Parachute Training Wing
Encyclopedia
The Parachute Training Wing (abbreviation
: PTW) is one of two training wings in the School of Commandos
of the Singapore Armed Forces
in Singapore
specialising in airborne
courses for the Commando Formation. Courses conducted include the Basic Airborne Course, a compulsory course for all Commando trainees, as well as more advanced courses such as the Parachute Jump Instructor Course and the Military Free Fall Course.
and New Zealand
. The fully Commando affair saw its first batch of national service
trainees graduating on 19 October 1974, before opening up the course for non-Commandos. It has also trained non-Singaporeans, with its first trainees being 12 men from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
. In August 1982, the school came under the fold of the Commando Training Centre, and was renamed the PTW. It was usually referred to as the "Parawing". Operations are graduating shifting to Pasir Ris Camp.
, known as the Silver Wings, is awarded upon successful completion of the Basic Airborne Course. First awarded to the pioneering graduating batch of 27 NSFs from Second Company, 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn), it comprises a pair of outspread wings on both wigs of a deployed parachute, with the words "SINGAPURA" below the canopy. With the design sanctioned by 1 Cdo Bn's Commanding Officer, Tan Kim Peng Clarence
, it is differentiated by a crimson
velvet
backing for Commandos, while those of the Commando Parachute Jump Instructors have a golden velvet backing. Non-Commandos wear the badge without any backing.
parachuting
, they introduce the three most important aspects affecting their performance, namely the Exit, the Flight, and the Landing. The need for quick reactive actions during these aspects of the jump required intensive training over a course of 3 weeks.
Commando trainees taking part in the course will have to go through Module one and Module two, namely clean fatigue and equipment jumps respectively. Hence, trainees will have to complete five jumps, with 3 clean fatigue and 2 equipment jumps. The minimum requirement to graduate from the course is to at least complete module 1 with 3 clean fatigue jumps.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
: PTW) is one of two training wings in the School of Commandos
School of Commandos
The School of Commandos is part of an army unit in the Singapore Armed Forces. It was established in 1967. The school moved to Changi Camp in 1971 and was renamed 1st Commando Battalion.-External links:*...
of the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
specialising in airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
courses for the Commando Formation. Courses conducted include the Basic Airborne Course, a compulsory course for all Commando trainees, as well as more advanced courses such as the Parachute Jump Instructor Course and the Military Free Fall Course.
History
The PTW was established in March 1974 as the Parachute Training School (PTS), with its Parachute Jump Instructors having received intensive training in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The fully Commando affair saw its first batch of national service
National Service in Singapore
Conscription in Singapore, called National Service , requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military...
trainees graduating on 19 October 1974, before opening up the course for non-Commandos. It has also trained non-Singaporeans, with its first trainees being 12 men from the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment is the main combat unit in the regular New Zealand Army. It was formed 9 January 1947 as the New Zealand Regiment with a single infantry battalion as part of the newly created infantry corps....
. In August 1982, the school came under the fold of the Commando Training Centre, and was renamed the PTW. It was usually referred to as the "Parawing". Operations are graduating shifting to Pasir Ris Camp.
Silver Wings
The Parachutist BadgeParachutist Badge
The Parachutist Badge or Parachutist Brevet is a military badge awarded by the Armed Forces of most countries in the world to soldiers who receive the proper parachute training and accomplish the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such award...
, known as the Silver Wings, is awarded upon successful completion of the Basic Airborne Course. First awarded to the pioneering graduating batch of 27 NSFs from Second Company, 1st Commando Battalion (1 Cdo Bn), it comprises a pair of outspread wings on both wigs of a deployed parachute, with the words "SINGAPURA" below the canopy. With the design sanctioned by 1 Cdo Bn's Commanding Officer, Tan Kim Peng Clarence
Tan Kim Peng Clarence
Lieutenant Colonel Tan Kim Peng Clarence is a retired officer of the Singapore Armed Forces. He is mostly associated with his work in building up the Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation during its infancy and early years.-Military career:...
, it is differentiated by a crimson
Crimson
Crimson is a strong, bright, deep red color. It is originally the color of the dye produced from a scale insect, Kermes vermilio, but the name is now also used as a generic term for those slightly bluish-red colors that are between red and rose; besides crimson itself, these colors include...
velvet
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
backing for Commandos, while those of the Commando Parachute Jump Instructors have a golden velvet backing. Non-Commandos wear the badge without any backing.
Basic training
The Basic Airborne Course (BAC) has about 120 to 160 trainees per class, involving largely Commandos as well as their counterparts from the rest of the SAF or beyond. With the primary task of teaching trainees to execute static lineStatic line
A static line is a fixed cord attached to a large, stable object. It is used for safety in construction andto open parachutes automatically for paratroopers and novice parachutists.-Use in parachuting:...
parachuting
Paratrooper
Paratroopers are soldiers trained in parachuting and generally operate as part of an airborne force.Paratroopers are used for tactical advantage as they can be inserted into the battlefield from the air, thereby allowing them to be positioned in areas not accessible by land...
, they introduce the three most important aspects affecting their performance, namely the Exit, the Flight, and the Landing. The need for quick reactive actions during these aspects of the jump required intensive training over a course of 3 weeks.
Commando trainees taking part in the course will have to go through Module one and Module two, namely clean fatigue and equipment jumps respectively. Hence, trainees will have to complete five jumps, with 3 clean fatigue and 2 equipment jumps. The minimum requirement to graduate from the course is to at least complete module 1 with 3 clean fatigue jumps.