Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS)

The Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School (SWAS), formerly known as the Advanced Specialist Training Wing (ASTW), is a senior leadership school which aims to continue developing the leadership and warfighting abilities of WOSpecs as they progress to more senior roles in the SAF.

SWAS conducts functional courses such as the Basic Warfighter-Platoon Sergeant (BWF-PS) and Warfighter-Company Sergeant Major (WF-CSM) courses. These courses are conducted in two main phases: the Common Phase and the Operations Phase.

History Of SWAS

The former ASTW was located within the compounds of Pasir Laba Camp as a unit under SISPEC. With the implementation of the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute transformation plan in Apr 2010, ASTW was renamed as SWAS and regarded as a separate entity under the SWI umbrella.

As part of the SAF’s efforts to raise the profile of the Warrant Officer Corps, SWO Lee Sung Cheng was appointed as Commanding Officer (CO) of SWAS, taking over from LTC Yeo Hock Seng. SWO Lee was the first Warrant Officer to hold a CO appointment in the Warrant Officer Corps.

In late 2013, SWAS moved to their own facilities in Pasir Laba Camp. This further strengthened the school’s identity and image as a leading learning institution for the Warrant Officers and Specialists in the Army.

Commanding Officer SWAS

CWO Lim Wee Beng assumed command of Specialist and Warrant Officer Advanced School on 23 Nov 2023. He was enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces in 1996 and is a Commando Leader by vocation. He has served in 1st Commando Battalion, Special Operations Tactical Centre, Control Personnel Centre, Commando Training Institute, SAFWOS Leadership School, and the 2nd People's Defence Force Command. He is a graduate of the prestigious SAF Ranger Course, Joint Warrant Officer Course, Joint Advanced Leadership Course, Joint Senior Leadership Course, Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College (Executive), and Training Commander Course. He also participated in Operation Flying Eagle in 2005.

Basic Warfighter-Platoon Sergeant (BWF-PS) Course

The 13-week Basic Warfighter-Platoon Sergeant Course is attended by Specialists, including Army Regulars, NSFs and NSmen, who will subsequently take on the role of Platoon Sergeants in Army units.

Warfighter-Company Sergeant Major (WF-CSM) Course

The 9-week Warfighter-Company Sergeant Major Course is attended by WOSpecs, including Army Regulars, NSFs and NSmen, who will take on the role of Company Sergeant Majors working in partnership with their Company Commanders in Army units.