Speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, at the 72/08 OCC Commissioning Parade

Graduands of the Officer Cadet Course,Parents, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,To all of you on parade today, congratulations for successfully completing the Officer Cadet Course. You are now ready to be commissioned as officers of the Singapore Armed Forces. Responsibilities of Leadership As an officer of the SAF, you carry the honour, but also the heavy duty of leading the men and women under your charge into battle when called upon, to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Singapore, and to preserve the peace and security that we enjoy. The SAF is the foundation upon which our nation's prosperity and future is built.

The SAF is the reason why our families and loved ones can sleep peacefully at night. As junior commanders, your role in the SAF is no less important than those held by your senior officers.To be a leader, you must not only be physically fit and mentally tough. You must also be able to inspire and motivate, and have a strong sense of mission and purpose. You will have full-time National Servicemen under your charge. These are our citizen soldiers who, just like you, come from different backgrounds and nationalities.

Be their guide, friend and mentor. Help them to adjust to life in NS. Help them understand the importance of having a strong defence for Singapore. Help them believe in what they are doing. Motivate and train them to live and fight as one cohesive unit. Make good soldiers out of them.

Train them well, push them hard, but always look after them and have their welfare and safety at heart. Carry out your responsibilities as an officer with the OCS motto in mind - "To Lead, To Excel, To Overcome". You must all lead by example and earn the respect of the men and women under your command. Demand from them only what you yourself are first prepared to undertake. They will watch what you do. Your actions more than your words will determine whether they will trust and follow you. You should excel in everything you perform. Always strive to execute your mission successfully, whatever it may be, in training and in exercises. This will send a powerful message to all who are watching. The SAF can excel only when every soldier and officer excels in what he does. And in the course of your duty, you will face many unfamiliar situations and challenges. As an officer you must have the courage, fortitude and determination to overcome them and to guide your men through these obstacles.

That is the only way we can build a strong SAF. ConclusionAs you recite the Officer's Creed, pledging yourselves "to lead, to excel, to overcome”, remember that this is what you have been trained to do. This is what it means to be an officer of the SAF. Let these principles guide you. I am confident you will be able to live up to the proud tradition of excellence and professionalism established by those who have served before you, and that you will continue to dedicate yourselves to the peace and security of Singapore. Among the graduands today are two officers from the Royal Thai Army and Malaysian Armed Forces. I wish you all the best in your careers when you return home.

May the friendships forged here remain with you always, and serve to strengthen the bonds between our armed forces and the ties between our nations.

To each and every one of the newly commissioned officers here this evening, I congratulate you once again for having done yourself, your family and your nation proud. Thank you.