Speech by President Halimah Yacob at the 123/21 Officer Cadet Course Commissioning Ceremonies

123/21 Officer Cadet Course

Parents

Distinguished guests

Graduands of the 123/21 Officer Cadet Course, it is my pleasure to address you on this special day. Congratulations on your commissioning as Officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Family and friends of the graduands, it is also my pleasure to welcome all of you back to this commissioning event, for the first time since the start of the pandemic. I would like to start by thanking all of you for your unconditional support to your daughters and sons during their military service, without which we would not be here today.

The past year has tested our mettle as a nation as we progress towards becoming a COVID-19 resilient nation. Difficult decisions had to be made as we recalibrated our strategies. Yet, we have come a long way since I addressed the 119/20 Officer Cadet Course. Our successful vaccination exercise and expanded booster shot programme continues to strengthen our nation’s resilience against the virus. We have established Vaccinated Travel Lanes with many countries as we work towards safely reopening our nation and economy.

A few months ago, we successfully conducted National Day Parade, albeit with some adjustments. We had a ceremonial parade on 9 August to mark our nation’s 56th birthday. On 21 August, we held the full parade and show, bringing the nation together in celebration of our Singapore Spirit. I had the honour to grace both parades and was heartened to see our people’s collective strength and unity. It was really a testament to our nation’s resilience. As this year’s theme song goes, “we did it before and we’ll do it again”.

Our nation has taken great strides towards living amidst an endemic COVID-19, made possible through our united response. Singaporeans have remained socially conscious and adjusted our daily lives in abidance of new guidelines.  Various public agencies including the SAF stepped up to ease the strain on our healthcare system, through supporting the COVID-19 Treatment Facilities and Home Recovery Programme. Our collective effort has enabled us all to gather here physically, witnessing your sons’ and daughters’ commissioning. This is a step towards the resumption of large-scale physical events as the national situation stabilises.

Through all this, the SAF adapted to the evolving situation and implemented stringent Safe Management Measures to ensure that essential training and operations continued. Key exercises have continued, both locally and overseas. In October, the SAF participated in Exercise Bersama Gold 2021, a tri-service multilateral exercise to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which culminated in a flypast and naval display by the member states on the final day. In September, our Army and Air Force successfully conducted Exercise Forging Sabre in the United States. Our Navy has also conducted several bilateral exercises with our neighbours, including the navies of Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China.

Life in OCS has also carried on within this new normal. Instructors and trainees have adjusted well to operating in smaller groups. Training previously done abroad have been completed locally. For the graduands in particular, you have been challenged on various fronts, from managing training at functional group level, to continuously adapting to the changing COVID-19 situation. You will continue to face the unexpected, but the invaluable lessons and experiences from your time in OCS will equip you with vital skills, to lead, adapt and communicate better. Most importantly, it has taught you to remain resilient in the face of adversity.

COVID-19 is but one of many challenges that can threaten our national security. COVID-19 has shown us that unforeseen challenges can always arise. Hence as a nation and for MINDEF/SAF, we cannot stand still. Innovation is essential for us to find new solutions to tackle emergent threats to our security. Looking forward, we have begun efforts to build Southeast Asia’s first Level 4 Biosafety Laboratory at the DSO National Laboratories, to prepare ourselves for future pandemics.

This year, the SAF made great strides in its transformation efforts to enhance Singapore’s ability to deal with an expanded spectrum of security threats. Earlier this year, our Army exercised and successfully operationalised the full capabilities of its 3rd Generation Combined Arms Division, and also commissioned several platforms of HQ Sense and Strike. Our Navy added the Sentinel-class Maritime Security and Response Vessels to her fleet earlier this year, and Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessels will soon operate alongside them. Our Air Force’s A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft achieved full operational capability and was deployed to airlift Afghanistan evacuees from Qatar to Germany. We have also continued to fortify our defences against hybrid threats. MINDEF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Singapore University of Technology and Design to strengthen collaboration and advance our ability to tackle cyber threats to our systems and infrastructure.

As a new generation of leaders of the SAF, you will shoulder the responsibility of continuing this effort, to seek ways to innovate to keep the SAF ahead of the curve and keep Singapore secure against future threats.  I have confidence in your ability to overcome any challenges in your way and lead your men and women well.

In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all servicemen and women, past and present, who have contributed to the defence of Singapore. To family, friends and loved ones, thank you for your unwavering love and support for the graduands. Your care has, without a doubt, served as their guiding light in times of uncertainty.

To all graduands, congratulations once again. In these tumultuous times and yet exciting period, never stop giving your best to be the leader that our servicemen and women deserve. May the Officer’s Creed continue to guide you in your future endeavours, as you uphold your duty to Lead, Excel and Overcome.

Thank you.