The Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute (SWI) is the
military training centre
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
for
warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...
s,
specialist
Specialist may refer to:
Occupations
* Specialist (rank), a military rank
** Specialist (Singapore)
* Specialist (arena football)
* Specialist degree, in academia
* Specialty (medicine)
* Designated market maker, in the American stock market
* ...
s (
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
s) and
military experts of the
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDE ...
. Located at
Pasir Laba Camp
Pasir Laba Camp is a military base of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) located in Western Water Catchment, Singapore. It is home to the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute, where specialists (non-commissioned officers) and warrant officers ...
in the
Western Water Catchment
The Western Water Catchment is a planning area located in the West Region of Singapore. The planning area borders Tuas and Pioneer to its south, Sungei Kadut, Choa Chu Kang and Tengah to its east, Jurong West to its southeast, Lim Chu Kang to ...
, it is made up of five schools: the SAFWOS Leadership School (SAFWOS), the Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS), and three
Specialist Cadet School
The Specialist Cadet School (SCS) is the military training centre for the Singapore Armed Forces' specialists, the equivalent of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in other countries' armed forces. Made up of twelve companies divided into three ...
s.
History
The Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute (SWI) was formed on 1 June 2004 through a merger of three schools: the Singapore Armed Forces Warrant Officer School (SAFWOS), the
School of Infantry Specialists
The Specialist Cadet School (SCS) is the military training centre for the Singapore Armed Forces' specialists, the equivalent of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in other countries' armed forces. Made up of twelve companies divided into thre ...
(SISPEC), and School of Infantry Weapons (SIW). The SWI was officially opened in
Pasir Laba Camp
Pasir Laba Camp is a military base of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) located in Western Water Catchment, Singapore. It is home to the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute, where specialists (non-commissioned officers) and warrant officers ...
on 17 September 2004.
In 2008, the Singapore Armed Forces introduced the rank of Specialist Cadet (SCT) for trainees at SISPEC. One year later, a Combined Arms Term component was added to the Specialist Cadet Course.
In 2010, the SWI was reorganised into five schools: SAFWOS, the Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS), and three
Specialist Cadet School
The Specialist Cadet School (SCS) is the military training centre for the Singapore Armed Forces' specialists, the equivalent of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in other countries' armed forces. Made up of twelve companies divided into three ...
s (SCS I, SCS II and SCS III). In the same year, the SWAS started conducting the Warfighter Course. On 14 January 2011, SAFWOS started conducting the Joint Leadership Course. In 2013, SWAS introduced the Basic Warfighter -
Platoon Sergeant and Warfighter -
Company Sergeant Major Courses.
On 25 February 2014, command of the SWI was transferred from the
HQ 9th Division to the
SAFTI Military Institute
The SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI) is a military institute of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) comprising five schools: the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College, three SAF Advanced Schools, and the Officer Cadet School. Located on an ...
.
Organisation
SAFWOS Leadership School
The SAFWOS Leadership School, previously known as the Singapore Armed Forces Warrant Officer School (SAFWOS), trains warrant officers and
military experts in the Singapore Armed Forces. It was established on 15 January 1992 at the former location of the
Officer Cadet School in
Pasir Laba Camp
Pasir Laba Camp is a military base of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) located in Western Water Catchment, Singapore. It is home to the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute, where specialists (non-commissioned officers) and warrant officers ...
. At the time, it conducted warrant officer training courses for non-commissioned officers who were going to be promoted to warrant officers. In April 2000, SAFWOS's curricula was expanded to include other courses such as the Army Battalion
Regimental Sergeant Major Course, the Advanced Leadership Programme, and the Senior Leadership Programme.
In 2004, SAFWOS merged with SISPEC and the School of Infantry Weapons (SIW) to form the Specialist & Warrant Officer Institute. In 2010, after the SWI was reorganised into five schools, SAFWOS continued providing professional military education and training for warrant officers from the ranks of
Third Warrant Officer to
Master Warrant Officer
Master warrant officer (MWO) is a senior military rank in the Bangladesh Armed Forces, the Canadian Forces, Singapore Armed Forces, the South African National Defence Force and the Israel Defense Forces.
Bangladesh Armed Forces
Bangladesh-army- ...
.
, SAFWOS conducts the Joint Leadership Course, the Army Battalion Regimental Sergeant Major Course, the Joint Advanced Leadership Course, and the Joint Senior Leadership Course for warrant officers from all three branches of the Singapore Armed Forces. It also conducts the National Service Leadership Course and National Service Battalion Regimental Sergeant Major Course for
reservist warrant officers.
Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School
The Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS), previously known as the Advanced Specialist Training Wing (ASTW) before 2010, conducts advanced training courses for warrant officers, specialists and
military experts of all vocations in the
Army over two phases: the Common Phase and Operations Phase (mainly for
Infantry,
Military Police and
Guards).
In November 2012, SWAS revamped its curriculum by removing the Warfighter Course and incorporating its elements into the 13-week Basic Warfighter -
Platoon Sergeant Course and 9-week Warfighter -
Company Sergeant Major Course.
In 2013, SWAS also moved out of the Specialist Cadet School III cluster to the former School of Infantry building within Pasir Laba Camp.
Specialist Cadet Schools
The Specialist Cadet School (SCS) is made up of three schools – SCS I, SCS II, and SCS III – which train
specialist
Specialist may refer to:
Occupations
* Specialist (rank), a military rank
** Specialist (Singapore)
* Specialist (arena football)
* Specialist degree, in academia
* Specialty (medicine)
* Designated market maker, in the American stock market
* ...
s, the equivalent of
non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
s (NCOs), in the Singapore Armed Forces. It started as the School of Infantry Section Leaders (SISL), which was established on 1 October 1970. It was renamed SAF Infantry Non-Commissioned Officers' School (SAFINCOS) on 1 May 1982 and again in 1992 to School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC). It relocated from
Pasir Laba Camp
Pasir Laba Camp is a military base of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) located in Western Water Catchment, Singapore. It is home to the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute, where specialists (non-commissioned officers) and warrant officers ...
to
Pulau Tekong in 1999 before moving back to Pasir Laba Camp in 2006. It was renamed Specialist Cadet School in 2010 and its three constituent schools came under the management of the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute (SWI).
References
{{Singapore Armed Forces
Military education and training in Singapore
Jurong West
Educational institutions established in 2004
2004 establishments in Singapore