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Deputy Prime Minister, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law, Prof S Jayakumar, officiated at the commissioning parade for 485 officers at the SAFTI Military Institute this evening.
The parade marked the completion of 38 weeks of rigorous training at the Officer Cadet School (OCS). The course culminated with a 3-week Joint phase, which included visits to the Army, Navy and Air Force formations to familiarise the officer cadets with the integrated capabilities of the SAF. Imbuing such concepts into our young officers is a crucial part of the SAF's transformation journey. The officer cadets also went through a variety of challenging exercises like coastal hook operations and urban warfare. The gruelling missions hone their planning skills, analytical thinking and combat fieldcraft. In addition, officer cadets undergo various advanced obstacle courses and physical exercises like a 32km route march that test their physical and mental endurance. On the softer side, officer cadets are expected to behave as gentlemen. They are taught the finer aspects of social and dining etiquette and these are applied at the Cadet Dining-In.
The newly-commissioned officers will be assigned combat, instructional or staff appointments in various SAF units, and the camaraderie and esprit de corps forged during the various tests and exercises are enduring ties that bind the young officers even after they take up their individual appointments and embark on their careers.
This was the second commissioning parade this year, with eight officer cadets being awarded the prestigious Sword-of-Honour. Among the graduating cohort were four officer cadets from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Witnessing the parade were top MINDEF officials and senior SAF officers, Members of Parliament, grassroots leaders, and families and friends of the newly-commissioned officers. The strong public support for the event underscores the importance of national service and the SAF as key Singaporean institutions.
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