The Guards formation was created on 1 January 1975 as the
7th Singapore Infantry Brigade (7 SIB) with four officers, five
specialists and a few clerks. 7 SIB subsequently took command of the Infantry Training Depot (ITD) on 1 January 1976 and the 7th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (7 SIR) and 8th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (8 SIR) on 9 February 1976. On 1 July 1976, 7 SIB was declared operational. In view of its operational role, the ITD was removed from 7 SIB, and the SAF Guards Unit (SAFGU), formed in the 1960s for
guard mounting at
the Istana and other
public duties activities, came under the command of 7 SIB. SAFGU was renamed 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards (1 Guards) on 1 July 1977. On 1 April 1978, 8 SIR became the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Guards (2 Guards). 7 SIB was designated as an
brigade on 1 April 1978. On 6 April 1979, 1 Guards held a parade during which Major-General
Winston Choo, Chief of General Staff, presented the soldiers with berets with new cap badge backings to denote their designation of Guards as a distinction for completing the Guards Conversion Course . On 31 July 1980, the soldiers of 7 SIB was reorganised into a brigade consisting of only Guardsmen. 7 SIR was renamed 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards (3 Guards). The three Guards battalions received their colours on 11 June 1983. On 23 June 1989, the Guardsmen received the Guards tab, which they wear on the left sleeves of their uniforms. On 9 June 1994, the Guards adopted the khaki beret to replace the olive green beret, which is still used by the
Infantry formation. On 11 October 1994, the Guards formally became a formation of the
Singapore Army. All Guards units, including 7 SIB, are now under the administration and command of HQ Guards. ==Operations==