93 Appointed as Senior Military Experts

Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad (right) presenting the Sword of Honour to ME4 Jasmine Ng Xuefeng (left) at the 23rd Senior Military Expert Appointment Ceremony (SMEAC) this evening.

Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad officiated at the 23rd Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Senior Military Expert Appointment Ceremony at Temasek Club this evening. A total of 93 servicemen and women, comprising 13 from the Singapore Army, 16 from the Republic of Singapore Navy, 33 from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and 31 from the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) Community, were appointed as Senior Military Experts (MEs) during the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Zaqy emphasised the importance of having an operationally ready and future-ready SAF to defend Singapore in an increasingly complex and volatile world. He said, "MINDEF and the SAF must always be ready for an evolving security landscape, including disruptive cyber and digital incidents... it is important that we continue to train in relevant and specialised domain areas to maintain high standards, and cultivate new batches of Senior MEs to take up the mantle of protecting Singapore."

Mr Zaqy reminded the newly-appointed Senior MEs of the important roles they play in safeguarding Singapore. He said, "This day commemorates the commencement of a new phase in your career with the SAF… I have the utmost faith that you will continue to serve with heart, great vigour and acuity. I challenge all of you here today, to display the ‘can-do’ spirit of our MEs to lead and empower the men and women that you have under you, for them to be inquisitive and innovative, and examine how we can continue to build a future-ready and sustainable SAF in everything that we do."

The Appointment Ceremony marked the completion of the Military Domain Experts Course, which trains MEs to assume roles in the SAF where in-depth expertise in areas such as engineering, intelligence, military medicine and cybersecurity is required. The course developed and honed the MEs’ leadership competency, military domain knowledge and specialised skills. The newly appointed Senior MEs will move on to assume leadership or staff appointments in their professional areas.

Also present at the ceremony was Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, senior SAF officers as well as families and friends of the graduands.

Mr Zaqy (right) interacting with graduands prior to the Appointment Ceremony.

Mr Zaqy delivering his speech at the 23rd SMEAC.

Family members of ME4 Benjamin Alexander Chua, an Air Force Engineer from the Republic of Singapore Air Force, affixing his new rank epaulettes on him.

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Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad at the 23rd Senior Military Expert Appointment Ceremony