Speech by Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Alvin Tan, at the 59/2024 Specialist Cadet Course Graduation Parade on 16 May 2024

Graduands of the 59/2023 Specialist Cadet Course,

Parents and loved ones,

Ladies and gentlemen,

INTRODUCTION

Good evening to all!

Gives me great joy to join you today to witness a new cohort of Specialists and Military Experts being inducted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Today marks a significant milestone in all your journeys. You will be formally appointed as leaders in the SAF, after which you will assume the solemn responsibility of leading your soldiers, sailors, airmen and guardians in the defence of our nation.

My sincere congratulations to all of you. You have earned the right to don the ranks of leadership, after successfully completing 22 weeks of challenging military leadership training.

A FORWARD-THINKING SAF

And why is this important? Well, the world has become more dangerous, more fractious, more uncertain. Geopolitical tensions and great power contestation continue to impact international and regional stability, and cast a shadow on the global economy. Ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East remind us that the peace we know now is fragile and we cannot take peace for granted. The global situation is also affecting shipping lanes and supply chains. These will affect our lives and livelihood even though we are far from the epi-center of the conflict.

In this increasingly fragmented world, Singaporeans will continue to look to the SAF to secure Singapore's peace and security. And our people have good reasons to trust the SAF. Since our nation's independence 59 years ago, the SAF has developed into a modern and credible fighting force capable of defending Singapore against all manner of threats. Whether it is safeguarding our sovereignty in the skies, protecting our sea lines of communication, responding to terror threats, or even supporting our civil agencies in times of pandemics, the SAF has repeatedly answered the call of duty. And because the SAF has provided this strong assurance, Singapore is able to develop and prosper.

But the SAF is not static. It must continue to change and transform to stay relevant for these times. The SAF established the Digital and Intelligence Service and acquired new platforms and technologies like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and Type 218SG submarines. These are tangible examples of our long-term commitments to stay at the cutting edge and how we can address the threats of tomorrow. The SAF has gone to the extent of building SAFTI City, to provide a highly realistic training facility for our soldiers to learn how to operate in modern urban environments. SAFTI City will be a mix of high and low-rise buildings, reconfigurable roads, bus interchanges and even an MRT station. Some of you may have the opportunity to hone your skills in SAFTI City over the next few years!

LEADERSHIP AT THE FRONTIER OF CHANGE

But beyond investing in these machines and buildings, it is even more critical that we invest in our most precious resource - our people. Everyone here this evening witnessed a historic moment in our nation's history last night - the smooth and orderly transition from our country's third generation leaders to our county's fourth generation leaders. This is by no means a given. Oftentimes, leadership transitions elsewhere in the world are messy and fractious. Often, these transitions divide their people, not unite their people. But good leaders help their people thrive in good times, and especially in bad times. In the same vein, leadership is crucial in the SAF and a strong SAF is underpinned by a core of effective leaders and committed people with a collective will to fight. Our leaders must show resilience and mental fortitude to navigate challenges and inspire our people to rise to the occasion, when the occasion calls for it.

As newly minted leaders in the SAF, we expect you to stand at the forefront of change and lead your teams through these uncertain times. You will face challenges beyond technical and specialist expertise that you have been trained for, especially in fostering camaraderie and developing a strong fighting spirit in your teams. I strongly encourage all of you to think innovatively and think beyond conventional boundaries and adapt your leadership styles to inspire the men and women that have been placed under your charge and under your stewardship. As you lead from the front, remember that leadership is not a position. Leadership is action. So, lead with exemplary conduct, empathy and dedication and be a good example to all around you.

As you embark on this next phase of your journey as leaders, reflect on the tough times, the rigorous training, the challenges that tested your mettle, and how you rose to meet and overcome those tough times. Put that in your minds, remember that the next time you face tough times, these will come in handy. And remember the impact that your commanders, your trainers, and your fellow cadets have had on you. The people who cheered you on, motivated you, and kept you going in your toughest times – they modelled what leadership ought to be and what leadership can be.  And now is your time to step into those shoes, and lead your teams with the same passion, confidence and conviction.

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY SUPPORT

And there is one more group of people that are central to this. In fact, our SAF would not be where it is today if not the for strong commitment to defence from all quarters of society, and the support for national service from all Singaporeans. Generations of SAF service personnel put in personal sacrifice and train hard… all of us that have served remember that it is our homes and families we are defending. And because we enjoy strong support from our loved ones, that is why we can undertake our NS duties.

So, to all the families and loved ones present today, thank you for your unwavering support for our graduands. Your presence has been a crucial source of motivation and inspiration for every graduand here at Leaders Square. As we celebrate our graduands' achievements today, we also deeply appreciate your sacrifices and encouragement in developing our next generation of leaders who stand proudly before you.

CONCLUSION

Graduands, the last few months were testament to your dedication and commitment.

Now, the time has come for you to demonstrate your mettle as leaders in the SAF. We all have utmost confidence that each and every one of you will embody and demonstrate the best leadership qualities that we all look up to.

With Pride We Lead!

Thank you.

More Resources

877 Graduate as SAF Specialists and Military Experts