The Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute (SWI, zh, 士官与准尉学院, , ) is the military training centre for

warrant officer Warrant officer (WO) is a Military rank, 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 ...

s, specialists (

non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is an enlisted rank, enlisted leader, petty officer, or in some cases warrant officer, who does not hold a Commission (document), commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority b ...

s) and military experts of the

Singapore Armed Forces The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A component of the Ministry of Defence (Singapore), Ministry of D ...

. Located at Pasir Laba Camp in the Western Water Catchment, 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, zh, 见习士官学府, , ) 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 ...

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 (SISPEC), and School of Infantry Weapons (SIW). The SWI was officially opened in Pasir Laba Camp 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

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.

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. 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 Regimental sergeant major (RSM) is an appointment that may be held by a warrant officer (WO) in the British Army, the Royal Marines, and the armies of many other Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations. It is also an actual rank in the Iri ...

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. , 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 An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

over two phases: the Common Phase and Operations Phase (mainly for

Infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

Military Police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. Not to be confused with civilian police, who are legally part of the civilian populace. In wartime operations, the military police may supp ...

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 specialists, the equivalent of

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 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