Speech by Minister of State for Defence and Education, Mr Lawrence Wong at the 12th NCC Affirmation Ceremony

Brigadier General (Volunteer) Goh Kee Nguan, Chairman NCC Council
Members of the NCC Council
Principals, Parents, Distinguished Guests
Members of the NCC, cadets
Ladies and Gentlemen

First of all I will like to say I am delighted to be here with you at the 12th NCC Affirmation Ceremony and it is good to be here to see so many cadets and family members.

This is a significant occasion because we are officially welcoming our Secondary One students as Junior Cadets to the National Cadet Corps. I am glad we have many parents and family members here this afternoon - thank you for your presence and support. Today's ceremony is also special because this is the first time that the ceremony was organised and executed by Cadet Officers themselves - so let me thank all the officers who worked hard on this event. Congratulations on a job well done! All of you have demonstrated strong teamwork, commitment and organisational skills and have put to practice what you have learnt in the NCC. You are indeed exemplary role models of leadership and dedication for all the new cadets here. And to our junior cadets, I will like to say welcome to the NCC; I am sure this will be the start of an exciting journey of discovery, learning and growth for all of you.

Character Development in the NCCThe NCC provides a wide range of opportunities and unique experiences for our students to build character, develop leadership and lifeskills and most importantly, build and deepen their commitment to our nation.

The NCC programme is challenging and enriching. All cadets participate in core activities that strengthen their character and develop their leadership skills, for example, basic survival training, Camp FORGE (teambuilding camp for Sec 1) and Camp STEEL (leadership camp for Sec 2). For the cadet leaders in upper secondary, they can look forward to advanced survival training at Mt Ophir and also advanced leadership training through the Specialist Course.

With strong support from MINDEF and SAF, our cadets are able to acquire military-related skills such as Individual Field Craft and Marksmanship Training with the SAR-21 rifle.

To develop our cadets with a global mindset, the NCC has a comprehensive International Cadet Exchange Programme that brings the cadet leaders and senior cadet leaders to countries such as Australia, the Maldives, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Selected senior cadet leaders will also witness SAF's capabilities when they go on visits to overseas military exercises such as Exercise Thunder Warrior in New Zealand and Exercise Panzer Strike in Germany.

NCC Transformation Master PlanSo the NCC offers a wide range of activities and programmes for all of our young people. With the changing times, NCC recognises the need to continually innovate and stay relevant to today’s youth. This is why NCC has embarked on a 5-year Transformation Master Plan (NTMP) to better cater to the aspirations of its cadets. For example, courses that were previously limited to only a specific group of cadets will now be opened up to all cadets. So regardless of whether you are a Land, Sea or Air cadet, you will now be able to obtain the 1-Star Kayaking certification and participate in the Basic Aeromodelling Wings Course. These are courses previously only limited to sea and air cadets but they are now open to all cadets, whether you are in the land, sea or air division of the NCC.

Moving forward, you can expect more new and exciting activities as NCC implements its Transformation Masterplan. One change is the new pixelised uniform that you are wearing today. All of you are the first batch of NCC cadets to don the new pixelised uniform, and I hope you will wear the uniform with pride and bear the responsibility of upholding the image and identity of being an NCC Cadet. NCC will also be setting up a SMART Lab in Amoy Quee Campus. This lab will be equipped with simulation wargames used by our soldiers like Virtual Battlespace 2 as well as various online learning modules that promote the learning of teamwork and strategic planning.

A major thrust of NCC's transformation masterplan is leadership development. This builds on the strong foundation and tradition of leadership in the NCC. In fact, around one-third of regular officers in the Army, Navy and Air Force were former NCC cadets. This includes many of the SAF's senior commanders, such as our current Chief of Defence Force, Chief of Army, and the Chief of Navy. Indeed, many prominent leaders in the private and public sectors were former cadets in NCC.

NCC's vision is to be a centre of excellence for Youth Leadership Development. NCC already offers many quality programmes for cadets to hone their leadership skills. For example, in partnership with the National Heritage Board, NCC has identified a group of 50 cadet officers to be trained as National Education Ambassadors. These ambassadors help to educate our junior cadets on Singapore's history, and they also facilitate the conduct of heritage trails for the cadets. Cadet Officer Sean Lam of the West District was one of these National Education Ambassadors. He was trained and he found the experience rewarding. He now feels that he has become more competent in guiding his juniors and more confident in taking up leadership roles in NCC and beyond.

Going forward, NCC will be working closely with the SAFTI Military Institute as well as with different SAF formations and units to develop and conduct Leadership Development programmes and workshops. With these efforts, I am confident that NCC will be able to groom and nurture our next generation of cadets and cadet officers to be responsible citizens and responsible leaders.

Nurturing. Committed. Cool. Besides enhancing its wide range of programmes, NCC is also rebranding its corporate image with the tagline Nurturing. Committed. Cool or N.C.C. in short. You see it all over the banners here. As part of NCC's "Nurturing" effort, NCC members will be given more opportunities to develop their character and leadership competencies.

One good example of someone who has been nurtured through the NCC experience is Cadet Captain (C/CPT) Clarence Jean. Clarence is now a student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and in fact he is the one who chairs the organising committee to plan and execute today’s Affirmation Ceremony. As he rose through the ranks as a cadet in Bukit Batok Secondary School Sea Unit, he was given many opportunities to learn organisational skills and to organise events. He then became a cadet officer and he took up leadership roles in various camps and courses. Clarence had matured and grown as a leader through his time in the NCC, and this is what we strive to do for each and every cadet.

Besides being nurturing, NCC is also "committed" and we want our NCC cadets to be committed to the Corps and to our nation. Through your experiences in the NCC, you will build strong bonds of camaraderie and friendships with one another. Indeed, many former cadets still remember and reminisce about their NCC experiences, long after their school days are over. At the same time, through the time spent in the NCC, I hope you will discover for yourselves what Singapore truly means to you; and that you will feel that is our country, which belongs to all of us, and that we all have a part to play in serving our nation.

Finally, we have "nurturing", we have "committed", but NCC must also be "cool". Some of you may have mindsets of NCC that are associated with regimentation but NCC is evolving. In the past, the drills that they did might have been repetitive but now you have new drills, Freestyle Exhibition Drills and Silent Precision Drills, which have become a main draw for many cadets. The fun and creative display of these Drills during the annual competition is a testament to their teamwork and perseverance. NCC has also introduced more sports for cadets to build fitness and teamwork and to play games together. In addition to the annual Street Soccer Competition, NCC launched a Speedball Competition last year and a Handball Clinic recently. A Shooting Club will be set up later this year to give cadets the opportunity to try out different weapons besides the SAR21.

Conclusion
So when you look at the landscape, I think we can all conclude that NCC has indeed come a long way over the years; it's success and transformation did not happen by chance. It is the result of the tremendous efforts, hard work and support - from the NCC Council, the staff of HQ NCC, our school leaders, principals, teacher officers, cadets officers, and of course parents, like many of you here. All of you made the NCC what it is today. And I would like to thank you for your commitment and dedication. Your support and encouragement are essential in helping our cadets realise their full potential, and make the most of their lives.

In particular, to the parents gathered here, I would like to recognize and thank each of you for being a valued partner in the NCC's efforts to develop your child. I am confident the NCC will nurture in your children self-confidence, resilience and leadership skills, as well as the ability to collaborate and work with one another. These are the qualities and dispositions that will equip your children to stand strong in their future, and succeed for life. Of course, if your son happens to be in the NCC, it is an added advantage. I am sure your son will have better preparations for his time in National Service later. Finally, to all the Junior Cadets, I wish you all a nurturing, committed and cool experience in the transformed NCC. Make full use of the many opportunities you will have in the years ahead to learn new skills, to get together with one another, develop strong bonds of friendship and develop your potential fully. Your life is what you make of it. Nothing is beyond your reach, as long as you are willing to dream big; so long as you are willing to put in the hard work to achieve your goals. I am hopeful and excited about what all you of can achieve in the years ahead. May you serve the National Cadet Corps with Pride and Dedication! Thank you very much.

More Resources

• MOS for Defence and Education Officiates at the NCC 12th Affirmation Ceremony