SPEECH BY PRESIDENT S R NATHAN, AT THE 55/04 OFFICER
CADET COURSE COMMMISSIONING PARADE AT SAFTI MI
Graduands of the 55/04 Officer Cader Course, Parents, Ladies and
Gentlemen,
The year 2004 ended on a somber note which none of us in the region
had expected. The earthquake and tsunamis that wiped out various
coastal settlements plunged many people into suffering and
helplessness. Our hearts go out to the many victims and their
families. We also mourn for the Singaporeans whom we lost to the
tsunamis. While Singapore is fortunate to have escaped this natural
disaster, we are making our best effort to help our neighbors who
were badly affected to rebuild their home and their communities.
The Singapore Armed Forces, being always ready and vigilant, has
been playing a significant role in these efforts.
This evening, we are witnessing a significant moment for each of
you. You are about to be commissioned as officers of the Singapore
Armed Forces. My warmest congratulations to you, the graduands.
Together with your parents and friends, we celebrate your success
after ten months of rigorous and demanding military training to
earn you well-deserved place among the Officer Corps.
You now become part of the proud and distinguished tradition of
excellence. Since the first batch of office cadets were
commissioned on 16 Jul 1967, this tradition has been upheld by all
who have come through the halls of SAFTI. Remember that only the
ablest and the committed earn the right and honor to lead our men
and women in the SAF. With this honor, you are also entrusted with
the solemn responsibility of overcoming any challenge be it
safeguarding the peace and security of our nation, or enhancing our
role as a responsible state alongside other countries in the
world.
Today, the security climate is undergoing rapid and far-reaching
changes. The SAF faces a wider spectrum of threats to our security,
both conventional and non-conventional. Terrorism is a real and
continuing threat. Already, the Army is on duty round the clock
guarding key installations, and the Air Force and Navy are on alert
24 by 7.
On top of sustaining vigilance in our homeland, the SAF must also
stand ready to play a part in helping to preserve peace and
security in our region and other parts of the world. One example is
the ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operation
as a result of the recent earthquake and the tsunamis. Our friends
called for assistance, and the SAF has shown the world that its
ready for this call.
In the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, the SAF has responded
swiftly, establishing facilities for and indeed effectively sending
relief teams and supplies to our friends, especially Indonesia and
Thailand. This was an operation unprecedented in scale in the SAFs
history. Nevertheless, the SAF was ready and able to deliver. We
have shown our friends our willingness to help when needed. We sent
in our helicopter landing ships and heavy-lift helicopters to
fulfill a critical need. I am pleased and proud, as a Singaporean,
to see the operational readiness and capability of the SAF has
enabled us to lend a helping hand.
We must always be prepared for the unexpected. Im glad that the
SAF is cognisant of this and has matured to what it is today.
As commanders, you have a vital role in motivating and training
your men to be operationally ready for any eventuality. I am glad
to see that the Officer Cadet School believes strongly in preparing
you to be Fit, Operationally Competent, Confident and Cohesive.
Now, you need to do likewise for the men and women you will
lead.
The rigorous training in OCS would have tested you to the limits of
your mental and physical endurance. You have gained the mental and
physical resilience necessary for overcoming adverse and
unpredictable situations. Replicate your success in your troops.
Provide them with demanding and realistic training so that they
will be fighting fit and be able to achieve their missions under
the most challenging of situations. Prepare them to be highly
competent in conducting a wide spectrum of operations both in
peacetime and operational settings. You will thereby successfully
engender a core of operationally ready National Servicemen, capable
of answering the nations call for any unprecedented events.
Remember also that no mission is ever achieved by one single man or
woman. You will need to build cohesion within your team as well as
with the larger unit you work in. Build the esprit de corps
necessary for great teamwork, which is often the key to successful
mission accomplishment. The ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief has many good examples of how our people
Regulars, NSFs, NSmen and Volunteers have come together to work
for a common goal. We should continue to embrace such a
culture.
As you continue to demand high standards of fitness, cohesion and
operational readiness, do not forget to ensure the welfare and
safety of your soldiers. Take the time to listen to their problems
and concerns and encourage the weaker ones. Ensure that training
safety is carried out. Only when your soldiers know that you care
for them, will they put their wholehearted trust in your leadership
and follow you willingly. They will emerge from National Service
with great satisfaction, and you can be proud that you have been
instrumental in creating a positive NS experience for them.
As you assume command after your commissioning, always remember to
uphold the professional image of the SAF through your exemplary
bearing and personal conduct. Hold steadfast to the SAF Core
Values. Let these ideals be your personal code of conduct. They
will serve as an indispensable guide, the spiritual bedrock upon
which moral strength is derived.
It also gives me great pleasure to witness today the commissioning
of four cadets from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. Your graduation
from the SAF Officer Cadet School bears testimony to the close ties
and warm friendship that exists between our armed forces and our
nations. The close friendships you have forged these past few
months with your fellow cadets from the SAF will further strengthen
the bonds between our nations well into the future.
Today is indeed a proud moment for you, your parents, and for all
of us here today. I join your families and friends in
congratulating you on your commissioning. The task now falls
squarely upon your shoulders, as newly commissioned officers of the
SAF, to take on any challenges that face our nation. I am confident
that with the skills, knowledge and qualities imparted to you, you
are now ready to face and overcome these challenges. Carry out your
duties to the best of your abilities. Always uphold the OCS motto:
To Lead, To Excel, To Overcome.
I wish you the very best in your future roles as commissioned
officers of the SAF.
