PREPARING OFFICERS TO LEAD 3RD GEN SAF

For the past 10 months, Major (MAJ) (NS) Allen Chan experienced what it was like to be a student once again.

Only this time, it was much harder than his university days, as he had to juggle going to office, school and home.

In the day, he worked as the Director of Product Development at software company Visiflex Pte Ltd. At night and on weekends, he was a student at the 32-week National Service Command and Staff Course (NSCSC), which trains National Service (NS) commanders to assume higher appointments in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

The course also included a five-and-a-half week Residential Phase, which was conducted full-time at the Singapore Command and Staff College (SCSC) from 8.30am to 11pm.

His hard work bore fruit when he was crowned the top student of his NSCSC cohort at the graduation ceremony held at the Istana on 26 Oct.

At the 41st Command and Staff Course (CSC) and 11th NSCSC graduation ceremony, MAJ (NS) Chan and 148 other officers received their graduation certificates from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean.

The graduands comprised 109 regular officers and 26 NS officers from the SAF, one officer from the Singapore Police Force and 13 international officers from Australia, Brunei, China, Germany, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States.

At the ceremony, Mr Teo spoke about the roles of officers in the 3rd Generation SAF, and mentioned that as the SAF takes on a wider spectrum of missions, it can expect more multinational cooperation.

"The officers leading the 3rd Generation SAF will thus need to be trained to operate within this new strategic environment, where countries forge multinational cooperation in areas of shared interests.

"They will need to be alert to the shifts in the security landscape and have a sound understanding of our national interests and objectives, in order to think and act independently, confidently exercising their judgement to make sound operational decisions in the field."

He also reminded the graduands to be self-critical, honest and tough, and that these are qualities that the first Minister for Defence, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, possessed.

In honour of Dr Goh's contribution towards defence, Mr Teo reiterated Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's announcement at this year's National Day Rally that the SCSC will be renamed as the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College (GKSCSC). The formal inauguration of the GKSCSC will be held next year.

Despite the demanding course schedule, MAJ Halmie Bin Hussein Mattar, who graduated from the 41-week CSC, appreciated the knowledge and experiences gleaned from it.

"The course helped to sharpen my critical thinking skills. I now see the inter-relationship of the political, economic, social and military dimension in this new security environment.

"The interaction with the international officers allowed us to share perspectives and views. In this new operating environment, where coalition operations are increasing, the friendship built during the course will provide a platform for us to work together in future."

MAJ (NS) Chan added: "Although some, like me, are not full-time soldiers, we are responsible for our unit's operational readiness, cohesion and morale. NSCSC gave us the knowledge to become better leaders and warfighters, to help us inspire a sense of purpose in our men."

Speaking to cyberpioneer, he also expressed gratitude to his wife, Madam Tan Mei Ching, for her uncompromising support during the course.

"She has been an indispensable pillar of encouragement and support for me. Knowing that she was totally behind me gave me the strength, drive and confidence to discharge my duty as an NS commander with undivided attention and focus."

MAJ Halmie echoed similar sentiments about his wife, Madam Erniwati Binte Abdul Rahim.

"When I was burning the midnight oil to complete my assignments, my wife, who is a teacher, would do her work and accompany me. During the course, my six-year-old son was even hospitalised twice and had to undergo an operation.

"My wife really played a huge role in supporting me, and ensuring that I could concentrate on my studies."

Besides MAJ (NS) Chan, other graduands who performed well during their course included MAJ Yee Kok Meng, MAJ Ooi Loong and Military Expert (ME) 6 Hoo Soo Pin. They received the top Army, Navy and Air Force awards in the 41st CSC respectively.