EARNING THEIR OFFICER RANK EPAULETTES

Four weeks prior to their commissioning parade, Officer Cadets (OCTs) of the 76th batch were faced with their final challenge - the Platoon Assault Course (PAC) - before assuming leadership positions within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

In the early hours of 27 Feb, the mettle of would-be officers were tested during the gruelling four-hour event which requires them to swim, shoot in a rifle range, fast-march to various locations and clear the Standard Obstacle Course while evacuating a simulated casualty weighing about 40kg, across most of the route.

Apart from the swim segment, the cadets have to carry their full combat load comprising a field pack, a load-bearing vest and the SAR 21 rifle. Cadets are expected to apply what they have learnt and work together in order to clear the 8km course within the shortest possible time.

As they pressed on to complete the PAC, cadets such as OCT Ananda Krishnan s/o Retnam learnt many valuable lessons such as the importance of teamwork and trust.

"A team as a whole must work together or they are not going to get anything done. It really boils down to how much everyone believes in the team as opposed to solely themselves," he told cyberpioneer. "To me, this is one of the most important things about the course: that you forge lasting ties."

Though his platoon was not the fastest to complete the course, OCT Ananda feels that the experience was invaluable to his future appointment as an SAF officer.

"The training here has pushed me outside my comfort zones many times and has made me push certain boundaries I wouldn't have done on my own, something which will be valuable to me both within and outside the SAF," he said.

Fellow cadet, OCT Marc Teh, echoed similar sentiments. "While the road to becoming an officer has been tough, it has built up my mental resilience," said OCT Teh. In the past 38 weeks, OCT Teh, who confessed as initially being "dis-inclined" to physical activity, discovered that he is mentally and physically stronger than he thought he was.

OCT Ananda's proud parents pinning his officer rank epaulettes on his uniform. OCT Ananda also received the Sword of Merit (Bronze Bayonet) and the Best in Physical Training Award.

"Going through all the training really made me prove to myself that I can do so much more," said OCT Teh.

In fact, it has even changed his perceptions of National Service (NS). When he enlisted, OCT Teh did not think he would eventually become an officer. Today, after his stint at the Officer Cadet School (OCS), he wants to inculcate a more proactive approach to NS in the men he will eventually lead.

"I hope to inspire my men to take the initiative and learn more while they are serving NS, to serve the country and contribute valuably to the SAF," said OCT Teh.

"OCS is truly learning through experience - the most powerful teacher. It makes you role-play many leadership positions . Once you are in those positions, you have to start thinking about how you are going to get the job done. In the process, you are enriched and end up being a better person," said OCT Ananda, summing up his experiences over the past weeks.

On 20 Mar, OCT Teh and OCT Ananda stood proudly among the 289 cadets to be commissioned as officers. Of the 76th batch, 260 were from the Army and 29 were from the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

Minister for Manpower Gan Kim Yong, who reviewed the parade, commended the officer cadets for embodying the qualities that the SAF needs in its continuing transformation into a 3rd generation fighting force.

Exhorting the newly minted officers to be the best they can be, Mr Gan said, "You must ensure the operational readiness of your men at all times, by training them well and moulding them into a cohesive fighting unit with a deep sense of mission and purpose."

Also present at the parade were Members of Parliament, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek and senior SAF officers.

Congratulate the newly commissioned officers on Facebook.