Letters to the Editor

Sir,

I refer to the SAF Professional Reading Programme that was published in the Pointer Supplement of March 1998.

The point I wish to make is that the education of military officers in the art and science of war (which forms the greater part of the Reading Programme) is something that should be initiated at the earliest possible stage, that is, when they are officer cadets. For example, the teaching of strategic thought should be taught at this level. Presently, SAF officers are introduced to the subject only in the Senior Staff Course and the Command and Staff Course which is rather late.

The principles of war are actually quite simple, and can definitely be grasped by our officer cadets. It is how one applies these principles that actually determines the outcome of a campaign, and the sooner one starts to assimilate these, the better. To use a crude analogy, it is like saying that the sooner one learns the mechanics of driving, the sooner one is able to start on the art of driving.

I would also like to recommend that the SAF Professional Reading Programme include one of J.F.C. Fuller's later works, The Second World War: A Strategical and Tactical History. I have found that this is perhaps his most erudite piece of work, and I strongly recommend it for general reading.

CPT Elijah Lim
Officer-on-course
SCSC

CPT Elijah Lim,

Thank you for your suggestions and for your interest in the SAF Professional Reading Programme.

I agree that officer cadets should be taught the art and science of war. Hence, SAFTI's Military History Branch, which provides such education as well as produced the Reading Programme, has a Military History module in the Officer Cadet Course comprising a judicious selection of lectures on the realities of war; the impact of technology on land, naval and air warfare; the strategic thinker, Sunzi, and his book The Art of War; the Malayan Campaign; and a battlefield tour of Sarimbun, Kranji and Labrador. With the implementation of the Tri-Service Staff Course in October, we will be bringing such education to advanced officers too. Notwithstanding these, there will always be gaps in our knowledge of the art and science of war. We hope that the SAF Professional Reading Programme can help to fill these gaps.

As for your suggestion on J.F.C. Fuller's book, we will include it for review to evaluate its suitability for inclusion in our next edition of the Reading Programme

Thank you once again.

LTC Sng Seow Lian
Head Military History Branch
SAFTI Military Institute