formal military education at the SAF Advanced Schools and the Singapore Command and Staff College, also at SAFTI MI.
In parallel, Specialists first receive leadership training at the School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) at Pasir Laba Camp, which is the home of the Warrant Officer and Specialist Corps. Future Platoon Sergeants and Company Sergeant Majors receive further instruction at the Advanced Specialist Training Wing (ASTW) in the SISPEC. Specialists undergo further education at SAF Warrant Officer School, before receiving their appointments as Warrant Officers.
OCS and SISPEC both have an infantry-based curriculum; special to arms training for both officers and WOSPECs are conducted at the various training institutes and establishments such as the SAF Medical Training Institute (SMTI), Signals Institute (SI), Engineer Training Institute (ETI), Armour Training Institute (ATI), etc.
Pointer is the official journal of the SAF. It is a quarterly publication distributed to all Officers and Warrant Officers, which helps with their ongoing professional education.

Military education
Singapore is a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangement together with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Designed to replace the former defence role of the British in Singapore and Malaysia, the arrangement obligates members to consult in the event of external threat and provides for stationing Commonwealth forces in Singapore.
Singapore has consistently supported a strong U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. In 1990, the U.S. and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which allows the U.S. access to Singapore facilities at Paya Lebar Airbase and the Sembawang wharves. Under the MOU, a U.S. Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992; U.S. fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises, and a number of U.S. military vessels visit Singapore. The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit U.S. naval vessels to berth at the Changi Naval Base, which was completed in early 2001.
Singapore's defence resources have also been used for international humanitarian aid missions. These missions included United Nations peacekeeping abroad in areas such as Kosovo, Kuwait and East Timor,
It comes under the command and control of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), which is headed by the defence minister. The current defence minister is Teo Chee Hean, also formerly the Chief of Navy who crossed over to the poltiical side.

Foreign defence relations
Under the SAF Act the president has the authority to raise and maintain the SAF. The president also has the power to form, disband or amalgamate units within the SAF.
The Armed Forces Council (AFC) administers matters relating to the SAF under the SAF Act. The AFC consists of:

ministers who are responsible for defence matters and any other minister who has been assigned to assist them;
the Permanent Secretaries of MINDEF;
the Chief of Defence Force (CDF);
the Chief of Army (COA);
the Chief of Air Force (CAF);
the Chief of Navy (CNV); and
not more than four other members as the president may appoint if the president, acting in his discretion, concurs with the advice of the prime minister. Technology in the SAF

Awards and decorations of the Singapore Armed Forces
Awards For Singapore National Serviceman
Singapore Armed Forces ranks
Camps and bases of the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition
Singapore Army
Republic of Singapore Air Force
Republic of Singapore Navy
SAF Band
SAFTI Military Institute
SAF Medical Training Institute
National Cadet Corps (Singapore)