Singapore’s DIS establishes centralised training command to develop expertise in six defence domains.
Singapore’s Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) inaugurated the DIS Training Command (DTCOM) at Bukit Panjang Camp, Singapore, to oversee training and professional development for its personnel, known as Guardians. The inauguration ceremony was officiated by Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service Major-General (MG) Lee Yi-Jin and attended by senior commanders and personnel from the DIS and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
In his opening address, MG Lee highlighted the importance of continuous learning in maintaining professional expertise amid rapid technological developments and evolving security threats. He said, “Whether in intelligence, C4, cyber defence or digital engineering, the SAF looks to our Guardians to be deep experts in their respective crafts. But expertise in our fields has a short shelf life. Technologies advance, threats evolve, and established ways of working can quickly become obsolete. DTCOM’s role is to develop mastery, while ensuring that what our Guardians master remains current and relevant.”
DTCOM will lead workforce transformation and competency development within the DIS, focusing on six domains: Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Digital, C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers), Electronic Protection, and Information Defence. Through a coordinated and centralised training framework, the command will equip Guardians with the technical knowledge and professional skills required to meet evolving operational demands.
The initiative will also support the SAF’s operational readiness by developing personnel capable of operating in an increasingly complex digital environment. This will enhance the DIS’s ability to provide support for integrated operations conducted by the wider SAF.
Training and professional development will also cover Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), who contribute to sustaining the DIS’s operational capabilities. Structured training and opportunities to develop their competencies will help NSmen maintain their proficiency, keep pace with technological developments and respond to changing operational requirements.
DTCOM will comprise specialised training schools and units dedicated to the DIS’s six areas of expertise. Additional schools and units are scheduled to be progressively established in 2027.
As part of the command’s training framework, the Advanced School for Continuous Education and Development (ASCEND) will promote learning beyond formal training. Serving as the DIS’s link to Institutes of Higher Learning and industry partners, ASCEND will provide Guardians with opportunities to access developments in industry and deepen their professional competencies. This approach will support continuous learning and help ensure that DIS personnel maintain relevant skills amid technological advancements and changing operational requirements.
Source: MINDEF
