St. John Ambulance in Singapore

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=St. John Ambulance, Singapore


role=Volunteer Youth Organisation
equipment=
garrison= 420 Beach Road
garrison_label=Headquarters
motto="Pro Utilitate Hominum (For The Service of Mankind)"
current_commander= Dr. Chen Sze Hua, C.St.J
current_commander_label= Chief Commissioner
identification_symbol=
dates= 1935 - Present
battle_honours=

St John Ambulance Singapore is a voluntary organisation in Singapore which provides training in First Aid and Home Nursing. Its members also perform voluntary first aid coverage duties during national events.

The headquarters is located at 420 Beach Road. It was opened on July 23 1960 by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (and subsequently President of Singapore), En. Yusof bin Ishak.

History of St John Ambulance in Singapore

* 1935 Dr J.S. Webster, O.St.J. started to organise First Aid lectures in Singapore.
* September 1938 The first uniformed division of the Brigade was formed.
* 1952 The first St. John Council was formed.
* 1978 The Brigade was reorganised and upgraded to National Headquarters status, with 4 Districts and 10 Areas.
* 1996 The Brigade was once again restructured to simply consist of 10 Zones.
* 2005 The Brigade and 10 Zones were presented with their Colours by His Excellency The President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr. S.R. Nathan.
* 2005 Current Chief Commissioner, Dr Chen Sze Hua, C.St.J., takes office.

Read more at [http://www.sjab.org.sg/history.htm]

tructure

The St John Ambulance Singapore comes under the command of the National St John Council with the following appointments:

Past Champions

*2008 Zone 1 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: -

AC Champion: Peirce Secondary School

NA Champion: Peirce Secondary School

NC Champion: St. Nicholas Girls' School

*2008 Zone 2 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: Anglican High School

AC Champion: Anglican High School

NA Champion: East Spring Secondary School

NC Champion: East Spring Secondary School

*2008 Zone 3 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: St. Joseph Institution

AC Champion: Yishun Town Secondary School (Later transferred rights to National Competition to Anderson Secondary School)

NA Champion: Yishun Town Secondary School

NC Champion: Yishun Town Secondary School

*2008 Zone 4 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

AC Champion: Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

NA Champion: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (Secondary)

NC Champion: Swiss Cottage Secondary School

*2008 Zone 5 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AC Champion: Zhonghua Secondary School

AC 2nd Runners Up: Canberra Secondary School (To represent Zone 5 in National AA Competition)

NA Champion: Nanyang Secondary School

NC Champion: Zhonghua Secondary School

*2008 Zone 6 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: Riverside Secondary School

AC Champion: Bukit Panjang Government High School

NA Champion: Bukit Merah Secondary School

NC Champion: Bukit Panjang Government High School

*2008 Zone 7 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: Nan Hua High School (later transferred participation rights in National Competition to Hwa Chong Institution)

AC Champion: Nan Hua High School

NA Champion: Xinmin Secondary School

NC Champion: Nan Hua High School

*2008 Zone 8 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: Dunman High School

AC Champion: Dunman High School

NA Champion: Dunman High School

NC Champion: Dunman High School

*2008 Zone 9 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: River Valley High School

AC Champion: -

NA Champion: Bukit Batok Secondary School

NC Champion: Bukit Batok Secondary School

*2008 Zone 10 First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

AA Champion: Maris Stella High School

AC Champion: Hai Sing Catholic School

NA Champion: Hai Sing Catholic School

NC Champion: Hai Sing Catholic School

2008 National First Aid & Home Nursing Competition

Ranks

Throughout their secondary education, cadets are awarded ranks as follows:
*Cadet (Private)
*Lance-Corporal
*Corporal
*Sergeant
*Staff Sergeant
*Cadet Leader (in some schools only)

Upon completing their secondary education, ex-cadets may continue their service to the Brigade. Some choose to just return as friends of the school and conduct training for their juniors, while others undergo further formal training to prepare themselves to be appointed as Brigade Officers.

Brigade Officers hold ranks at Corps, Zone or National Headquarters level, and these ranks are further divided into Grades 6 through 1 (Grade 1 being the most senior). The most senior Brigade Officers hold ranks of Super Grade 4 through 1.

Description of Rank Structure

All ranks are worn on the shoulder board. All badges are made of White Metal against a black background. (This list is not exhaustive.)Medical doctors have a red outline around their shoulder boards as shown in the below pictures.
* Denotes such an officer can be promoted to the next higher grade depending on performance. A Deputy to such an officer (or one acting in his capacity) would "normally" be of one grade lower, and an Assistant would be of two.

Awards and Commendations

Officers and Members of the Brigade are eligible for the following Awards and Commendations:

Local Awards

*5 Years First Aid Efficiency Medal (for 5 years' service)
*Commendation Medal (which carries the post nominal letters "CMSJ")

=International (Order) Awards=

*Service Medal of the Order (for 10 years' service)
*Bar to the Service Medal (for each subsequent 5 years' service up to 45 years)
*Gilt Laurel Leaf (for 50 years' service)
*Admission to the Order of St John
** Serving Brother / Serving Sister "(S.B.St.J. or S.S.St.J.)"
** Officer Brother / Officer Sister "(O.St.J.)"
** Commander Brother / Commander Sister "(C.St.J.)"
** Knight / Dame of Grace "(K.St.J. or D.St.J.), note that this does not entitle the holder to Sir "
* Life-Saving Medal of the Order (in Gold, Silver or Bronze) - very rare

The grades of the Order are numbered 1 through 6, however this is not to be confused with the grading of Brigade Officers.

The highest grade in the Order, G.C.St.J. is limited only to the Great Officers of the Order and 21 other individuals. The lowest grade in the Order, Esq.St.J. is for Personal Esquires for K.St.J. and above who probably play a role similar to that of an Aide-de-Camp.

The allotment is as follows: 2 Personal Esquires for Knights of Justice and above, and 1 Personal Esquire for Knights of Grace. No Personal Esquires have been appointed in Singapore.

Past Leaders

Commissioner, St John Ambulance Brigade

*Dr D.P.McIntyre ( - )
*Dr P.C. Kwan ( - )
*Dr K.L. Loh, BBM, C.St.J. ( - July 1970)
*Dr S.R.Sayampanathan, BBM, C.St.J. (July 1970 - 1978)

Chief Commissioner, St John Ambulance Brigade

*Dr S.R.Sayampanathan, BBM, C.St.J. (1978 - 10 Sep 1980)
*Dr Gwee Ah Leng, PJG, JP, C.St.J. (11 Sep 1980 - 23 June 1989)
*LTC(Vol) Prof Low Cheng Hock JP, PBM, PPA(E), K.St.J. (24 June 1989 - 1999)
*A/Prof Ho Nai Kiong BBM, K.St.J. (1999 - 2005)
*Dr Chen Sze Hua C.St.J. (2005 - )

ee also

*Order of St. John
*St John Ambulance Ranks and Insignia
*St. Andrew's Ambulance Association
*Service Medal of the Order of St John

External links

* [http://www.sjab.org.sg/ St John Ambulance Singapore public website]

ources

*History: http://www.sjab.org.sg/history.htm. Retrieved 6 April, 2007
*Names of Corps taken from http://www.sjab.org.sg/allzone.htm. Retrieved 6 April, 2007
*Description of Rank Structure taken from the Brigade Regulations of the Republic of Singapore (1997 edition)
*Results of 2008 National Competition from http://www.sjab.org.sg/