A CO’s Personal Note to His Battalion
DARREN TAN·SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2015
To Officers, Specialists and Men of 823 SIR.
Dear family,
Family. That's what we have become.
It has been my tremendous joy and privilege to serve you as your CO in the last 7 years, culminating this year at our ATEC 2 evaluation. Though we missed the REDCON 1 grading, I'm very proud to say that we have left a legacy for Battalions to aspire to.
Honestly, I was bitterly disappointed, likewise many of you. We would have never been disappointed if we did not believe. You believed. The depth of your disappointment demonstrates the depth of your commitment to the cause. You believed with your heart, mind and soul.
You were all in.
To put this in perspective, the REDCON 1 grading was only awarded in history to 3 active battalions, with 1st CDO Bn the ultimate example. No NS battalions have ever been awarded REDCON 1. To know that we came so close shows the impact you have made in our military history. The REDCON 1 grading, as it stands today, remains perhaps a bridge too far for NS Battalions with aging bodies and who come together only once a year for a short 2 weeks. Even full time battalions with young and conditioned soldiers could not achieve this "Gold" standard.
823 SIR, we are not at the pinnacle of readiness condition. This I can concede. This is not our day job. But you have given REDCON 1 a run for it's money. Yet, you have demonstrated something that even active battalions can only aspire to. You have heart, a REDCON 1 heart.
In my 26 years wearing the uniform, I've not experienced a battalion like 823 SIR. When we first came together 7 years ago, crafting our mission statement, we put in place the foundations of what 823 SIR would become.
Our mission statement as it stood then and stands now: One family with unwavering passion to excel in the protection of our home. Our emphasis was on "family".
If we would become a family, we would serve because we want to, not because we have to. This was the philosophy undergirding my leadership thinking throughout the last 7 years. We had an idea that if we emphasized relationship and care, we can obtain a greater buy-in than what we could achieve by mere military regimentation. We suspected that we will achieve something significant together. You have proven this. Again and again.
Some notable moments and awards 823 SIR has achieved:
The first and only Bn to turn operational in our 2nd year. Today NS Battalions turn operational in their 4th year.
Runners Up in the Army Half-Marathon Competition amongst NS Units. We were #1 in 2 PDF and our BDE.
Best Unit in Evaluation in 2014.
Best Unit in Safety in 2014.
Most Qualified Commanders Award in 2014.
You volunteered to form the marching contingent for our BDE at the 2 PDF Jubilee Parade, where more than 90% came from 823 SIR.
I am sure you will achieve so much more in the next 3 years before we MR.
I have been overwhelmed by the commitment of 823 SIR.
We have commanders and men asking for medical upgrades so that they can participate in outfield exercises. We have men with expectant wives or newborns coming in for ICT. We have men who were married over the weekend showing up for ICT. We even had someone who had just overcome cancer coming outfield with us. We have men whose employers request for deferments but pleaded with me to reject their deferments. 
You have become an enigma to CHRC and all active personnel who handle administration. This can't be an NS unit! Perhaps a compliment you can be proud of is when commanders and men from other units doing MUT with us, write letters asking to be transferred to 823 SIR!
Personally, leading 823 SIR has made me a better leader. Being an officer of the SAF, the Officer's Creed has become even more real to me. The most significant portion is as follows: I am an officer of the Singapore Armed Forces. My duty is to lead, to excel and to overcome. I lead my men by example. I answer for their training, morale and discipline.
RSM and myself decided to identity with you as many of you went through the Combat Skills Badge qualification during your active time. And so we took on the challenge of qualifying for this at our ripe old age of 40+++. Throughout the CSB journey, I was constantly questioning myself if I really wanted to do this. Perhaps this was our baptism of fire that hardened our resolve to see 823 SIR succeed.
In the last 4 years, you have spurred me to achieve "Gold" in IPPT. As CO, this was to me a part of my commitment to leading you. The 4 years of unbroken IPPT Gold was the longest I have achieved in the SAF. This even coming at an age when it takes so much more.
This year's ICT has been the most fulfilling. Walking around the Coy lines, I encounter ready smiles and greetings. I received salutes and compliments from commanders and men, at a frequency unheard of even in active battalions and training schools today. I hear joyful batter and laughter amongst brothers in arms. There was an atmosphere of freedom and willingness. I watched you put on your equipment and head out for training, there was no dragging of feet but only cheerful dispositions and determination to do well. Thinking of this right now brings a smile to my face.
I remember the day we moved out for our last combat exercise together as a battalion. You were decked out in war paint loaded up onto the military vehicles. My heart swelled with pride. I was thoroughly enjoying each moment. Later, a well-meaning officer from another unit remarked that we shouldn't have applied our camo so early. I thought in my heart, you don't know my 823, we wouldn't want it any other way.
The whole exercise, over the course of 4 days, was the most fulfilling exercise I have ever participated in. You were ready for anything thrown at you. Much of the exercise play and ground conditions presented dilemmas to you but you met each challenge with a great attitude and dogged determination. The example of note was when the whole battalion helped fill sandbags for Delta Coy when she was called away on a Frag-O mission. The final battle demonstrated your resilience, that nearing the end of 4 exhausting days, you were up to the task and defeated the enemy thrown into your sectors.
The Bn HQ functioned like a well-oiled machine. The performance during the final battle can only be described as a symphony, with each cell working in tandem to provide updates and execute orders. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
Alas, despite all your heart and commitment, REDCON 1 remained elusive. Because we aimed for the stars, 823 you have reached the moon. This has been our destiny and this will be our legacy. I doubt that I will ever command a finer battalion. You will forever remain in my heart as the best of the best.
You have distinguished yourselves and you can always hold your head up high. The story of 823 will be told to your families and generations of soldiers entering NS in the days to come. I wish each one of you the very best in your families, careers and health.
God bless always.
Darren Tan
CO 823 SIR
