DIS sets up training command to teach personnel to extract intelligence using AI

Given the rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber technology, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will strengthen military training in these areas.

This includes teaching personnel to use AI to analyse large volumes of data and identify emerging threats, as well as to gather and analyse information from publicly available sources to support situational awareness and decision-making.

The Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) has established a dedicated training command, bringing together some training units previously managed by the SAF. It will progressively set up new schools to strengthen training in intelligence analysis, cyber defence and digital technology.

The DIS Training Command (DTCOM) held its inauguration ceremony at Bukit Panjang Camp on Friday (6 November). Military Expert 7 (ME7) Steven Lim, head of the DIS Training Department, was appointed its commander.

DTCOM has three main units: the Intelligence Training Institute (Int-TI), the SAF Cyber Defence School, and the Advanced School for Continuous Education and Development (ASCEND).

The Intelligence Training Institute trains intelligence professionals. It comprises the Imagery and Geospatial School (IGS), the Intelligence Technology & Analysis School (ITAS), the Joint Intelligence School (JIS) and the Open-Source Training Wing (OSTW).

GS and JIS, previously under the SAF Military Intelligence Institute, now come under DIS. The newly established ITAS and OSTW are scheduled to begin operations in April next year.

ITAS will train personnel to use cloud technology, big data, AI models and automation tools to process vast amounts of information. This will help them extract valuable insights from an increasingly complex information environment to support intelligence assessments.

OSTW will train personnel to gather, assess and analyse open-source information to support the SAF’s situational awareness and inform military decisions.

In an interview, Lim said bringing previously separate training schools under a single command would help deepen personnel’s expertise in intelligence and cyber security, while fostering a sense of belonging and identity within DIS.

According to a Ministry of Defence statement, DTCOM oversees training across six DIS specialisations: intelligence, cyber security, digital technology, Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4), electronic protection and information defence.

The training command also provides specialist training for the other services and strengthens skills training for operationally ready national servicemen.

Steven Lim said DTCOM also plans to establish a digital and engineering school over the next few years to further develop AI-related training.

The training command was proposed when DIS was established in 2022 and was originally scheduled to be set up in 2023. Its inauguration ceremony was held only this year.

Head of the DTCOM Development Office Quek Sheng Quan explained that DIS had focused on establishing its operational commands in its early years. As its training schools had support from the Army, the establishment of the training command was deferred.

“Just last year, we set up our last two operation commands. Now that our operation command has matured, we feel that it is the right time to take over the command from the army, and to centralise our training schools to reach better efficiency.”