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4 Facts About SAF’s New 4th Service, the Digital & Intelligence Service

2022-03-03 , 11:20 am

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) protect us from threats in three domains: land, air, and water.

But we are now gearing up for another domain of attacks: the digital space.

The SAF will be introducing the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) by the end of 2022. Here’s why the DIS is being introduced, and what they’ll do to help protect our nation.

DIS Necessary To Defend Against Hybrid Attacks

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the digital domain has become as real as the land, air and sea domains. This was in response to questions on how the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) intends to better combat digital threats.

Digital threats can impact events in the physical world, with both the digital and physical worlds being closely linked. We can see this in countries or terrorist groups that use a combination of both physical and digital attacks.

In fact, this can also be seen in the ongoing Russo-Ukraine conflict, where cyber espionage, damage to servers and communications infrastructures has been used against Ukraine.

Despite our intelligence sources not identifying such hybrid attacks against Singapore so far, it is a matter of when, not if. It would be best for Singapore to prepare now, which is why the SAF is introducing this fourth service.

Reader Bao: Huh, but won’t building a completely new fourth service be super hard?

Rest assured, as the DIS won’t be built from the ground up. Instead, it would be a combination of the C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) and cyber units, which were formed over the last decade.

What Will The DIS Do?

This unified structure, the DIS, will be responsible for intelligence, cyber and psychological defence. It will also advance the SAF as a networked force.

MINDEF stated that the DIS will provide accurate, relevant, and timely early warnings and operational intelligence.

It will also defend the SAF digitally, through cyber defence and electronic protection of its networks and systems. It will also defend the SAF psychologically, through strengthening soldiers’ commitment and resilience in operations.

Reader Bao: OK, so why must we include them under the SAF’s services? Cannot just be a separate unit meh?

Well, giving the DIS service status will allow it to grow its workforce by providing professional development, recruitment, and career prospects.

Basically, it means that by adding the DIS as a fourth service, there’ll be more incentive for people to join and do the work lah.

Natural Next Step In The Evolution of the C4I

Remember when I told you that the DIS is a combination of C4I and cyber units?

The C4I Community actually has had many milestones since its establishment in 2012. The community brought together personnel from across the SAF, though they remained under the command of their respective formation and command headquarters.

However, when needed, the C4I was involved in a range of SAF operations. For instance, they deployed imagery analysis teams to the Middle East in 2015. This was part of a coalition effort to counter ISIS.

There was also the C4 Command that was inaugurated in 2017, which comprise two brigade-equivalent groups in the Cyber Defence and the C4 Operations Group.

2017 also saw the formation of the Defence Cyber Organisations, which led and coordinate cyber-security efforts across our defence sector.

To recruit more people to build a world-class cyber workforce, the Cyber NSF scheme was introduced in 2018, and the C4 Expert vocation in 2019.

September 2020 marked the inauguration of the C4I Wing in Officer Cadet School, together with the establishment of the Cybersecurity Task Force in December.

With so many milestones over the decade, it was a natural next step to turn the C4I into a dedicated fourth service. This was especially because digital threats against Singapore will continue to grow in scale, sophistication and organisation.

DIS Recruitment and Training Will Be Different Than The Other Three Services

Defence Minister Ng said that the nature of the digital world and its threats would require different skillsets and mindsets. Thus, the type of soldiers recruited, as well as the type of training done for DIS, will be different from those of the other three services.

However, some traits will be maintained across all four services. This includes an adherence to SAF core values and the same operational mindsets and resilience that lead to successful missions. All four services will also share a commitment to the same mission of enhancing Singapore’s peace and security.

Although the DIS will definitely need those specialising in information technology and communications, they’ll also need various other specialisations. For instance, they’ll need data science, psychology, linguistics, anthropology and geography specialists to better understand the motivation and means of groups that threaten Singapore.

So yes, the creation of this fourth service is also creating a bunch of new jobs for these specialists.

The DIS will thus help the SAF to better train and fight as a networked and integrated force, to deal with all sorts of threats.

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Next-Gen SAF Will Take Shape By 2040

But it’s not just the digital sphere that’s getting more reinforcements. There’ll also be new assets and capabilities given to the Army, Navy and Air Force to better defend Singapore physically.

There’ll also be a redesigning of 1,000 NS jobs to enable more servicemen to contribute. Future enlistees can also rejoice at the base NS pay of $1,600 per month. The NS Housing, Medical and Education Awards will also be enhanced with additional $2,000 cash credits.