In the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), specialists are the group of ranks equivalent to non-commissioned officers in other armed forces. This term was introduced in 1993, for a more "positive" rank classification. In the SAF, warrant officers are not considered specialists. Like many other modern militaries, the specialist corps forms the backbone of the military. Among other things, specialists are responsible for the training and discipline of the enlisted men. They are experts in the use of weapons and equipment, drill and ceremonies. The following ranks are considered specialist ranks: