A total of 374 cadets, comprising 293 from the Army, 34 from the Navy, and 47 from the Air Force, were commissioned as officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) today.

In light of the COVID-19 situation, the cadets received their ceremonial swords and letters of appointment at commissioning ceremonies organised at the Formation level. Cadets had also brought home their ceremonial uniforms prior to their commissioning to capture the symbolic graduation photo where their family members or loved ones affixed the new officer ranks on them.

Addressing the graduands in a recorded video message as the Reviewing Officer for the proceedings, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Heng Swee Keat commended the SAF and the wider defence community for their dedication to the fight against COVID-19 since the start of the outbreak. He said, "Together, more than 6,000 men and women of the Ministry of Defence, the SAF and the wider defence ecosystem are involved in combating the pandemic. Your ability to mobilise, adapt and sustain your efforts in this fight has given our people a great deal of assurance – both in terms of our ability to manage the virus and to deter external threats."

Mr Heng highlighted that even as the SAF does its utmost on the COVID-19 front, the SAF has continued to maintain a high level of operational vigilance and readiness. "When it comes to defending our home and protecting our borders, there can be no hiatus. Essential military operations and training have continued, with additional precautions in place," said Mr Heng. Mr Heng added that the strength of the SAF lies not only in its state-of-the-art weaponry, but also in the grit and commitment of its servicemen and women. He urged the graduands as commanders in the SAF to always remember their duty as SAF officers and the Officers' Creed they have undertaken – to Lead, Excel and Overcome – as they take on greater responsibilities in the next chapters of their National Service journey.

The cadets have completed 38 weeks of rigorous training at the Officer Cadet School. The realistic training conducted during the course sharpened the cadets' combat, planning and leadership skills. The newly commissioned officers will go on to assume command, instructional or staff appointments in the SAF.