Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How at the 35/2017 Specialist Cadet Course Graduation Parade

Graduands of the 35/17 Specialist Cadet Course,
Parents and loved ones of our Graduands,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
A very good evening.

I am honoured to be here with all of you. To the Specialist Cadets on parade, congratulations on completing the course. The resilience and strength you have displayed over the past 22 weeks of rigorous training are truly commendable. All of you have earned your right to don your chevron that signifies you as a leader of (the) Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). You now bear the responsibility and honour of leading your men and women in training and operations. This is undoubtedly a heavy responsibility, but I have every confidence that you will rise to the challenge. Ladies and gentlemen, let us give them another big round of applause.

National Service – the Cornerstone of Singapore's Defence

For the past five decades, National Service (NS) has fulfilled Singapore's critical need for defence and security, and provided the peace and stability upon which we have built our country. NS has also been an integral part of our nation-building efforts and has given us a unique sense of pride and cohesiveness in our society; regardless of race, language, or religion. We fight alongside and look out for one another – as brothers-in-arms – while defending Singapore.  

In celebrating your hard-earned success, we must also acknowledge those who came before us who laid the foundations for what we have today. Generations of National Servicemen, through decades of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment, have built the SAF to what it is today – an advanced, effective, and capable military force. The torch has now been passed to you, the next generation, to serve our country with pride and honour.

The Importance of a Strong SAF in the Evolving Security Environment

Our security environment is increasingly complex and challenging, and the terror threat to our country and the region today is graver than before. ISIS terrorism and propaganda have become a key concern of many governments in the region. Just about a week ago, three Christian churches in Surabaya, Indonesia were bombed in succession and at least 13 innocent people were killed. The day after that, a bomb exploded at Surabaya's police station – the act appears to be carried out by a family allegedly linked to ISIS. Last year, we witnessed the devastating effects in Marawi where terrorists conducted a siege for months. And while the situation has since stabilised in Marawi, the threat of terrorism continues to loom in our region. The SAF is keenly aware of this security threat to Singapore, and indeed has been so since the September 11 attacks back in 2001. To stay effective and responsive to any such threat, the SAF will continue to hone our capabilities in urban operations, build our competence in homeland security operations, and work closely with our partners in the Home Team on joint operations.

The nature of cyber threats has also evolved rapidly with many attacks launched across state boundaries and with far-reaching effects. To strengthen our cyber defence capability, the SAF C4 Command and Cyber Defence Group were inaugurated last year to keep watch over the SAF's systems. The SAF is also actively adopting innovative approaches to keep ahead of the challenges. In February this year, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) invited white-hat hackers to identify possible vulnerabilities in the systems. This initiative generated valuable discoveries, such as 35 valid bugs, which enabled MINDEF to strengthen our cyber defences. The Cyber NSF scheme was also launched this year to tap on the full-time National Servicemen (NSF) pool so as to employ the nation’s best resources.

An Operationally Ready SAF

Amidst the evolving and multi-faceted threats, the SAF remains ready to respond to a wide spectrum of threats, whether on air, land, sea or cyberspace. An indicator of the SAF's high level of readiness is our response to a bomb threat made by a passenger onboard a Scoot aircraft en route to Hat Yai, Thailand, and this happened last month. The Scoot pilot relayed the situation to the Singaporean authorities and turned the aircraft back to Singapore. Within minutes of being activated, the Republic of Singapore Air Force scrambled two F-15SG fighter jets, which flew out to the South China Sea to meet up with the Scoot airplane and escorted it back to Singapore safely. What is evident from this incident is the level of professionalism, dedication and competence that our servicemen embody. This can only be achieved with committed people, strong teams, and good leaders who develop and nurture their teams.

Lead by Example

You have come a long way from your Basic Military Training to become who you are today – leaders of the SAF. Now, as leaders and Specialists of the SAF, the task to defend Singapore from challenges and threats rests squarely upon your shoulders. When called upon, you must be ready to respond and protect our country as well as our way of life. You must lead your soldiers to overcome obstacles and achieve your missions. You must lead by example through your character and competence, empathise with the needs of your soldiers and inspire commitment through engagement.

The training will be tough, but remember that safety is also one of the SAF's core values and a top priority of MINDEF and the SAF. As our soldiers train hard and realistically to defend Singapore as leaders, remember to take care of your soldiers – your men will respect you if they see that you really care for them. And you must really care for them. The expectations placed on you will be significant, but trust the training that you have been given, and always be guided by the SAF's core values.

Closing

Dear graduands, today is a day of celebration; a celebration of the hard work that has brought you here. It is also a day of gratitude; a day to thank those who nurtured, taught, and cheered you on. Do take time to thank those around you, especially your parents and loved ones who have stood by you throughout your tough training.

To the families and loved ones present, thank you for your support for our soldiers. Your love and encouragement are important sources of motivation for our soldiers. To the newly minted Specialists, Singapore trusts and depends on you to keep Singapore safe and secure. I wish you all the best as you serve our country.

And always remember this motto as you carry out your roles and responsibilities: With pride, we lead!

More Resources

• 1,038 Graduate as SAF Specialists