207 Officers Graduate from Command and Staff Course

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen interacting with graduands and their spouses at the Command and Staff Course 2014 Graduation Ceremony.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen presented certificates to graduands at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College (GKS CSC) Command and Staff Course (CSC) 2014 Graduation Ceremony held this evening at the Istana. This year's ceremony marked the completion of the 45th CSC, 15th CSC (National Service), and the 3rd CSC (Executive).

The 207 graduands comprised 139 regular officers, three warrant officers, and 49 National Service (NS) officers from the Singapore Armed Forces, one officer from the Singapore Police Force, and 15 international officers from 11 countries - Australia, Brunei, China, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United States. This is the first time that warrant officers have attended a course at GKS CSC and graduated from the CSC (Executive).In his speech, Dr Ng commended the college for honing senior SAF officers capable of leading and playing an important part in Singapore's defence. He said, " this College has succeeded in developing exemplary military leaders who care for the country and the men they lead. these are leaders who have ingrained in themselves strong and virtuous military values, a strong fighting spirit and a continuous drive for excellence."

He also highlighted the increasingly complex challenges that officers will face in today's interconnected environment, and encouraged the graduands to "be alert to the shifts in the security landscape and appreciate the implications for Singapore Understand our national interests and objectives, so that you can lead the men and women under your charge confidently when called upon to serve our nation."Dr Ng also presented awards to five top graduands: Major (MAJ) Koh Poh Hui, MAJ Chuah Meng Soon, and MAJ Zhang Ziyong Joe, who won the Top Army, Navy, and Air Force Graduate Awards respectively in the 45th CSC, as well as MAJ (NS) Chin Chee Whye and MAJ Pao Pai Tse, who topped the 15th CSC (National Service) and 3rd CSC (Executive) respectively. The CSC, CSC (Executive) and CSC (National Service) prepares officers for senior command and staff appointments in the SAF, and are the highest level of formal military education offered in Singapore for regular and NS officers.

Dr Ng presenting the top Army graduate award to Major Koh Poh Hui during the presentation ceremony.