Keynote Address by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the 2011 SAFOS Award Presentation Ceremony held at the Istana

Introduction

Parents, Principals, SAF Overseas Scholarship Recipients, Distinguished Guests, a very good evening to all of you.

I am delighted to be here this evening at the SAF Overseas Scholarship Award Presentation Ceremony.

It is a critical point because it gives us an insight into what our future would be, 1015 years down the road, when you scholars have grown up. Many of you will assume leadership positions. You are a forward indicator of what the SAF would be down the road.

One of the fundamental pillars which enabled Singapore to achieve rapid economic progress was a strong defence capability. The founding generation understood that any nation that does not want to risk losing what they have built must be able to defend what they have. Many learnt this lesson the hard way as they saw entire fortunes lost and a life's work reduced to rubble during the Second World War and ensuing Japanese Occupation. They, and many Singaporeans like them, did not need any convincing that we needed to build a strong SAF for our own protection once we gained independence.

But Singapore went further than most other countries in the formative stages of the SAF. We sought to induct into the SAF capable and high calibre officers and soldiers. We launched schemes to make a military career an attractive one for young men and women. Many of you who are familiar with the Chinese tradition and recognise many of its sayings, will know that the military does not rank very highly. We sought to make the military career an attractive one.. We competed to attract the best and brightest. The SAF Overseas Scholarship (SAFOS) was the pinnacle scheme of our talent recruitment system to attract the very best that our society produced.

SAFOS Alumni

Today, the SAFOS is a brand name with an illustrious alumni. Currently into its 41st year, 281 SAF Overseas Scholarships have been awarded and there are currently 127 scholars in service. Each year, we invest significant resources, time and effort, to discover and award half a dozen young talented men or women this coveted SAF Overseas Scholarship.

We conduct the MINDEF Internship Programme as early as the first year in Junior College to attract young Singaporeans with outstanding aptitudes of sound character, able leadership skills, academic excellence and a commitment to serve the nation. Those that are selected are put through a systematic grooming process. SAFOS recipients receive the best education and training at the top universities. When you have finished your studies and return, you will serve in both command and staff appointments, like your predecessors before you.. SAFOS scholars expect to be and are stretched and tested at each phase within the SAF. Those who do well proceed to higher appointments with large responsibilities, even at a relatively early age. If you trade stories with your SAFOS predecessors, and ask them what they are doing at that particular age, you will be able to compare to all other Singaporeans, the same strata of society, that they were given leadership positions much earlier than most.

This commitment in resources and efforts to groom leaders for the SAF is disproportionate and focused on a few. It is a small price to pay to ensure that we continue to bring in people with the ability and character to maintain the long-term security of Singapore and its citizens. But for SAFOS officers who accept the scholarship, you must also reciprocate, because you recognise the disproportionate resources and investments that have been placed in you, and you must be committed to do your best and stay the course.

I am glad to note that officers from the SAFOS alumni have indeed upheld high standards of public service. They have excelled and gone on to top positions within the SAF. SAFOS officers are also distinguishing themselves in their overseas duties. The current and previous National Contingent Commanders of our troops in Afghanistan are both SAF Overseas Scholars. COL Chia Choon Hoong, who was a 1991 SAFOS recipient and currently Commander 9th Division, handed over command of our forces in Afghanistan this past June to COL Wong Yu Han, also a 1991 SAFOS recipient.

Many SAFOS recipients continue to serve and contribute to Singapore in various public and private capacities after their retirement from active service. 6 out of my 15 Cabinet colleagues are former SAF Overseas Scholars1. Many are Permanent Secretaries and Chairmen or Chief Executives of organisations in both the public and private sectors. So this illustrious alumni has done well and kept true to what the original intent of the scheme was, to produce leaders to serve in our society.

The Future of the SAF

This strategic investment to bring in capable men and women through the SAFOS and other schemes has paid rich dividends. Today, the SAF is recognised and respected as a highly professional and effective armed forces, with capabilities to meet the wide spectrum of defence needs and threats. The SAF has come a long way since our nation's independence in 1965, where we started with only two infantry battalions of 50 officers and 1,000 men. We had two ships but no Air Force. This transformation was greatly facilitated by strong leadership and committed servicemen.

We must continue to attract the best and brightest if we are to maintain or enhance our defence capabilities. The security environment around us will continue to evolve, even as we become wealthier, security challenges have not become easier, in fact they have become more complex. As China and India form new spheres of economic and military influence, we will see evolving dynamics. Southeast Asia, with the South China Sea and Straits of Malacca, is a vital hub that affects global trade. Many big powers are user states that have a vested interest in this region. We have transnational threats related to terrorism, drug, weapons and human trafficking, and piracy-these continue to pose challenges. The SAF will have to adapt to these changes and security concerns to stay effective.

We will also need committed and innovative commanders who can motivate and inspire each new NS generation. We cannot take for granted that the values and messages that we transmit to any one generation can be automatically transmitted to the next. We will always need that human interface, that human leadership. We must build anew in each of them a personal commitment to our defence. They must believe that what we have built over the last four decades is worth protecting. How do we know we have succeeded for each generation? We will know that we have succeeded when we see NS men willing to go the extra mile and make personal sacrifices to raise up a strong SAF.

Conclusion

Capable young men and women like yourselves who have excelled academically and in other areas in school have many options and scholarships on offer. Indeed your opportunities are global.

But we should all remember that these opportunities exist only because a strong SAF has provided the stability for Singapore to develop and prosper. The SAF will continue to be a progressive organisation to meet a rapidly evolving security environment. A career in the SAF offers a rich training ground to develop leadership and command skills that will put you in good stead for life.

I would like to congratulate the five of you for being awarded the SAF Overseas Scholarship. I wish you the very best in your studies, and look forward to your many contributions in the SAF and beyond.

Thank you very much.

More Resources

Five Awarded Prestigious SAF Overseas Scholarship

Fact Sheet: Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship (SAFOS) 2011