SAF COC - Rule One

We always honour our Nation.
We will do everything to uphold 
it and nothing to disgrace it.



Our Part In History
Singapore is now an independent Nation. Like all nations, big or small, we cannot rely entirely on outside forces to protect us. As an island Republic, Singapore is of tremendous strategic importance in this part of the world and it is essential that we should never allow ourselves to be caught unprepared because of a lack of determination to survive. We should never allow ourselves to be in such a position. Defence of the country is a community obligation and a fundamental responsibility of every citizen. In the same way as we would protect ourselves and our families from harm and loss, we also have a collective responsibility to protect ourselves from enemies of our Nation, so that we are able to live in peace and security. The Nation provides the individual citizen with status, security and material benefits like education, medical facilities, housing etc. to continue to enjoy such privileges, it is the responsibility of every citizen to guard what is rightfully ours and to ensure that our Nation is not and will never be threatened in any way.
When the occasion demands, we will rise as one people and one nation and fight for our rights and for the future and survival of our children and their children. To do this, we must be prepared to fight and serve the Nation. Service in the Armed Forces is the supreme test by which the Nation will know those who have in them a true and unswerving loyalty to our people, the concern for their well-being and an abiding faith in our nationhood, those who do not care what happens to our people do not deserve the privilege of the citizenship.
Patriotism
We are all citizens of Singapore. Regardless of Race, Language or Religion, will defend and protect Singapore whenever called upon, for this is where our stories began. A patriot is a man who loves the land his birth, adoption or upbringing. The highest form of patriotism is every Singaporean must play their part in any aspect of the Five Pillars in the Total Defence of Singapore. 
In common with our fellow citizens, we are expected to be loyal to our country, government and flag. To us, such loyalty is an obligation and any serious act of disloyalty becomes mutiny or even treason.
We, as members of the Armed Forces, must take pride and honoured the words in the Oath of Allegiance. By taking the oath, we pledged our allegiance to the President and the Republic of Singapore. We can do a great deal of harm either by foolish or imprudent thinking, or by expressing opinions which might be considered subversive and likely to cause disturbances.
We, as members of the Armed Forces, while free to hold political opinions, will be careful not to allow party politics interfere with our loyalty to the Government at any time. The Government in a democracy is in office because the majority of the citizens have voted for it. It is not, however, the government only of the majority, but of all citizens of Singapore. It demands service and loyalty of all members of the Armed Forces, and indeed of all citizens, whatever their political opinions. In order to keep our loyalty to the Republic intact, we should be careful to avoid the company of those who are violently opposed to it.
Because, we, as member of the Armed Forces are proud of our Nation, we must never do anything that might lead others to think badly of it. Whenever we are in uniform, we represent the Nation and our conduct will be judged as common to all Singaporeans. If we are brave, considerate, disciplined and polite, we will increase respect for Singapore. If we are selfish, bullying, careless and coarse, the image of Singapore will suffer.
Why Soldiers Train and Fight
We, as members of the Armed Forces, must be prepared to give of ourselves for the Nation. Liberty and independence are such precious things that without them, life is scarcely worth living. In today’s world, any country especially a small one like ours, may have to defend liberty not only from enemies without but also from misguided persons within. In the past, Singaporeans were ruled by outsiders. It is to ensure that we are never again a subject race and this indignity may never again be imposed upon our Republic that the Armed Forces of Singapore must attain a high standard of training and discipline comparable to the best in the world. Once attained, this standard has to be continuously maintained.
National Flag And Anthem
As members of the Armed Forces, we should always love and respect our Flag and our National Anthem so as to set a good example to our fellow citizens. We must also be able to sing the Anthem well. We have to remember that the National Flag and Anthem are symbols of our nationhood and our country’s independent status and the expression of the common ties that bind all races in our multi-racial society into a single united Republic. Any show of disrespect to the National Flag or Anthem by members of the Armed Forces is a flagrant abuse of what our country holds sacred, and will demonstrate our unworthiness to be citizens of the Republic.

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