Speech by President Halimah at the 115/19 Officer Cadet Course Commissioning Parade

Graduands of the 115/19 Officer Cadet Course,

Parents,

Distinguished guests,

Good evening. It gives me great pleasure to join you to celebrate your accomplishment after 38 weeks of tough training. My heartfelt congratulations to every one of you.You have demonstrated your desire to lead, your drive to excel, and your determination to overcome challenges. You have earned the right to be commissioned as an officer of the Singapore Armed Forces, to lead our soldiers and inspire them in their commitment to defend our nation. Soon, you will pledge to accept this heavy responsibility - in front of your family and loved ones, your fellow soldiers on parade, and the very flag which you have sworn to defend.

One of the harsh realities in geopolitics is that small states like Singapore have no intrinsic relevance to the rest of the world and limited influence on our own – we cannot unilaterally determine the global agenda. As a small state, we have to take the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.This is made even more stark when strategic competition between the big powers of our time intensifies, because the manoeuvring space for small states like Singapore will correspondingly be reduced. Hence, we have to preserve our policy space as much as possible, by forging mutually-beneficial agreements with partners and friends, and by advocating for an inclusive and rules-based international order.

Having said that, being a small state by birth does not mean that we should not strive to be masters of our own destiny. Indeed, on the contrary, Singapore has always been prepared to stand up and make our voice heard, especially when our core interests are at stake, and it will continue to be so. Over the years, we have made much progress in demonstrating our value proposition to the world. Let me share two examples. Firstly, last month, we marked a significant development in bilateral relations with the European Union (EU) with the entry into force of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Indeed, I returned from a State Visit to Germany just yesterday and this milestone was hailed and highly valued by both sides.  Secondly, 51 countries, including heavyweights such as the US, China, and India signed on in August this year, to the “Singapore Convention on Mediation”, to support our initiative for a rules-based dispute resolution framework. Despite our limited influence as a small state, these are some ways we have made our relevance felt.

Why are we able to punch above our weight on the international stage? There are many reasons, but a key one is that others know that Singapore is a fair, principled and honest broker. We say what we mean, and mean what we say, and we cannot be bought or bullied.

A strong SAF is imperative to ensure that we can continue to secure our interests in this uncertain world order. As the saying goes – we do not defend, we cannot own. And the number of domains we have to defend will continue to increase as the nature of security threats evolves, particularly in the realms of cyberspace, terrorism, and even climate change. The SAF will need to continue to adapt, in order to stay relevant and effective. 

A key tenet in a strong SAF is our National Service (NS) system.As a small nation, it is not a choice, but an existential need to rely on our national servicemen to form the backbone of our defence.I am glad that over the years, our NS servicemen have risen up to the challenge and faithfully answered to this call of duty.

Beyond the obvious role of being the bedrock of our defence system, NS plays a part in preserving our social harmony, and this is where I feel is equally important today, if not more.  NS brings Singaporeans together, regardless of their race, language or religion, to fight alongside with one another to defend Singapore and our identity. This role is more pertinent now than ever. Today, we face a widespread access to technology which has inadvertently accelerated the spread of extremist ideologies. Discontent with the outcomes of globalisation has fuelled nativist and populist movements all around the world. Immigration is a hot-button political issue in many countries, including those who were proud nations of immigrants to begin with. This is troubling because countries cannot prosper, and societies cannot function, if people are divided and distrustful of one another.

Singapore has always been a multicultural and multifaceted society, made up of different people, communities and culture.  Over time, through shared experiences, we forged a unique Singaporean identity that drew strength from this diversity. This is what each of us must continue to preserve and strengthen. Our National Service system continues to play a big role in this regard.

As you stand proud and ready to recite the Officer’s Creed, this is only the beginning of your long journey as leaders, and not the end. Today, you have earned the right to graduate. But leadership is not an entitlement.  Tomorrow, you have to continue to learn to lead, and you will be called upon to prove your mettle over and over again. Lead with humility and serve with conviction, recognising that you represent something much larger than yourself. Never forget your purpose as a leader: It is your responsibility to train the men and women under your watch. This is to ensure that the SAF remains a credible fighting force that can defend and protect Singapore’s interests. You will have to rally fellow Singaporeans from different races, religions, and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to a common cause. You will have to nurture those under your command to inspire them to serve with pride. At the same time, never forget your solemn duty to return them safely to their loved ones, who have placed their utmost trust in your hands.

In closing, I would also like to thank all servicemen and women, past and present, who have contributed to the defence of Singapore. To the family members, friends and loved ones joining us here today, let me also thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement to the graduands.

Congratulations once again to all the graduands. I am confident that your training has put you in good stead to bring the SAF to greater heights. May the Officer’s Creed continue to be a shining beacon in your endeavours: To Lead, To Excel and To Overcome.

Thank you.