PM LEE: SAFTI MI A KEY INSTITUTION THAT PRODUCES SAF LEADERS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

The Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute, or SAFTI, has developed generations of leaders in the SAF, and good leaders are critical to the SAF's success.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this when he reviewed the Officer Cadet Course commissioning parade on 26 Jun, and also marked the 50th anniversary of SAFTI Military Institute (MI).

In his address to the graduands, Mr Lee noted that the SAFTI graduates were instrumental in building and transforming the SAF from just two infantry battalions 50 years ago, into the modern armed forces of today that is well respected internationally.

He recalled that during the first commissioning parade, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had urged the pioneer graduands to make up for their lack of numbers with quality: in the standards of discipline, training, dedication, and leadership.

"Generations of SAFTI-trained officers have been imbued with these values, and have passed them on to their trainees, to soldiers under their command, and to later cohorts of regulars and NSmen," said Mr Lee.

"These have become part of the SAF's ethos, and spirit, and enabled the SAF to perform its duties, and keep Singapore safe and secure."

The 117 SAFTI-trained officers from the pioneer batch went on to hold appointments all over the SAF, and together with subsequent batches of officers, built up the SAF of today, Mr Lee noted.

SAFTI's transformation

Formerly known as SAFTI, SAFTI MI started out as a small institute which trained officers and non-commissioned officers (now known as specialists and warrant officers).

Today, SAFTI MI conducts leadership development courses for officers, warrant officers, and military experts across the Army, Navy and Air Force.

It occupies an 88-hectare site, and houses several training schools, including the Officer Cadet School (OCS), and the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College.

As part of the celebrations, Mr Lee unveiled a mural showing images of the first batch of SAF officers training at the old SAFTI.

The 6 metre by 2 metre aluminium mural was donated by SAFTI s first batch of officer cadets, including former Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) (Ret) Ng Jui Ping.

Challenging beginnings

Brigadier-General (BG) (Ret) Kirpa Ram Vij, the first Director of SAFTI, recounted the challenges faced in building up the institute during the early days of Singapore s independence.

"We started literally from the day we separated (from Malaysia)," recalled the 81-year-old.

They had almost nothing to begin with - no training grounds, equipment, or instructors. The first SAFTI was located at Jurong Town Primary School, where the instructors for the first OCS course themselves were trained.

SAFTI then moved to Pasir Laba Camp, where the first batch of officer cadets trained. Facilities were still being constructed when their training started.

Commandant SAFTI MI Rear Admiral (RADM) Giam Hock Koon added that SAFTI MI was not just a training institute, but a national institution that had trained leaders not just for the SAF, but also for Singapore.

"From the very first batch - the extraordinary league of gentlemen and officers till today, 50 years later - you can see for yourself the impact that they have made, not just in the SAF, but in all spheres of leadership roles in politics, business, social work," he said.

In his address, Mr Lee also congratulated the graduands, and urged them to model themselves after the generations of leaders before them, and lead their soldiers well.

Beyond the call of duty

The message was not lost on Officer Cadet (OCT) Muhammad Khalid, who was among those commissioned at the parade.

The Full-time National Serviceman (NSF) was a specialist in the 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (2SIR).

Because of his sterling performance as a Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle commander - he won the Best Commander Award in the unit - OCT Khalid was offered the chance to attend OCS.

"It was a great honour, and it meant a lot to me because I am the first in the family to become an officer," said the 23-year-old computer engineering graduate from Temasek Polytechnic.

OCT Khalid, who is considering signing on as a Regular, will be extending his NS by a further six months. His reason? To gain real experience as an officer in his new unit, the 1st Battalion, Singapore Guards.

He said: "I feel that there is no greater honour than to be able to serve my nation. Since young, I have always wanted to lead people, to defend my loved ones."

"Soldiers nowadays are asking, 'Why do we (need to) serve?'. I want to show them the reasons."

"I love to inspire people. It is a beautiful thing when I can make people believe in themselves."

A total of 567 cadets, comprising 463 from the Army, 62 from the Navy and 42 from the Air Force, were commissioned as SAF officers.

The commissioning parade marked the completion of 38 weeks of rigorous training at OCS. The newly-commissioned officers will go on to assume command, instructional or staff appointments in the SAF.