https://sg.news.yahoo.com/commandos-best-combat-unit-39th-040000851.html
Sat, 28 June 2025 at 12:00 pm SGT·2-min read
The 1st Commando Battalion's Lieutenant-Colonel Kok Yi Long (second from right) with (from left) Lieutenant Seah Zhang Qi, Second Sergeant T. Naveen and Corporal First Class Akmal Danial Rashiddin Abdul Latif on June 24.
SINGAPORE – The 1st Commando Battalion is the Best Combat Unit in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) again, and it has no intention of slowing down.
In a statement from the Ministry of Defence on June 28 announcing the win, the unit’s commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Kok Yi Long, said: “The standard is high, and that is exactly where we intend to keep it.”
Winning 22 times in a row did not happen by chance, he said.
He said: “It happened because every commando believed in the mission, pushed beyond limits in a calculated manner and refused to settle for less.
“It is about a culture built over time, sustained by teamwork, discipline and an unyielding commitment to excellence.”
The unit does not strive for awards but to be better and ready to defend Singapore, he added.
The special forces unit, which wears the distinctive red beret, is trained for various missions, including airborne operations, reconnaissance and raids.
In all, this is their 39th win since the competition began in 1969.
On July 1, the SAF will honour its best units, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing presenting the awards to the winners at the SAF Day Parade at the Safti Military Institute.
A total of 18 active units and 12 national service (NS) units across the Singapore Armed Forces will be recognised for their achievements.
The awards include those for Best Combat Support Unit – won by the 17th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion, and the Best Air Engineering Unit, won by 811 Squadron.
NS units that will be honoured include the 114th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion, which is the Best NS C4I Unit, and the 489th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment, named the Best NS Armour Unit.
The Best Fighter Squadron is 142 Squadron, for the second consecutive year.
It is the unit’s fourth win since it was founded in 1974.
The squadron conducts a wide spectrum of missions and, notably, was the one that responded to a bomb threat on Air India Express Flight AXB684 in October 2024, said Mindef.
Then, two F-15SG fighter jets intercepted and escorted the flight to a safe landing at Changi Airport. No bomb was found on board.
The squadron’s commanding officer, Major Muhammad Iskandar, said the win was a testament to the hard work, dedication and team spirit of each of its members.
He said: “Celebrating our win in SG60, a significant milestone in our journey as a nation, makes the award even more meaningful for us.
“142 Squadron stands ready to face an increasingly unpredictable world, staying committed to excellence, anchored in purpose and taking full ownership of our mission to defend Singapore.”
Commandos are Best Combat Unit for the 39th time
Ng Wei KaiSat, 28 June 2025 at 12:00 pm SGT·2-min read
The 1st Commando Battalion's Lieutenant-Colonel Kok Yi Long (second from right) with (from left) Lieutenant Seah Zhang Qi, Second Sergeant T. Naveen and Corporal First Class Akmal Danial Rashiddin Abdul Latif on June 24.
SINGAPORE – The 1st Commando Battalion is the Best Combat Unit in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) again, and it has no intention of slowing down.
In a statement from the Ministry of Defence on June 28 announcing the win, the unit’s commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Kok Yi Long, said: “The standard is high, and that is exactly where we intend to keep it.”
Winning 22 times in a row did not happen by chance, he said.
He said: “It happened because every commando believed in the mission, pushed beyond limits in a calculated manner and refused to settle for less.
“It is about a culture built over time, sustained by teamwork, discipline and an unyielding commitment to excellence.”
The unit does not strive for awards but to be better and ready to defend Singapore, he added.
The special forces unit, which wears the distinctive red beret, is trained for various missions, including airborne operations, reconnaissance and raids.
In all, this is their 39th win since the competition began in 1969.
On July 1, the SAF will honour its best units, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing presenting the awards to the winners at the SAF Day Parade at the Safti Military Institute.
A total of 18 active units and 12 national service (NS) units across the Singapore Armed Forces will be recognised for their achievements.
The awards include those for Best Combat Support Unit – won by the 17th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion, and the Best Air Engineering Unit, won by 811 Squadron.
NS units that will be honoured include the 114th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion, which is the Best NS C4I Unit, and the 489th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment, named the Best NS Armour Unit.
The Best Fighter Squadron is 142 Squadron, for the second consecutive year.
It is the unit’s fourth win since it was founded in 1974.
The squadron conducts a wide spectrum of missions and, notably, was the one that responded to a bomb threat on Air India Express Flight AXB684 in October 2024, said Mindef.
Then, two F-15SG fighter jets intercepted and escorted the flight to a safe landing at Changi Airport. No bomb was found on board.
The squadron’s commanding officer, Major Muhammad Iskandar, said the win was a testament to the hard work, dedication and team spirit of each of its members.
He said: “Celebrating our win in SG60, a significant milestone in our journey as a nation, makes the award even more meaningful for us.
“142 Squadron stands ready to face an increasingly unpredictable world, staying committed to excellence, anchored in purpose and taking full ownership of our mission to defend Singapore.”
