Ep 1: "Making the Cut" - Guards Conversion Course

Taking 15,000 quick steps in full battle order that weighs almost 30kg is anything but easy. This is just one of the key tasks every trainee must pass to go to the next level of training in this intensive and tough 3-week Guards Conversion Course. Making the Cut looks at 122 full-time national servicemen and regulars from various SAF units, coming together for a single purpose, to attain the coveted khaki beret and to be part of the Guards family.
In this first episode, watch how the Guardsmen trainees adapt to the high standards of discipline and training required of every Guardsman and their introduction to the dreaded 12km fast march. And watch how some try and overcome their fear of heights when they're introduced to cliff rappelling, every Guardsmen's staple of operations.
Narrated by Mano Mahendran
Filmed and edited by LCP Jake Nam, with Mano Mahendran
Additional filming by Alvin Fung, James Teh, Peter Cho, Alexander Koh, and Kevin Tan.
A MINDEF Public Affairs production, with The Rock Communication Group.
View more videos, photos and stories of the SAF at the links below!
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[@user-dd8vo7or2d]

Imagine surviving 9 months of OCS and then you kena Guards.

[@chaleethng470]

These are sons of spore who will defend sg in any eventualities. I was one of them 50 years ago.

[@XerrosNightscar]

@@chaleethng470 wow big deal

[@alvinhor5482]

Guards, Commando and NDU vocation are much tougher than OCS.

[@alvinhor5482]

@@simpletn Guards, Commando and NDU vocations are much tougher than OCS.

[@alvinhor5482]

@@simpletn being a commander only means that he is better educated. Mono intake include majority of secondary school education holder.

[@maxjek2374]

I salute you all! No one ever thanked me for doing my military National Service in the SAF.

[@ResoluteLemon]

Thank you for releasing episode 1. Good job Guardsmen and thank you for being always ready to strike whenever our country needs you. You don't need affirmation from anybody. You just do the job and you get it done. Good job in New Zealand, in Sumatra and wherever you were called to go in times of need.

[@gsxy92]

3WO Johan! My CSM in Pegasus BMT. great guy. RESPECT.

[@xGeyserz]

I heard Guardsmen are given the privilege to train with Navy SEALS, seriously awesome! "The only easy day, was yesterday."

[@HassanHabib2]

Johan was a 3rd wo in the video lol I remember him as a siao on 3rd Sargent. Same conversion course as him in 1 guards 10th mono after sispec. He was in alpha I was in Charlie. And please lah everyone passes the course. Saf course cannot fail one. I chao geng try to fall out report sick also still pass. I was hoping to fail!

[@yut576]

Training in hot humid tropical environment is a challenge every soldier in all unit must overcome. If the bullets don't kill you on the outside, the weather will - from the inside.

[@ResoluteLemon]

@sidestep1984 Compared to other infantry types, these guys have a slightly different job scope. They are heliborne infantry with amphibious capability, trained to exploit the vertical dimension of the battlefield. Air mobile operations are designed to surprise the enemy where they are the weakest, reinforce where we are under pressure and envelope the enemy without the need for extensive ground travel. There are many kinds of infantry and they all play different roles.

[@Altarcraft]

Omg this is an awesome series!

[@1raden]

looking forward for upcoming episodes!

[@AntonyAng34]

These guys are always READY TO STRIKE!

[@spiderjump]

Ain't nobody got time for this ..,ORD LO

[@dylanchew7079]

Lol

[@jerylboy92]

this is cool!!

[@xXblueskiyXx]

"More sweat during peace time,during training,will equal to less blood during war time." Well said!!

[@khaian]

Can't wait for the next episode!!

[@IsmailSazali-eg4qh]

miss those days repelling down those cliffs/heli etc! Guardsman! Guardsman! Guardsman!

[@santhiben108]

How do you choose them...during this period...how do you select the trainees to go the Infantry, or to go training school. I believe and Hats off to the trainees and their responsible for making and moulding them. I hope the team all the ropes needed to survive, train and give confidence to their men. As Long as the soldiers are free in the mind and thoughts and any physical challenge...they are sure to go , When the Going Gets The Tough ,gets going...I truly respect them for training our Singapore sons to be elite....do understand spend time with them you have the precious moments to speak to them as their seniors, guarding and guiding those recruits lives who have been entrusted to great officers like you. Well done for instilling discipline love for our country, and emulate them when they are in the Number 4...too many numbered uniforms to remember. Take care soldiers and Sergeants...word of advice...please listen to your soldiers, whenever time permits..the bond salvaged and the camaraderie, may make your soldiers to become like You. Thank you once again 💐🙏🏼may this little forces be your greatest Force you, the Army as time unfolds 👍🏼

[@username1010able]

3WO Johan my CSM in BMT, strict during training, nice man when training is over

[@physika]

That was my camp from 05-07, now renovated until so nice!~!

[@SpottyTurtle]

Looks really tough.... Have to salute you guys.... I hate fast marches + FBO -_- But the rappelling off that cliff looks awesome though! -salute-

[@MdOne13]

Am from 1st Guards n ORD in 5 month times! And 3rd Guards rifleman, get ready for your GCC uh, and that's is not the worse time really so enjoy it, there's more shit to come after your GCC, Good luck!! "Bravo~ JUNTO!"

[@j24530959]

i was in the british guards and it was hard for me but it was all worth it.

[@kelvinktfong]

j24530959 out guards are Singapore’s elite air assault forces.

[@spdfatomicstructure]

Grenadier Guards?

[@j24530959]

@@spdfatomicstructure Scots Guards

[@bobdoom1]

u guys are lucky. GCC in the 80s/90s will make grown man cry.

[@lollol-ew5ks]

how bad is it

[@hellishtoot]

Respect to the Guards. Even though we may be crap in the eyes of some, you guys are still awesome! Keep it up Guardsmen (and women)! :D

[@TheStrangeProgram]

@MrFreakyzee Yeah,watched the special divers forces one,really hell for them

[@tecnic4]

wah, nice video.

[@thelonepotato]

For Honor and Glory

[@hellishtoot]

@Chrisvalor bravo!

[@silvercarcrash]

underpaid commandos.

[@sidestep1984]

@Chrisvalor slightly different yes..but we did the same thing when i was serving..we took choppers..boats...everything..i dun see a difference while serving at tat time.. when we attended their atec as umpires..its still the same as we also do it the same way..other than the tab and beret..and the fact that they have better access to certain equipment and vehicles.....in the end its still the same for us...too bad now my unit is now a mechanised infantry unit..

[@arronlee33]

Guards - Elite Of The Infantry!!!

[@MdOne13]

@xGeyserz And 1st guards train with the US marines few months back, we had a awesome time...

[@ResoluteLemon]

@TheIofProvidence To each his own indeed :) I believe in the capability of my own army and the importance of protecting my own homeland. It doesn't take propaganda to make me do that. That will be my stand.

[@ResoluteLemon]

@sidestep1984 Hey, don't feel bad about being part of the mechanized infantry. It rocks. You guys are frequently part of the tip of the spear in offensives. Guards are different now. They not only take choppers, they have to be experts with helicopters like how knights are experts with their horses. On the ground, especially in urban ops, most infantry operate in the same way. But these guys, they belong to a much more aggressive infantry type.

[@ResoluteLemon]

@nerdegg12 As i mentioned earlier to sayhileh, there is never ever enough simulation to prepare yourself. We should have more simulation, more training and if possible, more overseas deployments on top of the phenomenal contributions which a small island country like ours had already made eg. Sumatra, NZ, Afghanistan, Gulf of Aden, East Timor etc. We are at a higher state of readiness than most countries i can think of. There is never too much simulation and training.

[@rehtafrey]

@xXblueskiyXx actually the real quote was "the more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war"

[@yummyjuniorm]

that cliff look very familiar i think my school did abseiling there when i was p5

[@5hadowflam3]

It's a unit in the Singapore Armed Forces. Which may explain the race thing.

[@tanjongmalim6869]

I believe Singapore has built a good foundations as a non battle tested infantry. It should move on to the next phase. The trainer need to be battle tested to bring the standard to the higher level. I understand there will have death and injuries before the person become a trainer. But that is onky way currently to transfer combat skills to the unit. I have great respect toward Singapore military institutions in term of it checks and accountabilities. And she has proven herself as a reliable partners to her militaries alliance.

[@NanAkatagana]

Ehehehe sgt maran is in my coy support!!! POP LOH!!!

[@ResoluteLemon]

@TheIofProvidence For your information, the USMC trained with our Guardsmen more than a few times and they regarded our Guardsmen as elite troopers and both sides treated each other with great respect and honor. You need to show some respect as well. If you don't, then just move on and perhaps one day, when you or your loved ones do require the protection of soldiers, you might then understand what is respect and what is honor.

[@watiu9lei]

With everything lighter nowadays, cannot complain heavy anymore.

[@emilang]

@MrQuackism Ahh true.. Thanks man!

[@ResoluteLemon]

@vandr3ad Hi, NDU is a special unit and everybody already knows how good their physical training is and how matured their members are. I also know that true elite warriors do their job quietly, do not ask for any recognition or fame. And that means, true elite warriors will not say such things as you did over here. I'm sure NDU will not like such talk. NDU rocks too :)

[@rydenjr]

@nerdegg12 get your facts right, there is 2 parts of bedok camp, the newer one and the older side. the vid is done at 3gds, which is the newer compound.

[@thegoldenonethelomo]

Make one on NDU!

[@zionist87]

@Nienhan Turn Out! Turn Out!

[@neotrueblues]

Ready to Strike~

[@HELLCURSER]

@cyberpioneertv ooh. i get it now. thanks for your help mate!~ =)

[@HELLCURSER]

Hey i would like to ask whether is it possible to be in more than one unit? for example being in this guards and also in infantry?

[@crxiong353]

Seriously, what much can you expect them to show in 8 mins of video time for several episodes? Anyway, kudos to 3WO Johan! We need more people like you!

[@ResoluteLemon]

@sayhileh No worries sayhileh :) Just a comment. Your question is the same one asked by military leaders since human civilizations first engaged in warfare. If our country got to the point where we need to fight, and the happiness and dreams of our loved ones are in severe jeopardy, and if we as soldiers have that in mind, we would have found the main inspiration behind the strength to pull the trigger under the most adverse conditions. If we drop that weapon, we know they fall too.

[@Moonface00z]

where can i get the guide book to know what to put inside the bag ? and what is the weight of the gun

[@OffRadarPro_3768]

In this video they only show you what you need to see, the rest is classified like how they kena hammering and stuff like that

[@MrFreakyzee]

Make an episode on SNIPER!!!

[@jayshen84]

As a past guardsmen...i can say...anyone who believes that SAF is stupid enough to show everything on youtube is very stupid themselves.

[@jayshen84]

Jacky Chew similar to the US marines

[@jayshen84]

Essentially Guards are not security troopers. They are the quick strike unit that serve as the spearhead of the Singapore military. However in the current peace times, many guards participate in humanitarian and peacetime security troopers as UN peacekeepers. You can wikipedia...all the info is on the web

[@kden697]

Jason Yip don't be like that you should be grateful we have the SAF to protect us from any situation

[@astrosherlock374]

@Jacky Phantom No, the Guardsman's direct counter-part would be the 75th Ranger Regiment (both light infantry units), the Commandos would make up the Green Berets (Army Special forces), the Singaporean Special Operations Force (chosen mainly from the commandos Formation and NDU) will be the equivalent of Delta force, and the NDU would be the SEALS. Keep in mind that Delta is essentially Tier 1 operators, those alike would be the British Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Boat Service (SBS) and Denmark's JagerKorps and Frogmen. SEALs, NDU and Commandos are Tier 2 operators like the British 43 Commando formation. The 75th Rangers and Guards Formations are basically highly specialized light infantry units.

[@nvillbeats]

@@kden697 i know right.

[@dreamchaser320]

despite my comments, i juz wanna say i respect u guys. keep doing wat u guys do and hope spore will be peaceful:)

[@johanneswei4456]

Well, thank you for your comment. I accept my fault to know more about Singaporean Armed Forces that I admire so much in a way that bothered you so much to post such disrespectful comment. Freedom to knowledge is everyone's right, and you should not be bothered.

[@Aydee2020]

calm down this is just the beginning. furthermore these guys are just young people who just graduated from college

[@nerdegg12]

@TheIofProvidence wow. You sound like you been through such training.

[@ResoluteLemon]

@dreamchaser320 Not having enough combat experience shouldn't be the reason for you to agree with EdmundVanDnumde. In the first place, the SAF Guards' job scope is entirely different from the US Navy SEALs. You are comparing two totally different animals. In this age, you do not become a better military with combat experience. There's enough cross-national interaction and learning to make up for that. You become a better military with intensive training and preparation.

[@HELLCURSER]

@cyberpioneertv i see.. alrite then. thank you!~ =)

[@MrPrincendrew]

You guys should do a feature on the commando unit, like how the training is like.

[@sebastian1985]

It like a random!but the clips is nice

[@superman0391]

gosh finally a proper army unit

[@AntonyAng34]

When is the next episodes will be aired? and how many episodes are there in this series?

[@MrQuackism]

@emilang I guess alot of people say that but they always end up giving up. I really takes lots of determination

[@SGhostHunter]

ORD oh... No more pain!

[@ARocketgun]

There's a female NDU captain who i'm pretty sure is BUDS-trained. If they can do it, they have as much right to be on camera as anyone else.

[@brianbenitez]

02/11 GCC!

[@TheEsaSeth]

any chance of a series based on the scdf?

[@dionkhooxuankai]

is there a singaporean version of the america's swcc??? if there is can you guys cover it?

[@kumonomaki]

if i'm told to report for vocational assessment at guard room at hendon does it mean im considered for guards?

[@MrQuackism]

This looks like Singapore's version of Surviving the cut from U.S. :D

[@xXblueskiyXx]

@rehtafrey Oh I see.Yes the real quote sounds better! ;)

[@vagisilsalesman]

LAn cheow!

[@popyeye]

mfir050,i am posted to tekong...whats my best outcome thr?as in vocation,pay wise,working times?

[@frostymourne]

storeman wee~!

[@ReadyToStrike88]

@operativeeu Is that you Charles? :) pH here :)

[@arronlee33]

Ready To Strike, Singapore Guards!!!

[@nerdegg12]

@poochyboi WOW cdo.. aiseh.. thats good. Need to publish in Newspaper? So what you are from CDO?

[@warheadsful]

when i watched some comments that they said last time more worst thn now... come on lah... last time is last time... no is now... just enjoy the vids that they upload... wat are youtube for??? pls dun differentiate old and new.... :D and btw, pple who have not yet ord... ignore the WHERE GOT TIME comments... We will go through also...... :D

[@guobin]

@2865016 This should be commanders' GCC, full time and regulars both alike.

[@fizul85]

@jedileong what yr u join guard?(sorry i just being kaypoh)

[@ResoluteLemon]

@Fkfkgk Yeah, it can't be helped. Most people in our country owns a computer and most people are educated and spend a great deal of time with books :) The thing is, spectacles or not, the capability of a soldier lies in his mind and his guts and a good soldier can fight just as hard whether he don spectacles or not. :)

[@til_valhalla16]

How do I enlist into the Guards after my BMT?

[@helloweencool]

Do you have a video on military police

[@velodrome37]

What happens if I don't make it during the 3 months?

[@user-fh6hj8ho4f]

I feel proud to serve as an infantry .at least im not afraid to sleep alone in a thick jungle

[@weiming1991]

@nerdegg12 monointake usually infantry unit..

[@ResoluteLemon]

@zombie766 What is wrong with what AuditionGuy258 said? He loves his country and his country's armed forces. By doing that, he is being a small boy? So what makes an adult? Which part of what he said should be amended in order for it to sound adult?

[@zhafranTP]

Just wondering, what do they actually carry in that heavy-ass backpack?

[@TheZearef]

hi, whats the eyesight requirement to get into guards? can a NSF with 500 degree get in?

[@nerdegg12]

@theanonymityK i kei kiang? =) Does the whole bedok camp looks like that? Thats only the NICER side of bedok camp.

[@ckkiller123]

I just got my posting that i will be a guards rifleman. I didnt even pass my ippt. is this possible? I thought without passing ippt no way to get guards?

[@Wolf_warrior_98]

1:21 that death stare tho

[@lyhthegreat]

whoa my poly classmate inside the video lol

[@yongkeng5566]

Guardsmen

[@ResoluteLemon]

@operativeeu Agree

[@5sweatingpalm]

@sayhileh Well the idea conceptualize like those in the WW |, when 2 figures from the top goes head to head, they made a mistake and that is to get their army involved. The learning process u get is the army shud never be involved in this argumentative ideals of the leaders. What i'm saying is the leaders should and must coerced mutual respect within each other nations and assist one another to the well being of the people. But sadly the reason 4 that war was profit.