1,091 Graduate as SAF Specialists

Graduands from the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute saluting the Officiating Officer, Commander, 9th Division / Chief Infantry Officer, Brigadier-General Chua Jin Kiat, for the Army's 46/2020 Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade (SCGP) held at Pasir Laba Camp this morning.

A total of 1,091 cadets comprising 938 from the Singapore Army, 85 from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), 12 from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and 56 from Joint will graduate as Specialists of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on 18 February 2021.

The cadets will receive their bayonets at decentralised small-scale indoor parades held at Leaders Hall, Pasir Laba Camp from 15 to 18 February 2021, in recognition of this significant milestone in the cadets' journey as new commanders in the SAF. Each parade will be recorded and uploaded onto the Specialist Cadet School Facebook Page so that the graduands' families and friends can watch the proceedings. The cadets also brought home their ceremonial uniforms to capture the symbolic graduation photo where their family members and loved ones affixed their new ranks on them.

Addressing the graduands in a recorded video message as the Reviewing Officer of the proceedings, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Sustainability and the Environment Mr Desmond Tan spoke on how the SAF had to adapt its training in the midst of the pandemic, and the contributions of the men and women of the SAF to the fight against COVID-19. He said, "While training was ongoing, the SAF was also mobilised to contribute to the nation-wide effort in the fight against COVID-19. Our servicemen and women were deployed to contact tracing, health surveillance, distribution of masks, dormitories and quarantine operations…Although these tasks were different from what the SAF soldiers had been trained for, you rose to the occasion, and delivered not just masks, but confidence to our people. This speaks volumes of the readiness of the SAF and the professionalism of our servicemen and women."

Mr Tan also congratulated the graduands on completing their training to join the Specialist Corps, and reminded the graduands of the influential role that they would play as leaders. "Graduands, you are becoming an SAF leader at a time when the world is in crisis. It is times like this that the SAF stands out to give strength to our nation. While you might have a slightly different training experience from other cohorts before or after you, you should be proud to have been made a leader at a special time in our history," he said. "Lead your men and women well, look after them and help them to grow to become leaders like yourself. The difference you make in their lives will be the most fulfilling part of your leadership journey."

The graduands from the Singapore Army, the RSN, the RSAF and Joint have completed the Specialist Cadet Course, where they trained under rigorous and realistic conditions to develop leadership and combat skills, and to deepen their respective vocational expertise.

Minister of State for Home Affairs and Sustainability and the Environment Mr Desmond Tan (on-screen) delivering his speech in a recorded video to graduands from the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute during the 46/2020 SCGP held at Pasir Laba Camp this morning.

Sergeant Major, 9th Division, Senior Warrant Officer Yeo Keng Hua (right) presenting the Golden Bayonet to Specialist Cadet (SCT) Marcus Tan from the Singapore Army.

SCT Prem Kumar Tamilselvam (centre) having his rank affixed in the presence of his mother (left) and father at home.

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Speech by Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Mr Desmond Tan Kok Ming, at the 46/2020 Specialist Cadet Course Graduation Parade