Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Mr Heng Swee Keat at the 121/20 Officer Cadet Course Commissioning Ceremony at SAFTI Military Institute

Graduands of the 121/20 Officer Cadet Course,

My heartiest congratulations on your commissioning as Officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). After nine months of intense training, you have proven yourselves and earned your commission. As you put on your newly minted rank, your journey to serve the nation in a greater capacity has only just begun. You will take on heavier responsibilities, at a time of great global uncertainty and flux.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 crisis has shown that it is not just armed conflict that can cause huge disruptions to lives and livelihoods. Globally, COVID has taken away 3.5 million lives, and resulted in 250 million full-time job losses. Vaccines offer a glimmer of hope, but the limited global supply and the emergence of more infectious strains means that this pandemic is far from over. It is critical that we continue being vigilant and adapt to fast-moving circumstances.

OCS: Adapting to COVID-19

OCS has adapted quickly to the different environment. Training continued even during the Circuit Breaker last year. Safe management measures, including safe distancing and cohorting and video conferencing, were put in place.

When global travel came to a halt, overseas training was replaced with local exercises of the same intensity. Many of you successfully participated in a complex finale exercise – Exercise Panther Strike – made possible with additional testing protocols. What you have gone through – training under the shadows of COVID-19 – is unprecedented. Apart from the typical gruelling training, this crisis has also provided an important lesson in grit, resilience and adaptability. These are qualities that will serve you well, not just as Officers of the SAF, but also in your future endeavours outside of National Service.

SAF OPERATIONAL READINESS AMIDST COVID-19

Beyond OCS, the men and women of the SAF continued to perform their frontline operational duties across land, air, and sea. Our ground forces continue to protect our key installations. Our Air Force protect our skies, and scrambled F15 jets earlier this year in response to potential air threat. Our Navy continues to patrol our sea lanes, rain or shine.

To ensure operational readiness, the SAF has also remained nimble and adapted. Let me mention a few examples.

First, the SAF has continued with its large-scale exercises, including with foreign militaries, with safe management measures in place, such as the multilateral Rim of the Pacific Navy in August 2020, which involved the navies of Australia, Brunei, Japan, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea, among others; Exercise Red Flag-Nellis air combat exercise in the US in March 2021; and separate naval passage exercises with the People's Liberation Army Navy and the French Navy earlier this year.

Second, the SAF continues to innovate, with programmes such as the NS FIT in April 2021, which offers our NSmen greater flexibility to build in regular exercise into their lifestyles. To minimise large cohorts, the programme is offered at 45 locations across the island. The NS FIT programme has received many positive responses from the public.

TOTAL DEFENCE

Beyond ensuring operational readiness, the SAF has gone over and above to support the nation's fight against COVID-19. For example, the SAF supported efforts on temperature screening, contact tracing, distribution of mask supplies, and the management of the outbreak in migrant worker dormitories.

Throughout this crisis, SAF worked closely with other agencies, including the Home Team, exemplifying Total Defence at its best. The SAF also quickly adapted and successfully organised NDP 2020 under very different circumstances, and will continue to do so for NDP 2021. In difficult moments such as this, it is all the more important that we rally together as a nation.

Ultimately, the SAF's many contributions emanate from our men and women in uniform. It is a great reassurance to all of us that Singapore can depend on your dedication and resilience, in a time of crisis. My heartfelt thanks to all of you, your families, for your commitment and sacrifice.

A MORE UNCERTAIN SECURITY ENVIRONMENT

Beyond COVID-19, we must be prepared for greater uncertainty in our external environment. The US-China relationship is fraught with uncertainty. The pandemic has also intensified existing tensions and rivalries. We must also be alert to emerging threats, including those in non-traditional security domains such as cybersecurity.

The SAF must continue to enhance its capabilities to address these diverse threats. I commend the SAF for establishing a multilateral Counter-Terrorism Information Facility, which brings together like-minded countries to share intelligence and capabilities. The SAF has also stood up the Cybersecurity Task Force, to enhance its ability to guard against threats and aggressors in the cyber realm.

WHY WE SERVE

There will always be new threats, but what does not change is Singapore's fundamental reality as a "little red dot". As a small country with no natural resources and a small and greying population, we will always be vulnerable. But the unwavering support for National Service and the commitment of generations of Servicemen have built up the SAF into a strong and credible force.

This would not have been possible without the support from parents, spouses, employers, and the community at large. To the family members and friends of our graduands, I thank you for your unwavering support for them. They are here today because of you.

CONCLUSION

To all our graduands, today marks the end of your training in OCS and the beginning of a new chapter as Commissioned Officers of the SAF. I urge you to put what you have learnt into practice. Not just leadership skills, but also the grit, resilience and adaptability that the past nine months have forged in you.

You are now leaders in the SAF. As leaders, remember that you are responsible for the well-being and safety of your people under your charge. Anchor yourselves on the strong values and ethos that you have learnt in OCS, bear in mind the Officers' Creed, and I can assure you that you will have a fulfilling leadership journey. Be humble, lead with your heart, and serve with purpose. I have every confidence that you will be able to Lead, to Excel, and to Overcome.

Congratulations once again to all graduands.

Majulah Singapura! Thank you.

More Resources

353 Cadets Commissioned as SAF Officers