MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Introduction

Singapore's defence policy is peace through strength. We will be friends with any nation which respects our interests and our right to exist. Our defence doctrine is Total Defence encompassing the whole population and all aspects of defence: military, economic, psychological, social and civil.

For the next few years, MINDEF will be concentrating especially on the operaional readiness of the SAF reserves, the absorption of new hardware, and the non-military aspects of Total Defence.

Readiness of Reserves

The reservist components of the SAF have been building up steadily. Not only are there more and more reservists, but in an emergency, the troops can be mustered, armed and committed to battle in the shortest possible time.

Of particular concern will be the training of units and the grooming of commanders and staff. The time available to train a reservist is short - at most only 40 days a year. The SAF will be systematically exploring better ways to train reservists and reserve units. Training circuits will be designed to practise individual military skills in the minimum possible time. training villages will be constructed so that units can conduct realistic and worthwhile field exercises in land-scarce Singapore.

Many reservists have attended upgrading courses together with regulars. They now occupy most of the key appointments in their units. More will follow.

Absorption of New Hardware

Despite our many full-time National Servicemen and reservists, the SAF can never expect to prevail in combat by force of numbers. Our troops must be better trained, better led, and better equipped. We must become a capital and skill-intensive armed force, and not a manpower-intensive one.

We must exploit high technology to the full. The SAF will have to assimilate each individual piece of technology, like the E-2Cs, and fit them all together into a potent winning combination. To do this, the SAF will build up its manpower base, preparing its technical staff and developing its operational doctrines, and exercising its combat units. Total Defence

As we master the problems of military defence, we shall give more emphasis to the non-military aspects of Total Defence.

The Public will be involved in practical ways. More and more HDB residents will learn the basic skills of civil defence - first aid, firefighting and rescue work. Ways will be worked out, and exercised, to allow the SAF to tap the vast resources of the civilian economy - vehicles, equipment and services - and put them to military use should the need arise. Total Defence is much more than a slogan.

Conclusion

We have no enemies today, but we cannot wait for some to appear before starting to prepare our defences. A threat to our security can develop within months. An armed force takes many years to train and nurture. That is why we have been building the SAF ever since Singapore became independent. That is why we are secure today, and why we shall continue to strengthen our defences in the years to come.

GOH CHOK TONG First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence