There has been "rank inflation" in the SAF and SPF during the past decade or two.
In the old days, most of the CO's of infantry battalions and other units of similar "size" were Majors.
In fact, there were CO's who were CPT, when they were initially appointed.
During my NS days, I recall that CPT Gwee Peng Hong (first batch OCS, and a commando officer, was an OC of the Second Company, the Commando Battalion) refused the local Major rank, because apparently he said that if the SAF appoints him (CPT at that time) as a CO of 1 SIR, that he as a CPT is good enough to be the CO, he does not need the local crab, but if the SAF wishes to promote him to local Major, they might as well promote him to Major.
At that time, his fellow buddies from the first batch OCS were CO's of 3 SIR (Major Neo Poh Chuan, retired as a Colonel), of 4 SIR (Major Chow Giak Piak, retired as LTC, now deceased), whereas LTC Chng Teow Hua (also from the first batch OCS, and was formerly the Chief Combat Engineer Officer) was their Brigade Commander (2 SIB).
Nowadays, most of the CO's are at least Majors, if not LTC, and there are numerous BG's, and Colonels.
The SAF also introduced the SLTC, Senior Lieutenant Colonel.
In the SPF, the rank inflation is at a very similar pace.
Recently, in the SPF, there are 3 Deputy Commissioners (used to be one), 7 SAC (Senior Assistant Commissioners), 19 AC (Assistant Commissioners), about 24 DAC (Deputy Assistant Commissioners), and numerous Superintendents.
Nowadays, many of the CO's are LTC.
