Half classified hardware
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So were the SQ hijack stormed by commandos or SOF.
Right till the President award, they were ID as commandos. -
I agree with SpecialOps' stance. Even the US didn't reveal they had F-117 Stealth fighters and B-2 Stealth bombers for ~ a decade in the 80's. Same for their Delta Force SOP. Sometimes the rumour that you have something can give you a big advantage - for example your enemy may hold back extra forces (critically needed elsewhere) to defend against your rumoured equipment.
In the cases SAF does reveal sensitive/tactical equipment, the full specs or additional gizmos or how they are deployed are not mentioned - because it gives the enemy a tactical advantage if they know the full capabilities. -
At that time, they were simply called Commandos.Originally posted by chino65:So were the SQ hijack stormed by commandos or SOF.
Right till the President award, they were ID as commandos. -
If i am not wrong most if not all SOF personnel are selected from CDOs.Originally posted by LazerLordz:At that time, they were simply called Commandos.
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Yup. Most.. not all.Originally posted by tankee1981:If i am not wrong most if not all SOF personnel are selected from CDOs.
Two ex-colleagues were shortlisted for interview, non-commandos. -
I don't see how simply including it in their list of weapons on their website or a short note saying that we bought xxxx is showing off. Its just telling ppl that hey we have this. Did I say we need to keep harping about it?Originally posted by specialOps:You still don't understand. It is a matter of allowing people to know we have certain equipment, but it is another matter not to boast about it.
Boasting and keep talking about it, publicising, will give people the impression that we're trying to be offensive, especially for offensive equipment/weapons.
For example, we have the new PGM mini-Hecate. We publicised it as news, just for knowledge sake, to update our people, but if we keep talking and talking and talking about it...the image we project out will become offensive, like trying to provoke.
The point is, we publicise, update on news, both for our own people to know and be confident and also as deterrent, but we DO NOT want to appear like provoking reaction.
REAL classified things...u will not even hear it mention. It is as though they never existed. Those are secret edge, which if revealed instead of being deterrent, it will immediately become provocative. -
Well MLRS is an open secret. Even if SAF refuses to acknowledge, David Boey already blew the lid wide open. Besides, M'sia had it long before us so no big deal.Originally posted by OldBird69:I agree with SpecialOps' stance. Even the US didn't reveal they had F-117 Stealth fighters and B-2 Stealth bombers for ~ a decade in the 80's. Same for their Delta Force SOP. Sometimes the rumour that you have something can give you a big advantage - for example your enemy may hold back extra forces (critically needed elsewhere) to defend against your rumoured equipment.
In the cases SAF does reveal sensitive/tactical equipment, the full specs or additional gizmos or how they are deployed are not mentioned - because it gives the enemy a tactical advantage if they know the full capabilities.
As for the SCE vehicle I'm referring too, hardly sensitive or tactical. In fact I hear farmers even use a variation of it in China on their fields.
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You guys think too highly of David Boey...you think he can really publish things on MINDEF purchase without consulting the right people?
Everything he writes is already cleared and approved by MINDEF.
MLRS is no secret, just that they don't want to blow trumpet yet...its part of the deterrent-yet-not-provocative politics.
SOF, some selected from commandos, but you can sign up as one, subject to a 1-year selection training programme. -
Perhaps we should take the gloss off some items that are commonplace, but we choose to view them as oh-so-shiny-silver bullets.Originally posted by specialOps:You guys think too highly of David Boey...you think he can really publish things on MINDEF purchase without consulting the right people?
Everything he writes is already cleared and approved by MINDEF.
MLRS is no secret, just that they don't want to blow trumpet yet...its part of the deterrent-yet-not-provocative politics.
SOF, some selected from commandos, but you can sign up as one, subject to a 1-year selection training programme. -
No, one regular NCO I knew went for selection but failed. He wanted to try again. I met him when we were both in the same Bde S2. He wasn't even airborne qualified.Originally posted by tankee1981:If i am not wrong most if not all SOF personnel are selected from CDOs.
Most important pre-requisite apart from those that all combat NCO's must meet, is a high security clearance* and I think must be regular before you can apply.
And they need all kinds of talent and not people with just a lot of muscles.
*i.e. no one in your family has done anything wrong, subversive etc. And I don't know if they apply the usual racial discriminations. -
Yup, what my two ex-colleagues said was that their selection process did not look at their physical fitness primarily.Originally posted by chino65:No, one regular NCO I knew went for selection but failed. He wanted to try again. I met him when we were both in the same Bde S2. He wasn't even airborne qualified.
Most important pre-requisite apart from those that all combat NCO's must meet, is a high security clearance* and I think must be regular before you can apply.
And they need all kinds of talent and not people with just a lot of muscles.
*i.e. no one in your family has done anything wrong, subversive etc. And I don't know if they apply the usual racial discriminations.
Racial discrimination is non-existent according to what they're told. And yes, you have to be a regular.
They do take in people with tattoos, mavericks etc..