432 READY TO LEAD AS OFFICERS

They're barely in their 20s, and already, they found themselves having to make decisions that can affect the lives of people around them.

That was how some officer cadets felt during the summary exercise where the skills they learnt at Officer Cadet School (OCS) were put to the test.

The exercise, which spanned three days in June, comprised urban and jungle operations, and cadets were split into opposing teams to practise both attack and defence strategies.

After an urban operations exercise on 13 Jun, Exercise Platoon Commander Officer Cadet (OCT) Sebastian Tan cited his platoon's attack via a staircase as the most challenging part of the exercise.

He explained: "The structure of the staircase was very advantageous for the defenders, because they had a clear vantage point... They put up a stubborn battle, and almost took out my whole platoon."

He appreciated the operational realism of the exercise, and what his OCS training has taught him. "When we were kids, warfare was just like a TV show. But now, I've come to realise that the lives of my men are in my hands, so every decision I make must be thought through very carefully," he said.

Wrapping up 38 weeks of training in OCS, where cadets honed their combat, planning and leadership skills, 432 officer cadets were commissioned as officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at a parade held on 15 Jul at the SAFTI Military Institute.

The graduands comprised 359 officer cadets from the Army, 45 from the Air Force and 28 from the Navy.

Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang, who reviewed the parade, reminded the graduands of their roles as leaders: "Your men mirror you, so you must always uphold high standards of fitness, personal integrity and discipline. Be professional, inspire them, imbue in them a deep sense of mission and purpose as you motivate them to achieve mission success.

"By doing so, you will win over their hearts and minds and they will follow you whole-heartedly through the toughest of times," he added.

OCT Muhammad Zacky Bin Razali could relate to such tough times during OCS training, in particular an overseas training exercise in a jungle. He recalled: "The weather was harsh and the terrain was difficult, so we were easily agitated. When we suffered many setbacks in trying to accomplish our missions, we actually wanted to give up.

"But when we looked back at the training we've gone through, it would be a waste for us to admit defeat. So we spurred one another on, and managed to complete the jungle training," he said.

On receiving the Sword of Merit for being among the top 10 percent of the Infantry cohort, he said: "My parents are very proud of me, and I'm happy too, because I always aim to be the best in whatever I do, so this is a result of the effort I've been putting in."

When asked what he took away from OCS, Sword-of-Honour recipient Midshipman (MID) Charles George, who topped the Navy cohort, answered: "During the MSTD (Midshipman Sea Training Deployment), besides getting a global perspective through sailing to different countries, I was also exposed to how our Navy engages in diplomacy with other countries, so it was an eye-opening experience for me." The MSTD is a six-week sea deployment phase for midshipmen going through the officer cadet course.

For Ground-Based Air Defence Sword-of-Honour recipient OCT Law Chang Siang, what he gained was more intangible. He spoke of a shift in his mindset and values: "Before I enlisted, I asked myself why was there a need for me to do NS (National Service).

"But after going through all the training, I've come to realise that the people who go through tough times with you are the ones who'll stick with you when you need help."

He added: "I've also learnt to treasure my family more. I used to take them for granted, but now I cherish every little thing they do for me, so I believe that my two years in NS is a positive experience."