Officer cadet training redesigned, continues amid COVID-19

Actions
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/wcm/connect/pioneer/e330e8a7-92bc-4b55-baaf-e05c72d0aa1c/11may20_news1_photo1.JPG?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_1QK41482LG0G10Q8NM8IUA1051-e330e8a7-92bc-4b55-baaf-e05c72d0aa1c-nhNVlxr /web/wcm/connect/pioneer/e330e8a7-92bc-4b55-baaf-e05c72d0aa1c/11may20_news1_photo1.JPG?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_1QK41482LG0G10Q8NM8IUA1051-e330e8a7-92bc-4b55-baaf-e05c72d0aa1c-nhNVlxr /web/portal/pioneer/article/cover-article-detail/ops-and-training/2020-Q2/11may20_news1
/web/portal/pioneer/article/cover-article-detail/ops-and-training/2020-Q2/11may20_news1
11may20_news1
11 May 2020 | OPS & TRAINING

Officer cadet training redesigned, continues amid COVID-19

Officer Cadet School (OCS) goes on with stringent health measures to ensure the training of the SAF's next-generation leaders.

// Report by Thrina Tham

// Photos by Chua Soon Lye

At SAFTI Military Institute, about 700 officer cadets continue to train to become the next generation of Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) leaders.

Their Officer Cadet Course however, is quite different from the batches before them. Amidst the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) outbreak, overseas training has been cancelled and courses such as the Jungle Confidence Course (JCC) and Close Combat Training have been deferred.

Instead, cadets go through a revised training to earn their 2nd Lieutenant rank epaulettes.

Officer Cadets going through their urban operations live firing at the Murai Urban Training Facility. As part of safe distancing measures, the cadets have been training within their own platoons.

"We've tried to redesign our training in order to replicate the training standards that we expect our officer cadets to achieve," said Commander OCS, Colonel (COL) Edwin Goh.

"That includes making sure that training standards, the capabilities and competencies of each cadet, and the assessment of each cadet do not change," said COL Goh to media on 11 May.

For example, while the JCC was deferred, cadets were still taught survival skills such as building a makeshift shelter and collecting water. And instead of going overseas, they were put to the test during a one-week exercise at Pulau Tekong.

Recalling the exercise, Officer Cadet (OCT) Songkiat Ow Shiyuan said: "The intensity was really great - there were back-to-back missions and we didn't have much sleep. This was all to train our resilience and what we have learned in the professional term."

OCT Songkiat going through theory lessons in his bunk. The cadets went through a revised one-week exercise locally as they were unable to go overseas for training.

The 22-year-old added that he was not disheartened to miss out on a larger-scale exercise, saying: "Everyone has learnt that...(it's) what you learn and get from the experience that really makes you an officer."

While training continues, OCS has put in place heightened COVID-19 measures such as conducting training at a platoon size of no more than 40.

The training school has also issued a bottle of hand sanitizer to each cadet, as part of reminding them not to share personal belongings and utensils.

The cadets observe safe distancing while making their way to their bunks. Fixed routes have also been marked out throughout the school buildings to ensure that there is no mixing between platoons.

Certain training, such a theory lesson on weapons, has been switched to Home-Based Learning for cadets to go through at home instead of in their bunks.

The cadets are still required to return to OCS to complete their weapon handling and firing.

COL Goh says that cadets still need to train in OCS to pick up skills such as leadership and teamwork.

"Unfortunately, Home-Based Learning is unable to cover the entire experience and broad skillsets that are required (of the cadets). That includes things like leadership...team dynamics, (and) field training in terms of their individual field craft," explained COL Goh.

"That's one of the key reasons we need to continue to train, in order to generate the leadership for each of the respective units within the SAF."

Ensuring safe distancing during training also means being more deliberate in planning, said Assistant Platoon Commander at OCS, Lieutenant Mohamed Haiqal Bin Mohamed Zainal.

For example, the 24-year-old had to conduct a recent Urban Operations live firing in three waves. "Even though it can be tiring...we understand that we have to do this.

"Some things have done to be done in a certain manner so that training standards and morale are not compromised during this difficult time."

He added: "As future commanders-to-be, they have to understand the importance of continuity in the training, in order for them to go out there and lead soldiers in the respective units."

SAF’s strict emphasis on safety allows the cadets to train without worrying about the COVID-19 disease, said OCT Vebeshun.

OCT Hariharan Vebeshun said that his parents, while initially worried, understood the need for him to continue training to build up his competencies.

"I assured them that a lot of strict measures are in place. The SAF takes safety very seriously so that we can really focus on our training without worrying about COVID-19," said the 22-year-old.

While such measures also mean that the cadets will not get a traditional commissioning parade when they graduate, that does not discourage OCT Vebeshun. OCS is still in the midst of planning a revised ceremony for the cadets.

"Our (commissioning) will be a different experience, but I'm sure our friends and family will still be proud of us," said OCT Vebeshun.

"After nine months in OCS, the commissioning parade just a part of (the whole experience). We will still carry it (the lessons we've learnt during our training) with us when we go on to our units."

Suggested Reading
Growing into new leaders of the SAF
Growing into new leaders of the SAF
PEOPLE
11-Dec-23

All their hard work in the past nine months paid off as 2LT Shafiq and 2LT Jasmine Ong graduated as newly commissioned officers on 9 Dec.

Charting her own path as an officer
Charting her own path as an officer
PEOPLE
09-Sep-23

Inspired by her father to join the military, LTA Deepa Syaama Arul has found her own calling in a different Service.

New officers inspired to serve
New officers inspired to serve
PEOPLE
10-Jun-23

A trip to Changi Naval Base during his Basic Military Training (BMT) days turned out to be a defining moment for 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Daniel Elfian Bin Mohd Nasir's life.

He's set to become first African-Singaporean Guardsman
He's set to become first African-Singaporean Guardsman
PEOPLE
11-Mar-23

The first in his family to be commissioned as an officer, 2LT Haniel Humphrey Muze may soon become the first Singaporean of African descent to earn the khaki beret.

Firm role model to future leaders
Cover story
Firm role model to future leaders
PEOPLE
02-Sep-22

He was once "the fierce one" in the Army Deployment Force. Now, 3WO Muhd Hidhir finds a balance between firm and friendly as an OCS instructor.

African-Singaporean on his way to becoming an officer Feature
African-Singaporean on his way to becoming an officer
PEOPLE
04-Aug-22

Defence scholars with a passion to serve
Defence scholars with a passion to serve
PEOPLE
29-Jul-22

The defence scholarship awards are a responsibility not for those lacking in resolve or steel in their characters, said defence minister Dr Ng Eng Hen.

The mission comes first
The mission comes first
COMMUNITY
29-Jul-22

LG Melvyn Ong, Chief of Defence Force, shares how the SAF kept its operations running while contributing to whole-of-government efforts to contain COVID-19.

Local Vessel Company Recognised for Housing Migrant Workers During COVID-19
Local Vessel Company Recognised for Housing Migrant Workers During COVID-19
COMMUNITY
24-Mar-22

When COVID-19 was spreading in migrant worker dormitories across Singapore in 2020, local firm Eastern Navigation stepped up and provided two vessels at short notice to help house the migrant workers.

A Journey of Fitness, Friendship and Finding Meaning
A Journey of Fitness, Friendship and Finding Meaning
PEOPLE
09-Mar-22

When 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Steve Chia enlisted for National Service (NS) and started Basic Military Training (BMT) last January, he had a lot on his mind.