Announcement

Dear friends and visitors,

With the impending closure of GeoCities later this year, the Military & Paramilitary Flags & Ranks of Singapore website is now located at the following new address: http://hfmy.110mb.com/

Regards,
Herman


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Military & Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore (Page 2)

While Page 1 details the current rank insignias, structure, and titles of the services, the current page (Page 2) will be concerned with the following four areas:

1. Historical Ranks & Chronology of Changes to Ranks
- a presentation of the historical ranks and changes to rank insignias, titles, and/or structures of the Singapore services.

2. Symbol and Rank Hierarchies Analysis
- an analysis of the correlation and disassociation between symbol hierarchy and rank hierarchy.

3. Other Rank Distinguishing Insignias and Accessories
- the secondary rank distinguishing uniform markings and accessories as used by the services - Gorget Patches, Peaked Cap Markings, and Cap/Beret Badges - are covered here.

4. Ceremonial Uniforms
- a brief presentation on the uniforms as used by the services at ceremonial occasions.

1. Historical Ranks & Chronology of Changes to Ranks

i. Origins of Rank Titles

Many of the rank titles used by the services today are European in origin and were inherited through Singapore's colonial episode. These rank titles and their position in the structures had already underwent much changes in the course of European history prior to (and during) European global imperial expansion. Several rank titles have retained some semblance to their original meaning while several have deviated from their original meaning/reference. The following are the etymologies of some of the basic and traditional rank titles used by the services today. The specific development and adoption of the rank titles during the course of European history is not detailed here. Other rank titles have more modern origins and their definitions/references are thus closer to today's vocabulary. Also, with the expansion in the number of ranks, modern words were incorporated to these traditional titles or these already existing rank titles were combined to give the new ranks their place in the structure. Because Singapore's navy took on the traditional army rank titles, many of the traditionally naval rank titles are not used presently in Singapore.

 • Private - from the Latin word privatus (belonging to individual/s and not the state)
 • Rate - from the Latin word rata (fixed or settled)
 • Petty Officer - the word petty from the French word petit (small) 
 • Corporal - from the Latin words caput (head) and corpus (body)
 • Lance Corporal - from the Old Italian term lancia spezzata (broken lance)
 • Sergeant - from the Latin word serviens (servant)
 • Midshipman - from the middle section of ships and boats, the amidships 
 • Ensign - from the Latin word insignia (badge or mark) 
 • Lieutenant - from the French words lieu (place) and tenant (holder)
 • Captain - from the Latin word capitaneus (chief) or caput (head)
 • Major - the Latin word for superior shortened from the French rank Sergent-major 
 • Colonel - from the Latin words columnella (small column) and corona (crown)
 • Commodore - possibly related to the various European languages variant of Commander
 • Brigadier - from the Italian word brigata (troop, crowd, or gang)
 • General - from the Latin word generalis (a whole unit rather than a part)
 • Admiral - from the Arabic title Amir Al-Bahr (commander of the seas)
 • Vice-Admiral - vice a Latin word (in place of) 
 • Marshal - from the Old French word mareschal (horse tender)
 • Constable - from the Latin title comes stabuli (count/master of the stable)
 • Warder - from the Anglo-French word wardere (guardian)
 • Inspector - from the Latin word inspectus (examine or look into) 
 • Superintendent - from the Latin words super (above) and intendere (directing attention)

For an excellent detailed treatment on the origins and development of military and naval rank titles, see for instance Rank: The Story Behind Names of Different Rank by Raymond Oliver, Museum Curator for McClellan Aviation Museum at the US Navy website. See also the following excellent general resource for the etymology of words including those of rank titles: Online Etymology Dictionary. 

ii. Changes to Rank Structures, Titles, and/or Insignias

The Singapore services ranks as seen today was the result of multiple changes that was carried out, in a piecemeal manner or in entirety, by the respective services across time. The following list thus notes the changes to ranks chronologically. There are definitely gaps in the list, and updates will be made as and when new information comes to light. At the moment, the following were changes that were understood to have taken place:

  Colonial Singapore (until 1963)   - Rank insignias of the local forces during the colonial period generally followed those of the regular forces of the United Kingdom, with locals comprising the junior ranks and British personnel holding senior ranks. The following is a summary of ranks used during the colonial period (up to 1963). Detailed rank information may not be available.

Naval Forces -- The Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and Royal Malayan Navy followed the Royal Navy rank structure. There were the following charges and titles for non-commissioned officers: a fouled anchor (Leading Rate), a crown above two fouled anchors in saltire (Petty Officer), and three gold buttons on the cuffs (Chief Petty Officer). Able Seamen are not represented by any insignias. RNVR officers would have used wavy bars instead of the Royal Navy's straight bars, and the RNVR's had squarish loops instead of normal circular ones as used by the officers of the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy had two sets of rank insignias for officers - the more frequently used bars set, and the less-used complex set of insignias based on crowns, stars, anchors, sword and baton in saltire, and batons in saltire within a laurel wreath. (The Royal Navy's complex rank insignia model [badges based] is illustrated further in the section on Symbol and Rank Hierarchies. The bars model is similar to those noted in the 1970s entry to follow on the Singapore air force.)

Full Royal Navy ranks:
 Admiral of the Fleet ∙ Admiral ∙ Vice-Admiral ∙ Rear-Admiral ∙ Commodore ∙ Captain ∙ Commander ∙ Lieutenant-Commander ∙ Lieutenant ∙ Sub-Lieutenant
Warrant Officer ∙ Chief Petty Officer ∙ Petty Officer ∙ Leading Rate ∙ Ordinary & Able Rate

Military Units -- Local land units followed the British Army ranks as is apparent today in the UK and several Commonwealth realms. The following charges are used: crown, star (based on the Grand Cross Commander Star of the Order of the Bath design except for the Household regiments), chevrons, the British royal arms, and the generals' baton and sword in saltire. The British Army rank insignia model which is also used by the British police and colonial Singapore police survives today, with appropriate modification/replacement of charges, in the enforcement services of Singapore. The British Army rank insignia model for command and management officers used presently attained its form from changes that were introduced between the 1850s and the 1920s. The officer's insignias appeared on the collars and cuffs before it was moved to the shoulders (and today, at the centre of the chest for selected uniforms).

Full British Army ranks:
 Field Marshal ∙ General ∙ Lieutenant-General ∙ Major-General ∙ Brigadier ∙ Colonel ∙ Lieutenant-Colonel ∙ Major ∙ Captain ∙ Lieutenant ∙ 2nd Lieutenant
Warrant Officers ∙ Colour Sergeant/Staff Sergeant ∙ Sergeant ∙ Corporal ∙ Lance Corporal ∙ Private

Air Force -- There was also the Royal Air Force in Singapore. The officer rank insignias were based on the bars and broad band system derived from those used by the Royal Navy. The Republic of Singapore Air Force used such insignias for a while from 1975 to 1982 as illustrated in the entry of 1975 to follow but retaining army-style rank titles. The non-commissioned ranks of the RAF had the rank titles listed below and insignias such as propellers of varying blade numbers in addition to the usual chevrons, royal crown, and royal arms. There was the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force (MAAF) made up of local and British personnel from 1950 to 1960. The ranks used by the MAAF was in most likelihood like those of the RAF for that period.

Full Royal Air Force ranks (1950s - 1960s):
Marshal of the Royal Air Force ∙ Air Chief Marshal ∙ Air Marshal ∙ Air Vice-Marshal ∙ Air Commodore ∙ Group Captain ∙ Wing Commander ∙ Squadron Leader ∙ Flight Lieutenant ∙ Flying Officer ∙ Pilot Officer
Warrant Officers/Master Technician/Master Aircrew ∙ Flight Sergeant/Chief Technician ∙ Sergeant/Senior Technician ∙ Corporal/Corporal Technician ∙ Junior Technician ∙ Senior Aircraftmen ∙ Leading Aircraftman ∙ Aircraftman 

Colonial Singapore Police Ranks

Left: 
Pre-WWII Inspector-General and post-WWII Assistant Commissioner (being also the insignia of an Army Colonel).
Right: 
Post-WWII Assistant Superintendent

Police Forces -- The local colonial police service used the following charges, similar to the army but with the addition of another star: crown, star I (based on the Grand Cross Commander Star of the Order of the Bath design), star II (crown/s within the service title within a laurel wreath on a Maltese cross), chevrons, batons in saltire within a laurel wreath. Star II was worn on collars as well as epaulettes.

The Straits Settlements Police had the following rank structure and insignias until around WWII. For the Superior Officer group: Inspector-General of Police (crown and two star Is), Chief Superintendent (crown and one star I), Superintendent (crown), Assistant Superintendent - passed (three star Is), Assistant Superintendent (two star Is), Chief Inspector (one star I), Senior Inspector (three star IIs), Inspector (two star IIs), and Probationary Inspector (one star II). Asiatic Probationary to Senior Inspectors wear their stars on the collars while British Probationary to Senior Inspectors wear their stars on the uniform lapels. The Subordinate Officers and Constables group comprised the following: Sergeant Major (crown on cuff), Sergeant (three chevrons), Corporal (two chevrons), Lance Corporal (one chevron), Constable (one, two, or three full bars on epaulettes depending on class). (Special thanks to Dr N. Thomas and D. Dorcemus for furnishing this information on the Straits Settlements Police ranks)

After the war, the Singapore Police had the following structure as at 1953 and insignias where information is available: Commissioner of Police (crown and commissioners' badge), Deputy Commissioner (star I and commissioners' badge), Senior Assistant Commissioner (commissioners' badge only), Assistant Commissioner (crown and two star Is), Superintendent (crown and one star I), Deputy Superintendent (crown), Assistant Superintendent, Chief Inspector, Inspector, Probationary Inspector, Sub-Inspector, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant (three chevrons), Corporal (two chevrons), Lance Corporal (one chevron), and Constable (possibly full bar and class system as was under the Straits Settlements Police). The rank insignias of Staff Sergeant to Assistant Superintendent is unconfirmed but were likely to be: a crown above three chevrons for the Staff Sergeant, one or two star IIs on the collars for the Sub-Inspectors, one star II on the shoulder for the Probationary and confirmed Inspectors, two star IIs on the shoulder for the Chief Inspector, and three star IIs on the shoulder for the Assistant Superintendent. The commissioners' badge were like those used by the British police, batons in saltire within a laurel wreath. For an excellent presentation of the physical collections of the police ranks since the colonial period, see Bobby's Ultimate website. 

Colonial Singapore Prisons Ranks (around 1958)

Left: 
Assistant Superintendent
Right: 
Principal Officer

Prisons Service -- Based on a local publication of 1958 titled Majalah Penjara (Prisons magazine), the prisons service is understood to have had the following ranks around that period: Warder, Corporal Warder, Sergeant Warder, Chief Warder, Sub-Officer, Principal Officer (and Senior Principal Officer), Chief Officer, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. Chevrons were used on the sleeves by junior staff parallel to the usual designations as used by other services, i.e., two chevrons for the Corporal and three chevrons for the Sergeant. The rank insignia for a Chief Warder was a crown worn on the collar. Principal Officers wore a form of a star which based on one drawing differed from the starburst pip as used by the British Army and Singapore colonial police. The Principal Officer's star was illustrated to be an eight pointed starburst with one crown on a disc at the centre. A Principal Officer could wear up to three stars, an additional star reflecting the officer's length of service. The Senior Principal Officer would wear three stars on a green background. An Assistant Superintendent was shown to have worn a crown above a star (the star believed to be the star of the Order of the Bath rather than those of the Principal Officers'). The rank insignia for a Chief Officer and Superintendent are uncertain, perhaps a crown for the former and a crown above two stars for the latter. There was the Commissioner of Prisons who was derived from the military or naval establishment and retaining their military/naval ranks.

Fire Brigade & Civil Defence -- The colonial Singapore Fire Brigade was likely to have followed the British fire brigades ranks with impellers and bar/s as charges (see 1988 entry to follow for illustration). According to the Fire Department's 1954 Annual Report, the following ranks were listed amongst many other designations: Superintendent, Deputy Chief Officer, Divisional Officer, Sub-Officer, Junior Sub-Officer, Chief Foreman, Foreman, Sub-Foreman, Leading Fireman, and Fireman. From 1961 to at least 1973, the ranks of the fire brigade were: Chief Fire Officer, Divisional Officer, Assistant Divisional Officer, Station Officer, Section Leader, Foreman, Sub-Foreman, Leading Fireman, and Fireman. The ambulance section of the fire brigade had a supervisor and Fireman-Ambulance Attendants. Other designations included control room operators, engineers, drivers, and various other support staff.

The colonial Singapore Civil Defence Corps were sighted to have been using two and three chevrons on sleeves for the non-officers while officers were sighted using one or two bars on epaulettes.

  1968   - Singapore's air force began operations under the name Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) and was referred to as such until 1975. The ranks of the SADC paralleled those of the Singapore Army in titles and insignias. The local pip and the national arms were used as charges for SADC officer ranks like those of the Army, i.e, 2nd Lieutenant (one pip) to Brigadier (the national arms and three pips). The Brigadier rank was sometime later changed to become the rank of Brigadier-General and the insignia that was adopted was a sole generals' badge, i.e., a sword and baton in saltire within a laurel wreath. The general-level ranks theoretically followed the British Army model - a pip and generals' badge for the Major-General, a national arms above a generals' badge for the Lieutenant-General, and a national arms above a pip above a generals' badge for the full General. General-level rank insignias were changed to another model in the 1970s. 

SADC non-officer ranks and insignias were as follow: Lance-Corporal (a chevron couped reversed), Corporal (two chevrons couped reversed), Sergeant (three chevrons couped reversed), Staff Sergeant (one national arms above three chevrons couped reversed), and Warrant Officer (one national arms).

Commissioner of Police  1970s   - Prior to and in the early 1970s, the commissioners' badge of the Singapore Police Force was comprised of batons in saltire within a laurel wreath, similar to the ones used presently. This was changed by the mid-1970s to a baton and sword in saltire without the laurel wreath. The baton and sword commissioners' badge was used by the Police's commissioner-level ranks until 1982.

The Lee Soo Ann committee recommendation of 1972 led to the abolishment of the ranks of Corporal and Staff Sergeant, and the change to the rank of Sub-Inspector to become Station Inspector. From henceforth, the junior ranks of the police force were: Police Constable (one bar and two bars), Sergeant (a national arms above three chevrons couped reversed), and Station Inspector (three stars worn on the collars). The rank of Corporal was reinstated in the force in 1976.

1975 saw the abolishment of the rank of Senior Inspector of Police. This rank was represented by the same rank insignia as the Inspector of Police, i.e., two stars on the shoulders.

Lieutenant-GeneralThe Singapore Army General-level ranks from the mid-1970s to 1982 were represented by insignias based on the following pattern: a national arms above five-pointed star/s (one star for a Brigadier-General, two stars for a Major-General, three stars for a Lieutenant-General, and four stars for a full General) above a generals' badge comprising a baton and sword in saltire within a laurel wreath. This marks a first departure from the British Army rank insignia pattern. The other junior and senior officer ranks (2nd Lieutenant to Colonel) however continued using the pips and arms model that was adopted since independence.

The Singapore Air Defence Command was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 1975. Rank insignias were changed to parallel the rank insignias of the Commonwealth air forces. The Commonwealth air forces uses the horizontal tri-band bar as charges for the rank insignia of officers. The top and bottom stripes of the horizontally divided bar are equal and parallel to one another and are broader in height than the centre stripe. The air force tri-band bars comes in two sizes referred to here as the bar and the closet. (In heraldry, the bar has two diminutives. The closet is half the height of a bar, while the barrulet is a quarter the height of a bar.) Air Commodores and Marshals have an enlarged version of the tri-band bar.

2nd Lieutenant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, Colonel, BrigadierRSAF officer rank titles remained but rank insignias were revised to: 2nd Lieutenant (one tri-band closet), Lieutenant (one tri-band bar), Captain (two tri-band bars), Major (one tri-band closet between two tri-band bars), Lieutenant Colonel (three tri-band bars), Colonel (four tri-band bars), and Brigadier (commodore and air marshals' broad band). Theoretically, the ranks following Brigadier, i.e., Major-General, Lieutenant-General, and General, will have one, two, and three tri-band bars above the broad triband bar of the Brigadier respectively. 

For the ceremonial dress' shoulder boards, all tri-band bars/closet and the commodore/marshals’ broad band were rendered throughout in gold. Additionally, a gold eagle was charged on the shoulder boards to appear above these bars and broad band. For other epaulettes, the tri-band bar and closet colour scheme is light blue between dark blue stripes. The commodore/marshals' band is dark blue with a horizontal light blue bar across the centre. This colour scheme is still used by the Commonwealth air forces. These bars and band originally appeared on cuffs rather than epaulettes in the Royal Air Force. The Royal Navy from which this model was adapted had a similar arrangement but the top-most bar had a loop known as an "executive curl". The Royal Navy Commodore however had a ring above the broad band instead of an executive curl.

RSAF non-officer insignias remained generally the same as since 1968, but there was the introduction of the Warrant Officer I rank represented by a national arms within a laurel wreath. The Senior Warrant Officer rank (national arms within a laurel wreath surmounted with a five-pointed star) was introduced later to the force before 1982 (see 1992 entry for illustration).

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, naval officer rank insignias were made up of bars, loops (executive curls), and mascles (voided lozenges). 1975 also saw the naval element of the military, the Maritime Command, being renamed the Republic of Singapore Navy. The naval officers had their former rank insignias changed around this period. Similar to the air force, the naval officers used gold bars and closets on black shoulder boards as their rank insignias. In addition to the gold bars and closet, an inverted gold five-pointed star was placed above the bars. The flag rank officers (Admirals) plus the Commodore theoretically had insignias that looked like those of the United States Navy flag officers - a fouled anchor above incremental number of stars. Rank titles paralleled those of the army from 2nd Lieutenant to Colonel after which the traditional naval titles were used, i.e., Commodore to Admiral.

  1982   - The Singapore Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) revamps and standardises all rank insignias and titles for all its officer ranks. New charges introduced and used until the present day are bars couped for the junior commissioned officers (2nd Lieutenant to Captain), the national arms in multiples for the senior commissioned officers (Major to Colonel), and simple five-pointed star/s (heraldry: mullet) for general/flag ranks officers. This new bars couped and national arms model as used by the military junior and senior officers is later adopted by the civil defence force and fire service in the second half of the 1980s.

The Singapore Police Force revised the senior officer rank insignias in 1982. Prior to 1982, the Commissioner of Police wore a national arms above the commissioners' badge as rank insignia. (From c. 1975 to 1982, the commissioners' badge comprised a baton and sword in saltire). The Deputy Commissioner was represented by a pip above the commissioners' badge, and the Assistant Commissioner was represented by a national arms and two pips. Superintendents wore a national arms and one pip, Deputy Superintendents were represented by a national arms, while Assistant Superintendents used three pips. Inspectors wore two pips and Probationary Inspectors wore one pip.

The change in 1982 brought about the following: the commissioners' badge reverted to batons in saltire within a laurel wreath as was used prior to 1975 and as is apparent to the present day (two batons in saltire within a laurel wreath). The commissioner-level rank structure as seen today were also adopted. A Deputy Assistant Commissioner rank was introduced represented by a sole commissioners' badge as its rank insignia. The Assistant Superintendent rank insignia was shifted one insignia up to using one national arms from three pips previously. The Deputy Superintendent wore a national arms and a pip, and the Superintendent wore a national arms and two pips. A three pips rank insignia was designated to become the rank insignia of the new Chief Inspector rank for the Gurkha Contingent. Inspectors continued wearing two pips as was the case before.

The Civil Defence Command was raised as a command under the Singapore Police Force. Pips were used by 2nd Lieutenants (one pip), Lieutenants (two pips), and Captains (three pips) of the Civil Defence Command. Command later renamed the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Information for the other ranks are uncertain.

  1984   - The Singapore Armed Forces introduces the rank of Private First Class represented by a horizontal bar worn on the sleeves. The insignia was later changed to a chevron couped reversed by 1992.

  1986   - From June onwards, the Singapore Civil Defence Force senior officer ranks (2nd Lieutenant to Lieutenant-Colonel) were changed to parallel titles and insignias as used by the Singapore Armed Forces (bars couped and the national arms in multiples). The rank of Colonel was also introduced to the service with the revamp. Around 1988, Commissioner-level ranks followed the police tradition but without the pip. Commissioner of SCDF wore one national arms above a commissioners' badge. Over these few years, officers from the SAF assumes several command and management positions in the SCDF but retaining SAF ranks and uniforms. The SCDF commissioners' badge used since then and until 2005 had the civil defence triangle with the national shield all within a laurel wreath with a bow - basically the civil defence service emblem without the title-scroll.

Director of Fire Service  1988   - The Singapore Fire Service (SFS) revamped their ranks becoming parallel to those of the armed forces and civil defence force, i.e., Fire Lieutenant (two bars couped) to Fire Colonel (three national arms). Junior ranks comprised the Fire Corporal (two chevrons couped reversed), Fire Sergeant (two axes in saltire and fire helmet above three chevrons couped reversed), and Fire Warrant Officer (fire helmet on two axes in saltire within a laurel wreath) ranks. Director-level ranks used the police-styled insignias minus the starburst badge/pip. The Director of Fire Service used a national arms and a directors' badge, i.e., two fire axes in saltire with a fire helmet all within a laurel wreath. The Deputy Director's rank insignia was a sole directors' badge. Fire Service and Civil Defence Force merger commences and Singapore Joint Civil Defence Forces (SJCDF) was the interim result.

The British fire services rank insignias which the Singapore Fire Brigade paralleled in part if not in totality

Prior to 1988, the ranks of the Singapore Fire Service (formerly Singapore Fire Brigade until 1980) were generally similar to the former British fire services' rank titles and insignias. There was from 1974/5 onwards, for the fire brigade/service, the Director of Fire Brigade/Service represented by two small impellers above a senior command badge, Deputy Directors represented by a small impeller above a senior command badge badge, Divisional Officers/Superintendents (insignia unconfirmed - Ώsole senior command badge?), Assistant Divisional Officers/Deputy Superintendents (insignia unconfirmed - Ώthree large impellers?), Station Officers represented by two large impellers, Section Leaders (insignia unconfirmed - Ώtwo bars?), Junior Section Leaders (insignia unconfirmed - Ώtwo bars?), Leading Firemen (insignia unconfirmed - Ώone bar?), and Firemen (insignia unconfirmed - likely without any rank insignias). The senior command badge comprised a large impeller within a laurel wreath. If the former British Fire Services rank insignia model was used as a general guide (as shown above), Singapore Fire Brigade's ranks would have in most likelihood resembled the following where similar ranks existed: two small impellers above the senior command badge for Chief Fire Officer, one small impeller above a senior command badge above a narrow bar for the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, one small impeller above a senior command badge for an Assistant Chief Fire Officer, a senior command badge above a narrow bar for a Senior Divisional Officer, a sole senior command badge for the Divisional Officer, three large impellers for the Assistant Divisional Officer, two large impellers for the Station Officer, two bars for the Sub-Officer, one bar for the Leading Firefighter, and no insignia for the basic Firefighter.

Commissioner of Civil Defence  1989   - The rank insignia of the Commissioner of Singapore Civil Defence Force began featuring two national arms above the commissioners' badge instead of one as was the case previously. One national arms above a commissioners' badge became the rank insignia of the Deputy Commissioner. The Assistant Commissioner wore a sole commissioners' badge. This commissioner-level structure and rank insignias remained until 2005. In 1992, SJCDF reverts name to SCDF signifying the completion of the merger phases. The Singapore Fire Service formally ceased to exist and its rank insignias were thus no longer used.

  1990   - From March, the ranks of Staff Sergeant and Senior Staff Sergeant were introduced in the Singapore Police Force. The junior police ranks were now, Constable (one bar), Corporal (two chevrons couped reversed), Sergeant (three chevrons couped reversed), Staff Sergeant (a national arms above three chevrons couped reversed), Senior Staff Sergeant (a national arms within a laurel wreath above three chevrons couped reversed), and Station Inspector (three pips on collars).

  1991   - In 1991, the Singapore Customs and Excise Department announced changes to its senior officer ranks. The Customs senior officer rank structure, titles, and insignia from 1991 to c. 2001 was as follow: Director-General (national arms, one pip, and a directors-general's badge), Deputy Director-General (national arms and a directors-general's badge), Senior Director (one pip and a directors-general's badge), Director (national arms and two pips), Senior Superintendent (national arms and one pip), Higher Superintendent (national arms), Superintendent Grade A (three pips), Superintendent Grade B (two pips), and Probationary Superintendent (one pip). The directors-general's badge comprised a portcullis within a wreath of fronds; basically the Customs and Excise service emblem without the national arms and title-scroll. Junior ranks like those mentioned to follow remained.

Prior to the above-mentioned change, the Customs and Excise Department had the following ranks and insignias: Director-General (two five-pointed stars above a national arms and flat laurels), Deputy Director-General (a five-pointed star above a national arms and flat laurels), Senior Director (two pips above a national arms), Director (a pip above a national arms), Senior Superintendent (a national arms), Superintendent (three pips), Assistant Superintendent (two pips), Chief Customs Officer (three bars couped), Higher Customs Officer (two bars couped), and Customs Officer (a bar couped).

The next major changes to the ranks of the senior officers of Customs was carried out just prior to 2003 mainly involving the renaming of several rank titles for the command and management officers, while the junior officers' bars were replaced with chevrons in 2001.

The three former Warrant Officer rank insignias as used by the three Services of the Singapore Armed Forces and the Singapore Civil Defence Force
Left to right:
Warrant Officer II,
Warrant Officer I,
Senior Warrant Officer.
(Gold on green for the Army and gold on bluish-grey for Civil Defence)  

  1992   - The non-commissioned officer ranks of the Singapore Armed Forces were revamped. Intermediate ranks were introduced from 3rd Sergeant (formerly the Corporal First Class) to Senior Warrant Officer as is observable today. Previous set of ranks prior to 1992 was comprised of Private, Corporal, Corporal First Class (a bar couped above two chevrons couped reversed), Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Warrant Officer Classes II and I, and Senior Warrant Officer ranks. The rank insignias for Lance Corporal and Corporal while retaining the original chevrons gained a bar arched. The pre-1992 rank insignias for Corporal to Staff Sergeant ranks is still used today by the emergency and enforcement services of Singapore. 

Warrant Officers began displaying their new rank insignias comprising chevron(s) couped, national arms, and a bar couped arched reversed on the epaulettes rather than on the sleeves/wrists as was done previously. Significantly, this SAF Warrant Officer rank insignia design and pattern will eventually be adopted, some with slight modifications, by all Singapore services for corresponding level personnel.

The former Singapore Armed Forces Warrant Officer insignias is shown to the right. These insignias were also utilised by the Singapore Civil Defence Force possibly from the 1980s to perhaps the middle of the 1990s.

The Director of Singapore Prison Service began wearing the present day rank insignia, i.e., one national arms, a pip, and a directors' badge. From the 1980s and up to 1992, the rank insignia of the Director of Prisons comprised one national arms above a directors' badge, the rank of Deputy Director was represented by a pip and a directors' badge, and the rank of Assistant Director was represented by a sole directors' badge. Earlier still in the 1970s, the rank insignia of the Director of Prisons comprised one pip above the directors' badge. The directors' badge throughout comprised two keys in saltire within a laurel wreath. The earlier year pips for the Prisons directors-level rank had two keys in saltire at the centre of the starburst. This was later changed to be standardised with the general pattern pip featuring the crescent and five stars at the centre.

  1995   - The predecessor organisation to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (to be formed in 2003), the Singapore Immigration & Registration department, had the following ranks and insignias for uniformed staff: Immigration Officer (one gold full bar), Sub-Inspector (two gold full bars), Inspector (three gold full bars), Senior Inspector (four gold full bars), Senior Inspector [Special Grade] (four gold full bars with red stripes in-between the bars), Senior Officer Grade 11 (two gold pips), and Senior Officer Grade 12 (a national arms in gold). Airport staff wore smaller metal rank insignias on their uniforms but with the bars couped, and also with the exception of the Senior Inspector Special Grade who was represented by three red bars couped instead of the four gold bars with red in between. These rank insignias were used until the immigrations and customs-excise departments' reorganisation in 2003. The use of the full bar as an insignia of rank by the Immigrations service was already in place way before the 1990s however.

  1997   - Singapore Police Force and Singapore Prison Service shifted all rank-and-file insignias from the sleeves to the epaulettes after a uniform review was carried out in 1996. This did not apply to the SPF Gurkha Contingent who retained ranks worn on sleeves. The Police's Station Inspector rank insignia was changed from three pips worn on collars to one chevron couped, a national arms, and laurels to be worn on epaulettes (in a pattern similar to the SAF and SCDF Warrant Officers). In addition, a higher Senior Station Inspector rank (two chevrons couped, a national arms, and laurels) was introduced in the police force. Prisons introduces the new apex rank of Senior Chief Warder 2 (four chevrons couped) in its structure. The Prisons' Chief Warder ranks were also represented by three pips worn on collars previously before the adoption of the SAF Warrant Officer-styled rank insignias. The use of rank insignias on collars had origins in Singapore's colonial police force as well as colonial prison service.

  1998   - An additional chevron couped was added to Singapore Police Force's Station Inspector (original 1+1= two chevrons couped) and Senior Station Inspector (original 2+1= three chevrons couped) rank insignias. The apex rank of Senior Station Inspector 2 (four chevrons couped) was introduced.

  2001   - Singapore Customs and Excise Department changed its junior Customs officers' rank insignias, replacing the previously used bars couped with chevrons couped: Customs Officer (one bar couped changed to one chevron couped), Higher Customs Officer (two bars couped changed to two chevrons couped), and Senior Customs Officer (new rank whose insignia was to be three chevrons couped). The SAF Warrant Officer rank insignia style was applied to the Chief Customs Officer ranks with the exception of the Customs & Excise service badge (a portcullis chained within a wreath of fronds surmounted with the national arms without the motto-scroll and without customs service title scroll) in lieu of the national arms. The Chief Customs Officer's former rank insignia comprised three bars couped. The adoption of chevrons made the Customs ranks highly aligned to the other services of Singapore. Greater similarity was achieved later in 2003 when the chevrons were inverted (chevrons couped reversed). Senior officers of Customs retained the pips and national arms combinations. 

Sometime prior to 2003, several changes were introduced to the ranks of the senior officers of Customs. The Senior Director rank was renamed to Assistant Director-General, while the Director rank was renamed as Chief Superintendent. There were no changes to the rank insignias. The Senior Superintendent and Higher Superintendent rank titles and insignias remained as before. The two Superintendent rank grade divisions however were abolished and the new single rank of Superintendent was assigned to wear three pips only. The Probationary Superintendent rank was then revised up to wear two pips instead of one as its insignia.

  2002   - Singapore Police Force abolishes the rank of Lance-Corporal for the conscript and regular schemes.

  2003   - Singapore Customs & Excise Department and Singapore Immigration & Registration reorganised to become Singapore Customs and the new Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. The ranks and structure of the Customs & Excise Department remained. However, Customs rank insignias featuring the Customs service emblem were updated to reflect the new service emblem in which the caduceus replaced the portcullis. The full rank title of the head of the Customs service was changed from the Director-General of Customs and Excise to Director-General of Customs (also to the formal title of other ranks such as Superintendent of Customs formerly the Superintendent of Customs and Excise).

ICA ranks that was adopted upon establishment was similar to today's. The senior officer ranks are similar to those of the police where insignias and titles are concerned. The junior officer ranks that were adopted featured the insignias as used today (parallel to the civil defence, police, and prison rank insignias) but until March 2008, with the following rank titles: Immigration & Checkpoint (I&C) Specialist, Higher I&C Specialist 1, Higher I&C Specialist 2, Senior I&C Specialist, Chief I&C Specialist, and Chief I&C Specialist (Special Grades 1 and 2). This rank titles style was quite similar to the system used by Singapore Customs.

  2003/4   - Singapore Customs replaces junior ranks' chevrons couped of 2001 with chevrons couped reversed attaining greater similarity with other Singapore services. The rank of Senior Customs Officer was upgraded (and for its insignia a Customs service emblem above three chevrons couped reversed - somewhat similar to the other emergency and enforcement services' rank insignia for Staff Sergeant). The rank of Higher Customs Officer formerly represented by two chevrons was split into two grades with insignia bearing two chevrons couped reversed and three chevrons couped reversed respectively. Three chevrons couped was the insignia of the Senior Customs Officer from around 2001.

  2004   - Singapore Civil Defence Force sleeve rank insignias for the rank-and-file were shifted to the epaulettes like those of the enforcement services. The military establishment remain the only entity to continue displaying rank insignias on the sleeves of the uniforms. SPF Gurkha Contingent was also another exception.

  2005   - The ranks of Captain and Lieutenant in the Singapore Civil Defence Force had bars couped used since 1986 replaced with enforcement services-style stars (pips) for their rank insignias in what was publicised as an exercise to align the civil defence ranks with those of the other Home Team services. From another perspective, this is but a reversion to the past as these stars were originally used by the Lieutenants and Captains when the force was raised as a command under the police force in 1982/3. The introduction (or revival) of the pip also led to the expansion of the commissioner-level ranks with pips incorporated into the insignias where necessary. The rank insignia of the Commissioner of Civil Defence had one of the original two national arms replaced with a pip. The commissioners' badge used since 1986 was also replaced with two fire axes in saltire within a laurel wreath. The Assistant Commissioner rank insignia now featured a pip above a commissioners' badge instead of a sole commissioners' badge which was the case before. New rank of Senior Assistant Commissioner and corresponding insignia (two pips and a commissioners' badge) was introduced into the structure. The Deputy Commissioner rank insignia remained as before (national arms and a commissioners' badge) but the commissioners' badge replaced with the new axes within a laurel wreath badge.

Singapore Customs revises upwards the Chief Superintendent rank to use a sole directors-general's badge and introduced an additional Deputy Chief Superintendent rank using the one national arms and two pips as rank insignia. The latter rank insignia was was formerly used by the Chief Superintendent of Customs.

  2006   - The Singapore Police Force Gurkha Contingent rank insignia for the field dress were shifted from the uniform sleeve and epaulettes to the front right pocket.

  2007   - The Singapore Armed Forces introduces the rank of Corporal First Class. While equivalent in title, the rank insignia of this rank differs from the earlier pre-1992 Corporal First Class rank which had a bar above two chevrons reversed.

  2008   - In March, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority adopted the traditional military and paramilitary rank titles for their junior officers from Lance Corporal to Staff Sergeant, replacing the titles that was adopted upon establishment in 2003. The three Chief Immigration and Checkpoints Specialist ranks were renamed Checkpoint Inspectors 1 and 2, and Senior Checkpoint Inspector 1, similar in style to the police's Station Inspector and Senior Station Inspector ranks. A new apex rank with the title of Senior Checkpoint Inspector 2 and corresponding insignia (4 chevrons couped), was also introduced. The numbering convention for the four Checkpoint Inspector ranks follow the Police and Prisons system with 1 being the junior grade and 2 the senior grade. This entire group of ranks was also renamed from Junior Officers to Specialists.

The Singapore Armed Forces announces the introduction of new disruptive pattern camouflage uniforms (No.4) in the month of September. Officer and Warrant Officer rank insignias are now displayed singularly at the centre chest portion of the field dress instead of being worn in pairs on the shoulders. There are no changes to the rank insignias as used since 1982 and 1992. Privates First Class to Master Sergeants retain the display of their rank insignias in pairs on the upper sleeves of the field dress. (Press release and brochure.

The Singapore Armed Forces introduces the Specialist Cadet rank throughout the three services for personnel undergoing the specialist training courses from end December 2008 onwards.

Top of Page • Historical Ranks • Other Rank Markings (Gorget Patches, Peaked Cap Markings, and Cap/Beret Badges) • Ceremonial Uniforms

2. Symbol Hierarchy and Rank Hierarchy
The Precedence of Symbols and the Correlation and Disassociation between Symbol and Rank Hierarchies

While ranks represent a structured hierarchy, symbols can also have a hierarchy of their own. When the rank insignias of the service chiefs of the emergency and enforcement services is observed, we can see the precedence of the various charges (symbols) in practice. The national arms outranks the starburst pip which in turn outranks the senior command badge as is apparent in their vertical arrangement. There are however some problems where proper symbol hierarchy is concerned at present laterally as will be noted specifically below. It is perhaps sensible to ensure that proper symbol precedence parallels rank hierarchy and this section is aimed at highlighting this as well as providing alternatives that adheres to this concept. Rank insignias should not only reflect an increase or decrease in the status of a particular rank in relation to its immediate senior and junior ranks but also reflected whenever any two "distant" rank insignias in the rank structure are considered. The command and management group of ranks will be given primary focus. 

i) The case of the military services: It is my opinion that there is a symbol hierarchy anomaly in the current Singapore military rank insignias above the rank of Major, despite its principle of simplicity. The principle I subscribe to here is that the national arms, as the highest symbol of the State, cannot be succeeded by any other charges in the representing of a higher grade or rank. The incremental symbol hierarchy for the military ranks since 1982 is bar(s) followed by national arms followed by star(s) & laurels. Where proper symbol hierarchy is concerned, the national arms should outrank regular stars. Stars and laurels are more generic a symbol and thus do not precede the national arms in the hierarchy of symbols. This anomaly of stars having a higher representational status than a national emblem is also apparent in the US military, where the (modified) Arms of the United States is used for the rank of Colonel (and naval rank of Captain), but the subsequent General-level officers (and equivalent naval Admiral ranks) using simple star/s instead. The current US symbol hierarchy increment for commissioned officers is bar/s, oak leaf, national arms, and star/s (The US Navy and Coast Guard have an additional set of rank insignias based on full bars like those of the Royal Navy & Royal Air Force). A major overhaul would be required for the military rank insignias to rectify this anomaly.

SAF > > > Current Increment > > >
Rank Hierarchy: Junior Officers
(2Lt to Cpt)		 Senior Officers
(Maj to Col)		 Generals & Admirals
Symbol Hierarchy: Bar/s National Arms Star/s and laurel 

ii) The case of the enforcement services: Using this "national arms as the highest rank charge" principle would also render the enforcement services insignia model for the senior command level partially symbolically inaccurate as well, as the national arms "disappears" after the arms and two pips permutation (rank insignia permutation number 2.6 as used to represent the Superintendents of Police, Prisons, and ICA, and Deputy Chief Superintendent of Customs). The anomaly is however not as apparent because the national arms does still emerge in due course as an integral part of the highest (and second highest) rank insignia permutation (as used to represent the supreme professional Service Commissioners, Director, and Director-General), together with the distinctive badge of the senior command group of ranks. The starburst pips and arms system works fine for the lower and intermediate command and management group of ranks. However, when the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police's rank insignia - a sole commissioner's badge - is compared with the lower ranked Assistant Superintendent of Police's single national arms, an anomaly can be observed where symbol hierarchy is concerned. The national arms should symbolically outrank the police senior command badge (batons in saltire) but is not the case. Similar situations can be observed in the other enforcement services as well up to rank insignia permutation number 3.2 . The primacy of the national arms is however observed individually in ranks when appearing with other charges at the command and management level. The British Army model as a result is also unsatisfactory under this symbol hierarchy principle as the sovereign's crown disappears temporarily after the Brigadier rank (rank insignia number 2.7 - crown over three pips). 

The SCDF also inherit the disassociation between symbol and rank hierarchies given that it features both the military and enforcement services rank insignia models. Compare in one instance the rank insignias of Colonel and Commissioner where the former rank bearing three national arms has a lower standing than the latter rank which has only one national arms and other rank charges which are junior to the national arms. 

iii) Preferable models adhering to proper symbol hierarchy: For rank insignia models that are based on a combination of various charges, three models adhere to the concept of proper symbol hierarchy correlating with rank hierarchy. They are the pre-1982 Singapore Army model, the Royal Navy model, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) model. In all these models and cases, the highest symbol of the state (the sovereign’s crown in the RCMP and Royal Navy’s case and the national arms in Singapore’s case) is maintained throughout once it appears as a rank charge.

As detailed earlier in the historical ranks section, the pre-1982 Singapore Army used the national arms and pips system for its lower and intermediate command and management ranks (2nd Lieutenant to Colonel). The senior command and management ranks (General-level ranks) were represented by insignias based on the following pattern: a national arms above incremental number of five-pointed star/s above a generals’ badge (baton and sword in saltire within a laurel-wreath). The constant appearance of the national arms once it appears as a rank insignia charge makes this a proper model where symbol and rank hierarchy correlation is concerned.

Royal Navy shoulder board rank insignias in the 1900s:


Left to right: Sub-Lieutenant & Lieutenant (junior) • Lieutenant (senior) • Commander • Captain (junior) • Captain (senior) & Commodore 2nd & 1st Classes • Rear-Admiral • Vice-Admiral • Admiral
-
# The Tudor/Imperial crown was used from 1901 to 1952 

The Royal Navy Admirals' rank insignias for shoulder boards are similar in a sense to the rank insignias of the pre-1982 Singapore Army Generals. The main difference is in the arrangement of the charges in which a crown is placed above the senior command badge (a baton and sword in saltire) in turn placed above incremental number of stars. The position of the star/s and senior command badge is reversed in the pre-1982 Singapore Army as detailed previously. 

Present-day shoulder board rank insignia of Commodore, Rear-Admiral, Vice-Admiral, and Admiral of the various navies :

# The St Edward's crown is used since 1953

The lower and intermediate command and management ranks of the Royal Navies (Sub-Lieutenant to Commodore) currently predominantly use the rank insignia model based on incremental number and differing sized bars (also used by the Royal Air Forces). In the past (towards the end of the 1800s), the Royal Navy's military division Sub-Lieutenants to Commodores also used a complex rank insignia system on epaulettes as shown on the left. Symbol hierarchy as can be seen is properly maintained in this model - the crown's appearance is maintained once it appears as a rank charge. The Royal Navy rank insignia model is thus better than the British Army rank insignia model, despite the latter's rather ubiquitous use by the Commonwealth member states.

Until recently, Admiral ranks had one-less star than today (an additional star was added to the various Admirals' insignias in the mid-1990s for Australia, and between 2001 to 2007 for the United Kingdom and New Zealand). Not shown is the apex rank of Admiral of the Fleet whose insignia comprises a crown above two batons in saltire within a laurel wreath. The Canadian Forces adopted the Royal Navies Admirals' insignia pattern for all services but replacing the star/s with the maple leaf/leaves, adopting the Army-style senior command badge (sword blade edge facing downwards, blade tip pointing towards bearer's front, and a hilt without a knuckleguard) rather than the naval version, and extending the system to the Brigadier-General and Commodore ranks. Nowadays, Commodores are treated like Flag Ranks (Admirals). If these new rank insignias (as shown to the right) were used with the historical Royal Navy lower and intermediate command and management rank insignias as above, the model would still remain appropriate overall. 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police rank insignias is based on the British Army model. The RCMP however do not adopt insignia permutations 3.1 (sole senior command badge) and 3.2 (a pip above a senior command badge) of the British Army model thus ensuring the continuous appearance of a crown throughout the entire structure. One shortcoming is that the RCMP Assistant Commissioner’s rank title and insignia does not tally as the baton and sword in saltire is not part of the Assistant Commissioner's rank insignia. Nonetheless, the rank insignia increment for the command and management level is logical.  

The alternatives listed below are based on the above models. Alternatives 2 is essentially a repeat of the pre-1982 Singapore Army rank insignia model and variations possible. There are ten ranks in total as is usual for the military in this alternative. Alternatives 1 is based partially on the RCMP rank insignia model. The three-grade commissioner-level ranks of the RCMP is however insufficient for Singapore’s emergency and enforcement services which seemingly prefer five grades for its senior command and management level (when in a full state). To expand the number of insignia permutations, subtle bar/s like those used by the British Fire Services is incorporated. This style is also used by the differing grades of the French National Police Commissaries. An additional rank insignia, featuring two national arms above a senior command badge is designated for the supreme service commander rank. This rank insignia was actually used by the Commissioner of SCDF from 1992 to 2005. The current arms, pip, and senior command badge insignia is to represent a deputy service commander. In alternatives 1, the command and management group comprise eleven ranks when it is in its full state. In alternative 1b, there are five commissioner-level ranks and six lower and intermediate command and management ranks. In alternatives 1a and 1c, there are four commissioner-level ranks and seven lower and intermediate command and management ranks. An additional benefit of alternatives 1 over alternatives 2 is that overcrowding on the epaulette is avoided in the former as the rank charges can remain large.

Table of Proposed Rank Insignia Alternatives

Legend:
U :
x :
♦ :
* :
─ , = :
 

 Rank version of the National Arms
 Senior Command & Management Badge
 Pips (Diamond-shaped starburst badge)
 Stars (could be the standard mullets or others)
 Bar/s

Lower & Intermediate Command & Management (LICM)
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7
 

♦
♦
♦		 ♦
♦
♦		 U U
♦		 U
♦
♦		 U
♦
♦ ♦
Senior Command & Management (SCM)
1a. 7 LICM + 4 SCM ranks style U
♦
♦ ♦

U
x
─

U
x
=

 U
♦
x 		U
U
x
1b. 6 LICM + 5 SCM ranks style U
x
1c. Insignia variation of the 7 LICM + 4 SCM ranks style U
♦
♦ ♦		 U
x 		U
x
─
Emergency and Enforcement Services Rank Title Guide   Assistant Senior
Assistant		 Deputy Title without  adjective
Deputy Assistant
2a. Former Royal Navy style (the original three Flag Officer Ranks) U
♦
♦ ♦

U
*
x

U
x
*

U
* *
x		 U
x
* *
U
*
* *
x		 U
x
*
* *
2b. Insignia variation of the above style U
x
2c. Current Royal Navies (Au,Ca,NZ,UK) & pre-1982 Singapore Army style

U
*
x

U
x
*

U
* *
x		 U
x
* *
U
*
* *
x		 U
x
*
* *
U
*
* *
*
x		 U
x
*
* *
*
NATO Standardised Rank Code Guide (4 Flag Ranks) OF6 OF7 OF8 OF9
•Brigadier
•Brigadier -General
•Commodore
•Rear 
-Admiral
(Junior Grade)		 •Major-General
 •Rear-Admiral
 •Rear-Admiral 
(Senior Grade)		 •Lieutenant
-General
 •Vice-Admiral		 •General
 •Admiral

Rank Insignias of Command and Management Officers of the Emergency and Enforcement Services based on Alternatives 1b & 1c

1b) *3.5 *3.4 *3.3 *3.2 *3.1 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1

1c) #3.4 #3.3 #3.2 #3.1 #2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1

Alternative 1b) reflects the option for a three-grade Assistant Commissioner/Director/Director-General system like the present system (for example in the police) in which there are the ranks of Senior Assistant Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner, and Deputy Assistant Commissioner. A national arms above a senior command badge is the common insignia for the various grades of Assistant Commissioners in this permutation. Overall, there are five grades for the senior command ranks in this system.

Alternative 1c) is similar to the above with the exception that there are four senior command ranks and seven lower and intermediate command and management ranks.

Suggested rank titles:
*3.5 / #3.4 - Commissioners of Police, Civil Defence, & ICA • Director of Prisons • Director-General of Customs
*3.4 / #3.3 - Deputy [Commissioner/Director/Director-General]

* 3.3 / #3.2 - Senior Assistant [Commissioner/Director/Director-General]
* 3.2 / #3.1 - Assistant [Commissioner/Director/Director-General]
* 3.1 - Deputy Assistant [Commissioner/Director/Director-General]
# 2.7 - Chief Superintendents of Police, Prisons, ICA, & Customs • Civil Defence Brigadier

2.6 - Superintendents of Police, Prisons, & ICA • Deputy Chief Superintendent of Customs • Civil Defence Colonel
2.5 - Deputy Superintendents of Police, Prisons, & ICA • Senior Superintendent of Customs • Civil Defence Lieutenant-Colonel
2.4 - Assistant Superintendents of Police, Prisons, & ICA • Higher Superintendent of Customs • Civil Defence Major
2.3 - Senior or Chief Inspector of Police • Prisons Rehabilitation Officer 2 • Superintendent of Customs • Civil Defence Captain
2.2 - Inspectors of Police & ICA • Prisons Rehabilitation Officer 1 • Civil Defence Lieutenant
2.1 - Currently not used by all services

Enforcement Services > > > Alternative 1 Increment > > >
Rank Hierarchy: Inspectors, Rehabilitation Officers, and first Customs Superintendent Police, Prisons, ICA, and senior Customs Superintendents Commissioners, Directors, and Directors-General
  Lateral Symbol Hierarchy:
Vertical Symbol Hierarchy:   National Arms 2x
         +1 Star  

Star/s

Senior Command Badge
      + Bar/s Couped    

iv) The dual functions of starburst pips and senior command badge in the above model: The senior command badge (the commissioners', directors', and directors-general's badge) serves as a specialist symbol for senior executives and also functions as a service-specific symbol. The starburst pips on the other hand serves primarily as a symbol for general lower and intermediate command and management staff, as well as functioning as a secondary national symbol as it contains the crescent and stars from the national arms.

In the first sense, the senior command badge will succeed starburst pips laterally in the symbol hierarchy. The former is a distinctive symbol of senior executives and will thus succeed a symbol used to represent generalist command and management officers.

However, when the senior command badge is used together with a pip, the senior command badge will be placed below the pip, as the latter has some national representation properties while the senior command badge is service specific. The second notion here is that a symbol with national references should be placed above a service-specific symbol. The starburst pip as used in  alternative 2's Deputy Commissioner insignia is based on this notion. The bar couped does not have national nor service representational properties and is thus placed below the command badge.

v) Other alternatives: It is also possible to retain the current enforcement services' senior command rank insignia model. However, the national arms cannot be used as rank charges for the lower and intermediate rank insignias in such a case. Inspectors, Rehabilitation Officers, and Superintendents of the enforcement services will require new rank insignias or rank charges thus in this alternative. It is perhaps more feasible to change the senior command rank insignias instead of the lower and intermediate officers' as there are fewer senior command ranks than the latter.

The traditional British fire brigades ranks as used by the Singapore Fire Brigade until 1987 is one model that is simple and complies with proper symbol hierarchy. The rank charges are however very specific to the fire service. If bars are to be retained or preferred, perhaps the more traditional naval rank insignias of full bars of varying widths and numbers can be considered more appropriate in the matter of proper symbol hierarchy. This all-bars system is also used in the Commonwealth air forces as was apparent in Singapore's air force from 1975 - 1982 (see earlier section on Historical Ranks). Perhaps the military may reconsider these traditional but logically more appropriate rank insignia models if the pips and arms system is not preferred.

The French rank insignia model for command and management officers is perhaps another better example if bars are preferred as rank insignias. The Lieutenants to Colonels and Ensigns to Captains of the military and fire services uses incremental number of uniformly sized bars while General-level ranks uses incremental number of stars. The French National Police and Penitentiary Administration similarly uses bars for the lower and intermediate command and management ranks but complex depictions of oak leaves with bars then diamonds for the senior command ranks. The highest rank in the French civil fire services is Colonel. Only the French military services have General (and Admiral) ranks - including military fire services.

French Fire and Military Services Lower & Intermediate Command & Management
(Lieutenant to Colonel and Ensign to Captain)		 Senior Command & Management
(Generals and Admirals)
One to five bars Stars

French 
• National Police
• Penitentiary Administration

 Lower & Intermediate Command & Management
(Lieutenant to Commandant)		 Senior Command & Management
(Police Commissaries to Director)
(Penitentiary Directors)
One to four bars - Oak and olive sprigs
- Border piping/s
- Bar/s then diamonds/stars

vi) Extending symbol hierarchy principle to include the Rank-and-File: Thus far, the analysis of symbol hierarchy has been restricted to the Command & Management group of ranks only. The Rank-and-File group and Command & Management group have been treated as separate streams. It is also possible to consider the Rank-and-File and Command & Management as a united contiguous whole. From this point of view, there is symbol hierarchy anomaly as the lower command & management ranks do not use the national arms for its insignias but the senior rank-and-file ranks incorporate the national arms in their respective rank insignias.

Rectification would involve the replacing of the national arms with other charges. In one option, it could be simple mascles (voided lozenges), or a non-voided version, or basic stars. Alternatively, service-related charges could be used in place of the national arms, such as anchors for the navy, wings for the air force, bayonets for the army, axes for the fire and rescue service, keys for prisons, and the portcullis and caduceus for the border authorities. The police could perhaps consider batons or pistols. Laurel wreath should not be used with these charges to avoid confusion with the senior command badge. Singapore Customs do not use the national arms for its senior rank-and-file members instead using a depiction of the service badge less the title-scroll. While this is in principle acceptable, there is a problem where the Customs senior command badge is concerned. The Customs' senior command badge is similar to the service badge but lacks the national arms. Thus technically, the badge used by the senior rank-and-file members should have a higher status than the Directors-General's badge given that it includes the national arms. It would also be worthwhile if Customs were to standardise their insignias with those of the other enforcement services. 

In a third and personally most favoured alternative, a new starburst badge like the current starbursts of the enforcement services, is proposed for the senior rank-and-file. However instead of the starburst being contained within a diamond-shaped template, the starburst would be contained within another shape say a pentagon or octagon for example. The centre of this starburst will contain a disc bearing a crescent and five stars similar to the diamond starburst currently used giving it some national standing. This starburst badge however can only be adopted by the senior rank-and-file only if the diamond starburst badge is used by the command and management group. Symbol hierarchy and rank hierarchy will not correlate if the command and management group of ranks uses bars only. A sampling of the emergency and enforcement services' rank insignias is shown below with the proposed pentagon starburst badge in place of the national arms. The concept of having two different stars corresponding to different levels of rank is derived from the practice in Singapore's colonial police force, as noted in the Historical Ranks section.


Shown left to right: Staff Sergeant (SCDF) • Senior Staff Sergeant (Police) • Checkpoint Inspector 1 • Chief Customs Officer • Senior Station Inspector (Police) / Senior Chief Warder 1 (Prisons) • Senior Warrant Officer 1 (SCDF)

A starburst contained within a pentagon comprising fifteen rays have been adopted for the following reasons. In the Honours system in the United Kingdom, in particular of the various Orders, there may exist differing grades for members. The star used by the different grades (i. Knight/Dame Grand Cross and ii. Knight/Dame Commander) differ in their complexity of appearance (number of points and colours used for instance) and this useful symbol hierarchy principle could be followed. Currently, the starburst badge (pips) used by the command and management ranks is contained within a square diamond and comprises twenty rays. Where shape is concerned, a junior shape would be a triangle. However, a starburst is not visually appealing when appearing within a triangle. It may also be confused with the civil defence emblem where the shield from the national arms is set on a triangle. A pentagon is the next distinctive shape available. Instead of twenty rays as used in the diamond starburst badge, the number of rays have been reduced to fifteen as an indicator of a junior standing. A pentagon also seems better at accommodating a fifteen-rayed starburst.

vii) Summary of critique: The concerns raised above and the proposed rectifications may seem like a tedious task. Unfortunately, if a complex rank insignia system involving the use of complex charges is desired, a thorough consideration is required. It is encouraged that symbols of the nation be used in rank insignias of public service officers. However, when state/national symbols are used, the already existing protocol of precedence governing state symbols must be maintained and a system that effectively parallels rank hierarchy is required. The suggested rectifications may not be the only desirable system available and I am sure other permutations are possible. I have decided to work with the existing model rather than drawing up an entirely new rank insignia model in the above analysis. In passing, if the simplest rank insignia model is desired for instance, complex charges should be avoided (or used sparingly only by the top-most ranks) and simple charges adopted instead. For example the use of chevrons, bars, and stars only with no combination of charges permitted, a model somewhat apparent in France (both rank-and-file and command & management groups combined). Also, it is in my opinion that the use of colours to differentiate ranks should be avoided as difficulties may arise when colour coordination for different coloured uniforms is required.

Top of Page • Historical Ranks • Symbol & Rank Hierarchies Analysis • Ceremonial Uniforms

3. Other Rank Distinguishing Uniform Markings and Accessories
 Gorget Patches • Peaked Cap Markings • Cap/Beret Badges

While the rank insignias on page 1 are the primary visual representation of ranks within a service, there are also secondary visual forms of rank identifiers. These other forms of rank distinguishing identification are the gorget patches, peaked cap markings, and also cap/beret badges. They may not be rank specific and may be shared by several ranks. Their application is also less universal, adopted by some services but not others, and even in application within a particular service itself. 

i. Gorget Patches

Gorget patches are worn in pairs on the collars (and enforcement services uniform lapels) by officers of the senior-most ranks. Gorget patches are used by the terrestrial services only and are not worn by the officers of the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Singapore Police Force's Police Coast Guard excepted. The gorget patches of the Army and Civil Defence are worn only on the ceremonial no. 1 uniforms - making them highly rare sightings - whilee the gorget patches of the enforcement services are generally worn on other orders of dress as well. 

Overall, there are four gorget patch designs used by the Singapore services as shown below. (It is assumed here that the unconfirmed cases do not deviate from the four designs. This may be subject to correction/s. This excludes the trainee gorget patches as well). Each service typically uses three or two designs only. They are, in order of decreasing complexity and correlating to decreasing seniority, a solid coloured patch with a triangular end with:

a) a row of oak leaves with acorns down the centre terminating at a button,
b) a twisted cord of braid down the centre looping around the button,
c) two cords of braid parallel down the centre terminating at a button, and 
d) a cord of braid down the centre terminating at a button.

The ones shown below are typically for use on the ceremonial dress, and are longer in dimension. The enforcement services use slightly shorter gorget patches without changes in design nor colour for the other uniforms. It is however common that the acorns may not be depicted on shorter gorget patches. There are three colour combinations in all;  gold on red  for the Army,  gold on black  for the SCDF and Customs, and  silver on black  for the Police, Prisons, and ICA. The specific breakdown of service, rank, and gorget patch for Singapore is as follow (the list is incomplete at the moment - underlined italicised text indicates assumptions to be confirmed):

 

ARMY

• Lieutenant General
 • Major General

-

• Brigadier General

 • Colonel
CIVIL DEFENCE • Commissioner
 • Deputy Commissioner
 (Oak leaves outlined in red) 		• Senior Assistant Commissioner   • Assistant Commissioner
 • Colonel
POLICE • Commissioner
 • Deputy Commissioner		 • Senior Assistant Commissioner • Assistant Commissioner
 • Deputy Assistant Commissioner
PRISONS • Director
 • Senior Deputy Director		 • Deputy Director • Assistant Director

I.C.A.

 • Commissioner
 • Deputy Commissioner		 - • Assistant Commissioner
CUSTOMS • Director -General
 • Deputy Director -General 		• Assistant Director -General
 • Chief Superintendent

NB: where I am unable to confirm a rank and its designated gorget patch design, an assumption is made based on practice by other services of similar rank title, and/or rank insignia.

ii. Peaked Cap Markings

The peaked caps of the various services will also be distinguished by several differentiated markings on the peak to indicate different levels of ranks, just as is the case for services in other countries. The additional designs are embroidered on the visor of the peaked caps and are embroidered at the base of the crown of the women's peaked cap. Singapore Customs and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority do not wear any form of head-dress as part of their uniforms at present.

Overall, there are three designs for the peaks as shown below, in addition to the fourth plain charge-less peaks. The highest ranking officers will wear a peak charged with two rows of embroidered oak leaves. The second junior peak design has only one row of embroidered oak leaves towards the front of the peak, and the third junior-most peak design has a single band running parallel with the edge of the peak. There are only two colour combinations for peaks and peak markings,  silver on black  as used by the Police and Prisons, and  gold on black  as used by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Civil Defence. The breakdown for the Singapore services is listed below. The list is incomplete at the moment - underlined italicised text indicates assumptions to be confirmed. Ranks not listed below are to wear wear caps with plain peaks. These markings do not apply to beret-wearing-only units within a service (such as Army Commandos, Prisons SPEAR Team, etc.). Peaked caps are not worn with all orders of dress within the service. The selected orders of dress with which the peaked cap is to be properly worn with is listed below.

 
  ARMY No.1 • Lieutenant General
 • Major General
• Brigadier General		 • Colonel • Lieutenant Colonel
 • Major
  AIR FORCE No.1
No.3
No.5
  NAVY No.1
No.3
No.5		 • Vice Admiral
 • Rear Admiral (2 star)
 • Rear Admiral (1 star)
  CIVIL
DEFENCE		 No.1
No.5		 • Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner
  • Senior Assistant Commissioner
• Assistant Commissioner
 
 POLICE No.1
No.3
No.5		 • Commissioner
• Deputy Commissioner		 • Senior Assistant Commissioner
• Assistant Commissioner
• Deputy Assistant Commissioner

• Deputy Superintendent
• Assistant Superintendent

 

• Superintendent
  PRISONS No.1
No.3
No.5

• Director
• Senior Deputy Director

 

• Deputy Director
• Assistant Director

 

 NB: where I am unable to confirm a rank and its designated peak cap marking, an assumption is made based on practice by other services of similar rank title, gorget patch, and/or rank insignia.

iii. Cap/Beret Badges

The services' cap (and/or beret) badges may also indicate different levels of rank generally within a particular service. Overall, the Police and Prisons are the only services that does not differentiate cap badge designs for the different groups of rank. While the SAF is a unified force, the cap badge policy differs between the three component services. Service badges are derived from the service emblems as depicted and elaborated upon in the Military and Paramilitary Flags of Singapore pages. Officers of Singapore Customs and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority do not wear any form of head-dress as part of their uniforms at present.

Service

Rank(s)

Cap/Beret Badge
ARMY Brigadier-General to Lieutenant-General Baton and sword in saltire within a wreath surmounted with the national arms (without motto-scroll)
Colonel National arms (without motto-scroll) within a laurel wreath
Private to Lieutenant-Colonel  SAF badge. 
Military Policemen will wear the SAF Military Police Command cap/beret badge
 NAVY  Warrant Officers to Vice-Admiral RSN badge (fouled anchor, national arms without motto-scroll, and laurels)
Private to Master Sergeant RSN badge (fouled anchor and national arms [without motto-scroll] only)
AIR FORCE Brigadier-General to Lieutenant-General Pre-1993 RSAF badge (shorter laurels)
Private to Colonel  Current RSAF badge (lengthened laurels)
CIVIL DEFENCE Commissioner
(and possibly Deputy Commissioner)		 Two axes in saltire within a laurel wreath surmounted with the national arms without motto-scroll
* Colonel to Senior Assistant Commissioner * Civil defence triangle with national arms - shield and charges only - within a laurel wreath 
(SCDF service badge without title-scroll)
Private to Lieutenant-Colonel SCDF badge
POLICE Constable to Commissioner SPF badge
PRISONS Warders to Director  SPS badge

* - The information for the SCDF as noted here is based on the practice as was adopted prior to the introduction of the current commissioners' badge in June 2005.

Top of Page • Historical Ranks • Symbol & Rank Hierarchies Analysis • Other Rank Markings (Gorget Patches, Peaked Cap Markings, and Cap/Beret Badges)
 

Ceremonial Uniforms of Singapore's Military & Paramilitary Services

Number 1 (Ceremonial Dress):
The ceremonial uniforms for men (top row) and women (bottom row) as shown below are known as 'the number 1', for use at various parades. They are quite similar with each other and have some semblance with the British Army's warm weather ceremonial dress (British Army No.3 dress). An all-white uniform for formal occasions is also used by the Royal Navy and by many navies worldwide. Inter-services differences include the colour of the buttons, pocket flap cuttings, number of buttons on the cuffs, and different engravings on the buttons for instance. There are also other differences / combinations possible not displayed here. For example, Army Commandos, Army Guards, and Prisons SPEAR Team uses berets with their ceremonial dress instead of the peaked caps. Peaked caps of different level of ranks may also feature additional designs as noted above as well as the use of gorget patches on the collars by selected ranks. Lady officers will wear the women's version of the peaked caps. The SCDF's women's side cap were replaced with women's peak caps for all uniforms in September 2007. In some services, the women's version of the ceremonial dress exclude pockets as compared to the men's version. Lady officers in some services will wear skirts instead of pants or may have the choice of either. In the case of the SAF, a red-crowned peaked cap for the members of the SAF Bands and the SAF Military Police Command is used. For rank-and-file personnel of the armed forces, their rank insignia is worn on the right sleeve only rather than the usual pair as worn on the working and field dresses. The armed forces' and the police's ceremonial dress are the more well-known and frequently-sighted ones given their use by the Guard-of-Honour contingents at the annual National Day Parades.

Army Navy Air Force Civil Defence Police Prisons

Return to :
 Top of Page • Historical Ranks • Symbol & Rank Hierarchies Analysis • Other Rank Markings (Gorget Patches, Peaked Cap Markings, and Cap/Beret Badges)

Return to :
Military & Paramilitary
Ranks of Singapore
Page 1

Exit to :
Military & Paramilitary Flags of Singapore :
[Page 1] , [Page 2] 
[Homepage]

External Links:

Current ranks of the respective Services can be seen at their official websites at the following links :
 - Singapore Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force compiled) : All Ranks
 - Singapore Police Force : 1) Police Officers   2) Senior Police Officers
 - Immigration & Checkpoints Authority : All Ranks

 - Singapore Customs : All Ranks

> Information on current appointment holders of the various Services can be obtained online at the official Singapore Government Directory Interactive (SGDi) website.

> Rank insignias and rank structures of the services and organisations of other countries around the world can be viewed at the International Encyclopedia of Uniform Insignias Around the World website. 

Editor's remarks: This supplementary page was done up at the request of several visitors to the flag site, who wrote in suggesting the inclusion of other service items for comparison. Thank you for the suggestions. I regret that I do not have extensive knowledge of other items to be included here for comparison. Acknowledgements and references listed on Page 2 of the Military and Paramilitary Flags of Singapore site applies to the Military and Paramilitary Ranks pages as well.

All Rights Reserved
Last Edited / Revised / Updated: 26th April 2009
The Military & Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore site was first launched on 1st January 2004
Corrections, comments, and suggestions, if any, may be forwarded to the editor via e-mail. Thank you.

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