President Tharman Shanmugaratnam Attends Changing of Istana Guards Ceremony ..

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam witnessed the Changing of Guards (COG) Ceremony at the Istana this evening. Typically held on the first Sunday every month, the COG Ceremony comprises incoming Guards marching up to the main entrance of the Istana, led in by the SAF Silent Precision Drill Squad, to meet the outgoing Guards for a symbolic parade of handing over duties. The proceedings are accompanied by rousing pieces from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Band in attendance.

Following the COG Ceremony, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam interacted with the service personnel from the Istana Ceremonial Guards, the Silent Precision Drill Squad, and SAF band, and thanked them for their commitment and service.

Specially selected and trained service personnel from the SAF have been undertaking sentry duty at the Istana Main Entrance along Orchard Road since 1959, when the late Encik Yusof Bin Ishak took office as the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara. The practice started with tasking combat troops from the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment to perform the role in 1959, but has now evolved to having the Istana Ceremonial Guards from the Singapore Armed Forces' Military Police Enforcement Unit being posted for the duty.