Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the 111/18 Officer Cadet Commissioning Parade at SAFTI Military Institute

Graduands of the 111/18 Officer Cadet Course,

Parents,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

A very good evening to all. I am pleased to join you and your loved ones on this special day. My heartiest congratulations to all the graduands standing on parade today. You answered the call to serve your nation as officer cadets in the Officer Cadet School (OCS). Having gone through this physically and mentally rigorous course, you are now ready to take on the responsibility of leading the men and women of the SAF. I am confident that OCS has equipped you with the knowledge and skills required for the journey ahead.

 We have only ourselves to depend upon in the defence of our home, which is why your service to the nation is important. A strong and credible SAF has laid the foundations for Singapore to enjoy more than 50 years of peace and stability, as well as to thrive, progress, and prosper. The SAF provides us with the ballast to stand firm and respond to intimidation, and its strength lies in the generations of servicemen and women who have toiled over the years, to fight for their home and their loved ones. Our servicemen and women are at the frontline every day to uphold Singapore's sovereignty and ensure the security of Singapore and Singaporeans.

Over the years, National Service (NS) has played a significant role in equipping over a million Singaporeans with the skills and knowledge required to keep our home safe. It is here that young Singaporeans learn to trust, care, and depend on one another, while in service of something greater than themselves. It is also here that they foster a sense of unity and resilience as they overcome the challenges of NS together. From today, it will be your responsibility to lead these people well to fulfil this commitment.

Even as Singapore thrives with the support of a strong SAF, we must recognise that our security landscape is becoming increasingly complex, uncertain and volatile. While the SAF has proven to be competent in guarding against conventional threats, rogue actors have sought to do harm through increasingly non-conventional means. Our homes, schools, public places, and even cyber systems have been threatened.

Today, terrorism continues to be a key concern of many governments in the region, including ours. In particular, Singapore needs to be ready to tackle such threats, having been identified as a prime target. Terrorists have also turned to new tactics, as seen in this year's Surabaya bomb attacks, where two terrorists co-opted their families into their suicide bombing missions. To counter such threats, the SAF regularly participates in numerous large-scale exercises, such as Exercise Northstar and Exercise Highcrest, which put our soldiers through realistic terror attack simulations to train them to respond in times of crisis. The SAF has deployed in anti-ISIS coalition in the Middle East since 2014. Over the years, the SAF has also set up a range of units and task forces to counter terrorism, such as the Army Deployment Force (ADF), which was formed in 2016 to complement other dedicated forces against terrorism, such as the Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) and the Island Defence Task Force (IDTF). Additionally, the SAF's firm and continual commitment to protecting Singaporeans against terrorism at its core can also be seen in its deployments to the anti-ISIS coalition in the Middle East since 2014.

The nature of cyber threats has also evolved in recent years. Attacks with the potential of nation-wide disruptions have been launched across state boundaries. The recent SingHealth cyberattack, for instance, resulted in an unprecedented scale of data breach, reminding us of the need to constantly strengthen our cyber defence capabilities. As part of efforts to do so, the SAF inaugurated the SAF C4 Command last year, to coordinate and implement C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers), as well as cyber defence operations and capabilities. The Cyber NSF scheme was also launched this year to employ the skills of full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) with talent and expertise in this area to help defend against cyberattacks.

No country can deal with such transboundary threats in isolation. As part of the efforts to foster greater regional cooperation, Singapore hosted our ASEAN counterparts and international partners during the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus to strengthen cooperation and build resilience amidst an environment of evolving security challenges. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the adoption of the world's first set of multilateral air guidelines to prevent military air incidents in the region and build trust amongst regional partners. The ASEAN-China maritime exercise held last month also marked ASEAN nations' first effort at engaging a non-ASEAN country in such an exercise to strengthen cooperation among the nations in the region.

To continue to achieve mission success in today's complex and challenging environment, strong, visionary and excellent leadership remains key. This is why the SAF believes in the importance of investing in its people – in the selection, training and grooming of leaders like you.

Today's Commissioning Parade heralds the beginning of your journey as newly commissioned officers of the SAF. Stay humble and true to your soldiers, sailors, and airmen and they will in turn grow to trust and respect you. Train them well and above all, keep them safe. It is important for you to always be alert and keep an eye out for our men and women as they train realistically and rigorously to hone their skills and competencies.

As leaders, I hope that you will also hold fast to the SAF Core Values and let them guide you. The journey ahead will be arduous at times, but press on and trust in the good training that you have received. Remember that the defence of Singapore's independence and sovereignty lies in your hands, and you must do your utmost to protect this. We must never take things for granted but have to remain vigilant at all times as threats can come unexpectedly in many forms.

Finally, I would like to thank all servicemen and women, past and present, who have contributed to the defence of Singapore. To the family members and friends joining us here today, thank you for the unwavering support and encouragement that you have given to our cadets.

To the graduands, congratulations once again on successfully commissioning as Officers of the SAF. I have full confidence that you will discharge your duties without fear or favour, and be anchored by the Officer's Creed: To Lead, to Excel and to Overcome.

More Resources

384 Commissioned as SAF Officers