MILESTONES
MEDICAL OFFICERS COMMISSIONED AT ARMS
25 Oct 2007
Just one week after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong officiated at its opening, the new Army Museum of Singapore (ARMS) hosted its first official ceremony.
On 4 Oct, the 17th National Service Medical Officer Commissioning Ceremony was held at the museum's glass-clad atrium.
The event marked the end of the five-week course for 17 doctors and dentists, who will now serve as Operationally-Ready National Servicemen medical and dental officers.
They were trained in a variety of professional skills, such as surgical and psychological trauma management, and operations at the frontline Battalion Casualty Station.
Their training also included workshops on leadership, safety management and other vital non-vocational topics.
"A medical officer is more than just a medical practitioner to his soldiers," said course commander Lieutenant-Colonel (Dr) John Bosco Lee.
"He's also a commander of the Battalion Casualty Station, a leader of his medics at the medical centre, a principal staff officer in the areas of mental and physical health to his unit commander.
"To many officers and soldiers on the ground, a medical officer is also a counsellor and a friend."
For the first time, the freshly commissioned officers took the oath in front of the museum's wall of core values, which is made from smelted SM1 tanks.
The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) seven core values are printed on the wall in brass drawn from expended shell cartridges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Army Major-General Neo Kian Hong told the men that as SAF medical professionals, they should "always strive to provide excellent health care for our people in a timely, proficient and reliable manner".
"This sacred and noble task cannot be taken lightly and must not be betrayed," he said.
On 4 Oct, the 17th National Service Medical Officer Commissioning Ceremony was held at the museum's glass-clad atrium.
The event marked the end of the five-week course for 17 doctors and dentists, who will now serve as Operationally-Ready National Servicemen medical and dental officers.
They were trained in a variety of professional skills, such as surgical and psychological trauma management, and operations at the frontline Battalion Casualty Station.
Their training also included workshops on leadership, safety management and other vital non-vocational topics.
"A medical officer is more than just a medical practitioner to his soldiers," said course commander Lieutenant-Colonel (Dr) John Bosco Lee.
"He's also a commander of the Battalion Casualty Station, a leader of his medics at the medical centre, a principal staff officer in the areas of mental and physical health to his unit commander.
"To many officers and soldiers on the ground, a medical officer is also a counsellor and a friend."
For the first time, the freshly commissioned officers took the oath in front of the museum's wall of core values, which is made from smelted SM1 tanks.
The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) seven core values are printed on the wall in brass drawn from expended shell cartridges.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief of Army Major-General Neo Kian Hong told the men that as SAF medical professionals, they should "always strive to provide excellent health care for our people in a timely, proficient and reliable manner".
"This sacred and noble task cannot be taken lightly and must not be betrayed," he said.
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