MILESTONES
FOREIGN CADET LEARNS A LOT AT OCS
17 Dec 2007
When Officer Cadet (OCT) Samuel Verden Miller arrived in Singapore in March this year, the young man barely knew anyone.
Alone in a foreign land, OCT Miller was enrolled into the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) Officer Cadet School (OCS) immediately upon arrival.
Describing his first impressions, OCT Miller said: "Shock and awe - that's how I felt. It was really hot and it took me some time to get settled in. I've never trained in such heat before."
Selected from among four New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) candidates to be sent to Singapore for a training stint at OCS, OCT Miller felt "honoured and proud" to be representing his country.
On 15 Dec, OCT Miller became the first New Zealand officer cadet in the history of OCS to be commissioned as an officer there.
He also received the Silver Bayonet award, a recognition for his outstanding performance, as well as the Best in Physical Training award.
Together with 477 other cadets, OCT Miller's commissioning marked the end of 38 weeks of tough, arduous training at OCS.
Although it was a difficult journey, he said, the hardships were made bearable and the adaptation to life at OCS, easier, with the assistance and support of his instructors and fellow cadets.
Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi officiated at the commissioning parade which was attended by Members of Parliament, senior MINDEF and SAF officers, as well as the Chief of Army of the NZDF, Major-General Lou Gardiner.
Speaking to the officer cadets at the parade, Mr Abdullah reminded them of their "responsibility and privilege of leading citizen soldiers", and urged them to "lead by example, so that your men will trust and follow you".
He added: "As officers and leaders, your decisions must be guided by the SAF's core values. What you do will shape the attitudes and values of the men you lead. At all times, you must demonstrate unfailing dedication in all that you undertake."
Alone in a foreign land, OCT Miller was enrolled into the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) Officer Cadet School (OCS) immediately upon arrival.
Describing his first impressions, OCT Miller said: "Shock and awe - that's how I felt. It was really hot and it took me some time to get settled in. I've never trained in such heat before."
Selected from among four New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) candidates to be sent to Singapore for a training stint at OCS, OCT Miller felt "honoured and proud" to be representing his country.
On 15 Dec, OCT Miller became the first New Zealand officer cadet in the history of OCS to be commissioned as an officer there.
He also received the Silver Bayonet award, a recognition for his outstanding performance, as well as the Best in Physical Training award.
Together with 477 other cadets, OCT Miller's commissioning marked the end of 38 weeks of tough, arduous training at OCS.
Although it was a difficult journey, he said, the hardships were made bearable and the adaptation to life at OCS, easier, with the assistance and support of his instructors and fellow cadets.
Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi officiated at the commissioning parade which was attended by Members of Parliament, senior MINDEF and SAF officers, as well as the Chief of Army of the NZDF, Major-General Lou Gardiner.
Speaking to the officer cadets at the parade, Mr Abdullah reminded them of their "responsibility and privilege of leading citizen soldiers", and urged them to "lead by example, so that your men will trust and follow you".
He added: "As officers and leaders, your decisions must be guided by the SAF's core values. What you do will shape the attitudes and values of the men you lead. At all times, you must demonstrate unfailing dedication in all that you undertake."
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