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Introduction The object of the Code of Conduct for the Singapore Armed Forces is to provide a guide to members of the Armed Forces to enable them to know the standard of conduct and behaviour expected of them. Members of our Armed Forces are expected not only to be efficient fighting men and women, skilled in the art of war, but also to be an example of good citizenship and an embodiment of the values and principles of a free, democratic and progressive nation. On the shoulders of members of the Armed Forces falls the responsibility for the defence of our country against armed attack from without and subversion from within. This is a heavy responsibility and to be able to carry out this responsibility, members of the Armed Forces must be well disciplined not only in military virtues but also in the mores of our society. Members of the Armed Forces are expected to cultivate good relationships with the civilian public and the Code will make an attempt to define these relationship...

Preface

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“The armed forces of today in external appearance consist of men dressed in uniforms and equipped with modern weapons. From this, the uninitiated may believe that if you get a large number of men, dressed them in uniforms and hand them modern weapons, you have got modern armed forces. Any one of us can see that this is an absurdity, and that such an assembly of persons, far from constituting the modern armed forces, would in fact be a completely undisciplined rabble group whose only function in war would be to deliver weapons to the enemy. The strength of modern armed forces lies in the tangibles, the training and discipline of the men and the courage, skill and experience of their commanders as well as in material factors such as the modern weapons they use.” 

SAF COC - Rule Six

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We perform our roles to protect our nation as we protect our secrets. Perform our Roles It is our role and responsibility to ensure our men and systems under our charge are carefully looked after, so that it will be ready for service in the time of need to protect our nation. Security As members of the Armed Forces we have to be careful to allow nothing that is secret to pass our lips. We have to be careful about all military information and must be completely silent on news that is secret. To learn to guard our tongue, we should put into practice this reticence about military matters especially with our families or close friends. A member of the Armed Forces who is loose-tongued, can cause great harm and be a danger to his comrades-in-arms, and our Nation. The following guiding rules must be remembered:- We should avoid talking about our job or boasting about it. We should not talk about our comrades or our superiors and their work. We should not drink excessivel...

SAF COC - Rule Five

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We are courageous but not reckless We are devoted to duty, not to ourselves. Courage Courage is the virtue of virtues, because all other virtues, for example. Honesty, charity, faith, do not become virtues unless we have the courage to exercise them. Courage is both a physical and a moral quality. Physical courage means overcoming the feeling of fear so that we can perform what is expected of us even though our lives may be in danger. This should not be confused with foolishness or rash actions. Courage is never stupid nor fool-hardy. A brave man acts reasonably: his actions are never dictated by panic nor the desire to show off. Moral courage is what urges us to pursue a course that we are convinced is right, despite all temptations to act otherwise. To be really great, a man or a nation must possess both kinds of courage. Courage is a long-term virtue. Anyone can be brave for a little while, but true courage endures and strengthens us through the most trying circumstanc...

SAF COC - Rule Four

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We must be exemplary in our conduct, We must respect and by our conduct and bearing win the respect of others. Conduct Our conduct on duty, in public, or in our relationship with any member of the public, should at all times be exemplary. We must uphold the principles of the SAF Core Values, and should be aware of the honour and responsibilities of being members of the Armed Forces, entitled to wear the Uniform of the Republic and entrusted with the honour of protecting the Nation. Some Do’s And Don’ts Do’s We should be courteous and discreet. We should be firm and even-tempered in the execution of duty. We should be punctual. We should be scrupulously correct in the use of official powers. We should be honest and trustworthy. We should be fair and unselfish. We should take care of our health and abstain from harmful habits. We should obey promptly the orders of our superior officers. We should abide by and uphold the laws of our Republic. Don’ts We sh...

SAF COC - Rule Three

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We are loyal to the Armed Forces and we take pride in our Unit, our uniform, our discipline, our work, our training and ourselves. Loyalty To The Armed Forces Loyalty means devotion. The supreme loyalty is devotion to the Republic, and this is the foundation of the loyalty of the members of the Armed Forces. Upon it we must build habits of loyalty to the Armed Forces, to our superior officers and to fellow members of the Armed Forces. Loyalty to the Armed Forces is what holds the various parts of the Armed Forces together and enables them to function as a co-ordinated whole. This loyalty must extend throughout the chain of command and flow in both directions. Our loyalty to superiors requires us to support their decisions and obey their commands no matter how we may feel personally, and regardless of how difficult the mission may be. Our loyalty to subordinates means that we accept responsibility and do not blame others when our decisions and orders turn out b...

SAF COC - Rule Two

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At all times, we must bear in  mind that we are the protector of our citizens Even when we are out of uniform and off duty, we must have the defence of the  people in  Singapore at heart. We will treat members of the public with the respect they deserve and protect them against injury, violence or theft. We will consider ourselves at all times the protector of the Republic and its citizens. We serve our fellow citizens, and we must serve with humility and prudence. It is not through fear of legal proceedings and punishment that we should act justly and graciously towards our citizens. We should realise that it is cowardly and disgraceful for any of us to attack a civilian and that any act directed against our fellow citizens is a traitorous act to the Republic. Attitude Towards Citizens We, as members of the Singapore Armed Forces will treat the citizens of Singapore with care and respect and protect their interests. We should never be rude and arr...