INTERNATIONAL BEHAVIOURAL SCIENTISTS MEET IN S'PORE

"The world around us is getting complex, hence there is a need for a good sense-making system."

That sums up the keynote address delivered by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Future Systems Architect, Brigadier-General (BG) Jimmy Khoo (right), at the opening of the 47th International Military Testing Association (IMTA) conference.

BG Khoo touched on the importance of "practising the art of war with the science of war", as he described the new network-centric technology that will be an integral part in the transformation of the SAF to a third-generation force.

His speech, illustrated with visuals and peppered with amusing anecdotes, was warmly received by the delegates.

Lieutenant-Colonel Rui Bartolo Ribeiro, Director of Psychological Centre of the Portuguese Air Force (left), commented that the speech was "a very different form of presentation which made it very interesting".

The IMTA conference is an annual gathering of international military professionals to share and exchange ideas concerning military personnel issues.

The theme for this year's conference is 'Supporting Military Transformation and Operations in a Changing World'.

This year's conference, held at the Pan Pacific Hotel from 8 to 10 Nov, will cover a gamut of topics ranging from personnel assessment and selection to leadership development.

The IMTA is a group of scientists who meet to exchange ideas concerning the assessment of military personnel. The IMTA aims to promote better management of military personnel within the military and professional community.

This is the first time that the conference is held in Asia.

It is hosted by the Ministry of Defence's Applied Behavioural Sciences Department and her partners, the SAF Centre of Leadership Development, Future Systems Directorate, the SAF Human Resource community, the SAF Counselling Centre and the Psychological Care Centre.