Army Deployment Force

The Army Deployment Force (ADF) is a rapid deployment unit of the Singapore Army responsible for conducting counter-terrorism and expeditionary operations. The ADF was established in 2016, in response to modernised terrorist attacks such as the November 2015 Paris attacks. It consists of only regular servicemen, primarily from the Guards formation.^[1]

Army Deployment Force
Logo of the Army Deployment Force
Active	2016 – present
Country	Singapore
Branch	Singapore Army
Type	Rapid deployment force
Role	Counter-terrorism Rapid deployment Expeditionary warfare Humanitarian aid Disaster relief
Garrison/HQ	Nee Soon Camp
Motto(s)	Always Ready

ADF is also deployed for Peace Support Operations and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions.

History

Unit Inauguration

The Army Deployment Force was officially inaugurated on 12 July 2016 in Nee Soon Camp,^[2] with roughly 600 regular servicemen at the time of inception. This discrete rapid deployment battalion is operationally-ready to a high readiness state, ready to respond to any civil emergencies and actively able to respond "at the push of the button". The group's motto is "Always Ready".

Its first operational mission began in August 2016, when ADF servicemen were rotationally deployed to Iraq as cover safety and protection for the medical teams by Singapore to assist the international coalition forces that are in combat with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).^[3]

Unit Colours

President Halimah Yacob presented the new Regimental Colours to Army Deployment Force (ADF), received by Commander ADF Senior Lieutenant Colonel Chua Yu En, Edwin on 1 July 2021, as part of the SAF Day Parade.

Role

ADF troopers

The ADF's primary role is to provide rapid response to terror threats or national exigencies in both urban and non-urban settings, and supporting the Special Operations Task Force (SOTF), Island Defence Task Force (IDTF), as well as the various Home Team agencies.^[2]

Secondarily, it can respond to civil emergencies or Peace Time Contingency Operations (PTCO). Additionally, it is also capable of being deployed for both Peace Support Operations (PSO) and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations (HADR) both within and around Singapore.^[4]

Training

ADF Operators are trained to provide the army with niche capabilities, covering a wide spectrum of operations and various skillsets as operators develop their roles in the unit. ADF training is primarily conducted in Nee Soon Camp.

Combat Qualification Course

In order to be inducted into the Army Deployment Force, aspiring soldiers are required to complete the grueling 21-week long Combat Qualification Course (CQC). The course trains and equips ADF troopers with key capabilities enabling them to respond to any threat or peacetime contingency quickly and effectively, it also serves to test the physical and mental readiness of trainees before they are posted to the ADF's operational companies.

The course covers a range of skillsets such as weapon proficiency, unarmed combat, conventional warfare, urban operations, fast-roping and rappelling, Peacetime Contingency Operations (PTCO), as well as Peace Support and Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response (HADR) operations.^[5]

As part of their graduation criteria, trainees are required to complete a 10km march in 90 minutes, a warrior competition that tests their combat fitness and weapon competency, and an 18-hour finale exercise.^[2]

Overseas Training

Operationally ready soldiers in ADF also frequently takes part in various bilateral military exercises and multinational military exercises, which emphasizes strengthening relationships within the Indo-Pacific region, including enhancing military capabilities, interoperability, with partner nation military forces in the region.

Equipment

ADF troopers performing a squad level attack drill as part of Exercise Valiant Mark 2016 jointly conducted with the US Marines

Some of the equipment that the ADF utilize but not limited by include:

• Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicle (PRV)
• SAR 21 Variants
  • SAR 21 MMS Carbine
  • SAR 21 M203
  • SAR 21 Sharpshooter
• SIG Sauer P226
• Heckler & Koch P30LS
• Remington 870 MCS
• Milkor MGL
• Colt IAR6940E-SG
• FN MAG
• Taser

Other than weapons, ADF also uses the Water Purification Units (WPU) trucks and Protected Light Utility Vehicles (PLUVs). ADF's equipment varies depending on their tasks and mission.^[6]

See also

• Guards