Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, Mr Murali Pillai inspected the 63rd Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade at Pasir Laba Camp this evening. A total of 1004 graduands comprising 832 from the Singapore Army, 28 from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), 52 from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and 92 from the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), graduated as Specialists and Military Experts of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Addressing the graduands at the parade, Mr Murali spoke of the changing world order and how it has given way to a more fragmented world marked by uncertainty. For small nations like Singapore, he added, it poses profound challenges in security, international relations, trade and beyond. He said, “…It is not enough that we are sovereign. We must always remember that we must ourselves defend Singapore. The ongoing war in Ukraine serves as a sobering reminder that small states will always be vulnerable to more powerful ones.”

While the SAF has leveraged on modern technology to counter this evolving nature of conflict, Mr Murali reaffirmed that the true strength of Singapore's fighting force lies not in innovation or development alone, but in its people. Closing his speech, Mr Murali reminded the graduands of their roles as newly minted leaders, and the responsibilities it entails. He said, “As we commemorate SG60 and SAF60 this year, we must recognise that the stability, unity and progress we enjoy today are not by chance. They are a result of grit, sacrifice and dedication – built by generations of Singaporeans who came before us... The responsibility to carry on this legacy now falls on you – our new generation of Specialists and Military Experts – as you develop, grow, and lead. You must continue to sharpen your skills and those of the men and women under your charge. Together, you will ensure that the SAF remains strong, capable, and ever ready to defend Singapore.”

The graduation parade marked the completion of the 22-week Specialist Cadet Course for graduands from the Singapore Army, the RSN, the RSAF and the DIS, where they trained under rigorous and realistic conditions to sharpen their respective vocation expertise. The newly graduated Specialists and Military Experts will go on to assume command, training and staff appointments in the SAF. Present at the parade were senior SAF commanders, as well as families and friends of the graduands.