All the President's men

Police Life Monthly - July 1997

When one enters an extraordinary career such as the Singapore Police Force
(SPF) one surely expects extraordinary duties and responsibilities ....

But for ASP Lim Chee Peng and ASP Roland Lim the term "extra-ordinary" has
taken a slight twist. Instead of tailing and watching every move of criminals, these
two officers have been given a heavier responsibility as full-time Aides-de-Camp
to the President of the Republic of Singapore.

An Aide-de-Camp, or ADC for short, is an officer from either the SAF or SPF who
has been personally selected by the President to be attached to his office full-
time. Duties for an ADC include escorting the President to state functions and
events, coordinating his programmes and even planning functions and
receptions.

Full-time police ADCs have been around since 1966 with DSP R W Woodworth
appointed as the first ADC. In fact, ASP Lim Chee Peng is also somewhat of a
pioneer too being the only full-time police ADC in 1995 after a break of 20 years
(the last police ADC was ASP Ranjit Singh Gill in 1975).

To some, this might seem like a enviable position but, as ASP Lim reveals, being
an ADC is demanding at times. "Sometimes we have to plan functions single-
handedly," he says. "This can be very daunting as we are not specially trained to
handle such things."

ASP Lim recounts an occasion when he had just been appointed ADC and was
asked to organise a reception. "As that was my very first day as an ADC, I really
didn't know what to do," he admits. "However, with help from the staff at the
Istana, things went pretty smoothly."

Of course the fact that ASP Lim had been a part-time ADC helped too.

Being an ADC does have its privileges, as we learnt. "Now, I am more confident
of myself and I notice an improvement in my bearing and turn-out," notes ASP
Lim. "In fact, I feel that I am a better man as I have picked up many things along
the way".

ASP Roland Lim confesses he is nervous taking over the reins from ASP Lim.

"Like my predecessor, I have had only the slightest indications of what will
come," he said. "Come what may, I'll try my best to adapt." "I also believe that
this will make me a better man," said ASP Roland. "Even though I may have to
work under extreme duress," he adds wryly.
ASP Lim agrees. "When it comes to events or such," says ASP Lim, "There is no
room for mistakes; you have to be very precise and detailed in your planning."

It is an enormous task working so closely with the President. It is even more

daunting for the family because much time is taken off to attend to state affairs
rather than family affairs. "This job does take up a lot of my time," confesses ASP
Roland. "However, it is still nothing compared to the time I spent as an
Investigation Officer at 'E' Division".

Kudos to both their families for their immense support. "Well, when I married him,
I already knew what I was in for," says Mrs Roland Lim, laughing. She confesses
that she has already become used to her husband's irregular hours.

"It's not easy being a policeman's wife," observes ASP Lim. "It's important that
support and understanding are always there." However, being an ADC's wife
does have its perks as we found out from Mrs Roland Lim. "I shook hands with
the President. This is something not every wife can boast about," she says with a
twinkle in her eye.

Indeed, being an ADC does have its pros and cons but perhaps what is the most
important thing is summarised by our Ag Commissioner Khoo Boon Hui. "It is an
honour for the Singapore Police Force to have its officers elected as ADCs.

"I believe that these officers will do both the force and the nation proud."

By Nisar Keshvani
© Police Life Monthly
Singapore Police Force
The Duties of an Aide-de-Camp
by A. B. "Banjo" Patterson
Oh, some folk think vice-royalty is festive and hilarious,
The duties of an A.D.C. are manifold and various,
So listen, whilst I tell in song
The duties of an aide-de-cong.

Whatsoever betide
To the Governor's side
We must stick -- or the public would eat him --
For each bounder we see
Says, "Just introduce me
To His Lordship -- I'm anxious to meet him."

Then they grab at his paw

And they chatter and jaw
Till they'd talk him to death -- if we'd let 'em --
And the folk he has met,
They are all in a fret,
Just for fear he might chance to forget 'em.

When some local King Billy

Is talking him silly,
Or the pound-keeper's wife has waylaid him,
From folks of that stamp
When he has to decamp --
We're his aides to decamp -- so we aid him.

Then some feminine beauty

Will come and salute ye,
She may be a Miss or a Madam,
Or a man comes in view,
Bails you up, "How de do!"
And you don't know the fellow from Adam!

But you've got to keep sweet

With each man that you meet,
And a trifle like this mustn't bar you,
So you clutch at his fin,
And you say, with a grin,
"Oh, delighted to see you -- how are you?"

Then we do country shows

Where some prize-taker blows
Of his pig -- a great, vast forty-stoner --
"See, my Lord! ain't he fine!
How is that for a swine!"
When it isn't a patch on its owner!

We fix up the dinners

For parsons and sinners
And lawyers and bishops and showmen,
And a judge of the court
We put next to a "sport",
And an Orangeman next to a Roman.

We send invitations
To all celebrations,
Some Nobody's presence entreating,
And the old folks of all
We invite to a ball,
And the young -- to a grandmothers' meeting.

And when we go dancing,

Like cart-horses prancing,
We plunge where the people are thickenkn';
And each gay local swell
Thinks it's "off" to dance well,
So he copies our style -- ain't it sickenin'!

Then at banquets we dine

And swig cheap, nasty wine,
But the poor aide-de-camp mustn't funk it --
And they call it champagne,
But we're free to maintain
That he feels real pain when he's drunk it.

Then our horses bestriding

We go out a-riding
Lest our health by confinement we'd injure;
You can notice the glare
Of the Governor's hair
When the little boys say, "Go it, Ginger!"

Then some wandering lords --

They so often are frauds --
This out-of-way country invading,
If a man dresses well
And behaves like a swell,
Then he's somebody's cook masquerading.

But an out-an-out ass

With a thirst for the glass
And the symptoms of drink on his "boko",
Who is perpetually
Pursuing the ballet,
He is always the "true Orinoco".

We must slave with our quills --

Keep the cash -- pay the bills --
Keep account of the liquor and victuals --
So I think you'll agree
That the gay A.D.C.
Has a life that's not all beer and skittles!

The Bulletin, 21 January 1893

The Presidency

* The President
* Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA)
* President's Office
* CPA Secretariat
* The President's Men
o Aides-de-Camp
o Ceremonial Guards
* The Official Residence
* Speeches

Archives

Questions ?

Presidents and their ADCs

* Yusof Ishak
* Benjamin Sheares
* Devan Nair
* Wee Kim Wee
* Ong Teng Cheong
* S R Nathan

The Evolution of the ADC's

Roles and Functions

The term "Aide-de-Camp" is of French origin meaning 'camp or field assistant'.

It is difficult to determine when and where the term was actually introduced,
owing to the lack of comprehensive historical military records on the European
armies of the 19th Century or earlier.

In any case, the ADC was originally a military assistant in the field to a
Sovereign, Chief of State, or General. They transmitted orders and supervised
operations in the name of their commander, and even exercised delegated
authority on occasions. On Napoleon's staff for example, ADCs were frequently
of high military qualifications and acted both as his "eyes and ears", and as
interpreters of his mind to subordinate commanders.
Aides-de-Camps

Aides-de-Camp (ADCs) are the personal aides of the President. The President
has two full-time ADCs. A corps of 60 Honorary ADCs assist the two full-time
ADCs at major ceremonies. These Honorary ADCs are drawn from the three
services of the Singapore Armed Forces and the Police Force.
Full-Time ADCs
The full-time ADCs to the President manage the movements, security and social
needs of the President. Apart from escorting the President at all official functions,
they also plan and co-ordinate all event proceedings where the President is host.
Such events include state receptions/dinners for state guests, investitures and
presentation of credential ceremonies. An important part of their job is to observe
the local and internationally accepted protocol practices.

The current full-time ADCs to the President are ASP Mohd Latiff Rahmat and
MAJ Danny Teo Peng Yong.

[Previous Full-Time ADCs]

Honorary ADCs
The corps of Honorary ADCs comprises Military and Police Officers who assist
the full-time ADC in the discharge of his duties to the President. Their duties
range from ushering and checking guests, accompanying and entertaining VIPs,
controlling members of the press, socialising, co-ordinating events at large
functions, welcoming and introducing Cabinet Ministers, etc.

Tour of Duty
Each full-time ADC serves a tour of duty of two years. An Honorary ADC is
appointed on a year to year basis but is generally expected to serve three years.

Qualifications of ADC
This job of honour is given to selected young men and women of good bearing,
intelligence and commitment. Social skills are an important asset.

The Aiguilette
Internationally, Aides-de-Camp may be identified by the thick distinctive cords
across the right shoulder called aiguilettes. The aiguilettes are plaited cords
ending at two points called aglets. Historically, the aglets were used by knights to
fasten the plates of their armour together. Aiguilettes are worn on the right
shoulder by officers of certain appointments only. They include:

* Chief of Defence Force in the Singapore Armed Forces

* Commanding Officers in the Singapore Police Force
* Aides-de-Camp to the President
* Honorary Aides-de-Camp to the President
In Singapore, ADCs who are officers of the Singapore Armed Forces wear gold
aiguilettes and Police officers wear silver aiguilettes.
AIDE-DE-CAMP (ADC)
Queen Victoria instituted the appointment of a small group of personal ADCs, an
honorary appointment with few duties. The Prince is one of The Queen's
personal ADCs. Principal ADC - an office held by some high-ranking officers in
the armed services - carries duties including attendance on The Queen at the
State Opening of Parliament. Other ADCs, rarely asked to perform any duties,
are chosen from the armed services.
ONTARIO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR APPOINTS GREEN HONORARY AIDE
Dominion Officer Named Civilian Aide de Camp

August 20th, 1998 saw Her Honour, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, confer
an unusual honour upon Dominion Officer Martin Green. Mrs. Weston appointed
Martin an Honorary Aide-de-Camp in recognition of his year-long efforts including
two summers of concentrated work in developing the Vice-Regal web site, as
well as the site for the Hilary M. Weston Foundation, which sponsors the
Governor's youth employment initiative, First Connection.

At a reception in the Vice-Regal Suite at Queen's Park, Her Honour presented

Martin with his Commission in the presence of her staff, the Green family, Chief
Aide de Camp Chief Supt. Ken Turriff and the Dominion Chairman of the
Monarchist League of Canada. Mrs. Weston noted Martin's extraordinary
involvement with the Vice-Regal Office since he had become the League's first
summer student intern in 1997, and the importance of her web site as a vehicle
to make the Lieutenant Governor's role and responsibilities more widely
understood and appreciated.

The honour accorded by Mrs. Weston is the greater not only in view of Martin's
youth (he is 19) but also that he is only the second civilian Honorary Aide-de-
Camp whom Her Honour has appointed. Private Secretary Richard Berthelsen
explained that as an Honorary ADC, Marty might be asked by Mrs. Weston to be
in attendance upon her at appropriate functions when his studies allow.

"I'm just overwhelmed," the recent Upper Canada College graduate said in
response to the presentation. "I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to be
associated with Her Honour and the staff at the Suite, and I look forward to
continuing to be helpful in any way that I can." Martin is continuing his studies
this Autumn as a freshman at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina.