RSN OFFICER FIRST FOREIGNER TO TOP US NAVAL ACADEMY CLASS

Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) officer Lieutenant (LTA) Sam Tan Wei Shen was the first-ever foreigner to top his class in the history of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) as he graduated first out of a class of 1,099 American and foreign cadets on 29 May.

LTA Tan is part of a cohort that included 14 cadets from 12 countries, including Pakistan and Romania.

Admission into USNA is extremely competitive as less than 10 percent of applicants are admitted into the academy. Yet LTA Tan humbly said: "My results are not by my own merit. I have seniors, who were past Singaporean graduates of the USNA, who provided me with a lot of guidance and advice. Furthermore, my training in Officer Cadet School (OCS) also prepared me well for the programme here in USNA."

LTA Tan, who spent four years at USNA, is a recipient of the Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship (SMS), graduated from USNA with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Ocean Systems Engineering. He began his training at USNA in 2008 after graduating from OCS in the same year.

Besides being the first foreigner to top the USNA class since the Academy took in its first foreign national in 1860, LTA Tan was also the first foreign cadet to take on the role as brigade adjutant. In that appointment, he was in charge of the administrative duties of 4,400 cadets - the size of the Republic of Singapore Navy - and tasked to command ceremonial parades.

When asked what his most memorable experience in USNA was, he said: "The sea trial at the end of my freshman year was definitely one of the most rigorous and challenging experiences that I ve ever had. It was a gruelling 18-hour course where we had to overcome different obstacles and perform different squad operations."

He added: "Overall, my experience in USNA was very fulfilling. I was put in an environment in which I challenged and pushed myself beyond my limits and became stronger physically and mentally."

Established in 1845, the USNA boasts alumni such as former US president Jimmy Carter; Arizona Senator John McCain and former Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen.

Singapore typically sends one officer to attend USNA each year. Cadets must be recommended by their superiors and undergo an interview for the selection process.