Second Minister for Defence Mr Ong Ye Kung officiated at the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Soldier Performance (CESP) at Selarang Camp this morning. 

As part of the Singapore Army's efforts in the Soldier Strong campaign, the CESP is set up to enhance soldier performance and increase the combat potential of every soldier. The CESP's policies and training curriculum will develop our soldiers to be physically strong, mentally resilient and adaptive through four key performance areas, namely fitness and nutrition, resilience, injury management, and soldier systems. Leveraging on multipliers such as sport science, nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy, and human factors engineering, the CESP brings together the Army Fitness Centre, the Soldier Performance Centre and the Soldier Systems Integration Lab. The CESP will provide a comprehensive and scientific approach to strengthen our soldiers' physical and mental well-being. The CESP's inauguration marks an important milestone in the Army's efforts towards the holistic development of our soldiers.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mr Ong recognised that our people will always be our biggest asset and that we need to train our soldiers efficiently to equip them with the skills to face the challenges from the constantly-evolving and complex security environment. Mr Ong said that the establishment of the CESP will "train them efficiently, develop their resilience and leverage their mental and physical strengths, to develop every soldier into a well-rounded individual." Mr Ong added that "the CESP will also be supported by a range of deep domain experts such as sport scientists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, human factors engineers, and psychologists (and) they will make training more targeted and customised to every soldier's abilities", thereby maximising the combat potential of every soldier. 

Also present at the inauguration this morning were Chief of Army Major-General Melvyn Ong and senior officers from the Singapore Army