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475 Commissioned as SAF Officers
17 June 2017
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Deputy Prime Minister & Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, reviewed a commissioning parade at the SAFTI Military Institute this evening. A total of 475 cadets, comprising 369 from the Army, 37 from the Navy and 69 from the Air Force, were commissioned as officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Speaking at the parade, DPM Tharman reminded the graduands of the SAF's significant role in dealing with terrorism threats. He said: "As the threats evolve, the SAF too must continue to innovate and adapt so that it remains a strong and credible force, and remains tightly coordinated with our Home Team agencies."
For more than a decade, the SAF has formed high readiness task forces to respond quickly to terror threats from air, land, and sea. These task forces safeguard homeland security together with full-time and operationally ready national servicemen who protect key installations such as Changi Airport and Jurong Island round the clock. The SAF and Home Team agencies also ensure readiness by conducting exercises to stress-test their combined capabilities and responses.
Beyond our shores, the SAF has enabled Singapore to contribute to international efforts against violent extremism and regional security. Through bilateral and multilateral exercises with foreign military partners and the sharing of professional knowledge, the SAF has been able to benchmark itself against professional militaries around the world.
The parade marked the completion of 38 weeks of rigorous training at the Officer Cadet School. The realistic training conducted during the course sharpened the cadets' combat, planning and leadership skills. The newly commissioned officers will go on to assume command, instructional or staff appointments in the SAF. Also present at the parade were senior Ministry of Defence officials and SAF officers, as well as families and friends of the newly commissioned officers.
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