TOWARDS BETTER TRAINING, LEARNING

Over 200 senior commanders, officers and warrant officers gathered in Pasir Laba Camp for the half-day Army Training Hub Workplan Seminar on 20 Apr.

At the School of Infantry Specialists' Leaders Hall, they reflected on the Army's priorities and its latest achievements in training and doctrine, and how it was laying the groundwork for the Third-Generation Army.

They also discussed in small groups issues related to the training development for the third-generation soldier, leadership development and organisational learning.

Speaking at the event, Chief of Staff (General Staff) Brigadier-General (BG) Hugh Lim said: "Where our soldiers are concerned, we must engage them as we train."

BG Lim noted that the Army is "formalising the use of coaches" in major exercises "to enable our people to get better feedback on the quality of decision-making and the effectiveness of the team".

It will tap the expertise of ex-regulars and experienced Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) "to broaden our coaching capacity".

BG Lim summed up the training development efforts for the coming years as "Adding Value, Adding Values".

"'Adding Value' means we want to ensure that our people, whether they are regulars, NSFs or NSmen, feel that their Army experience adds value to them as an individual in the skills we impart, the character that we build, or the friendships that we forge," said BG Lim.

"And where 'Adding Values' is concerned, we want to make sure that every soldier who serves with us takes away a healthy dose of our Army's values system," he added.

The Army Training & Learning Symposium aims to be a platform for the Army's training professionals to share knowledge and propose new training practices.

Chief of Army BG Neo Kian Hong, who was present at the seminar, said: "Our challenge going forward for the Singapore Armed Forces, the Army, and Singapore is commitment to defence."

"Do not take commitment to defence for granted. You're training the spirit of our people. There must be a meaning behind what you do."

BG Neo presented the Achievement Award to Colonel (COL) Ishak Ismail, the Basic Military Training Centre's Commander, and First Warrant Officer (1WO) Lem Yew Teck, Officer Commanding of Maju Fitness and Conditioning Centre, for sustained excellence in training and learning.

In the afternoon, about 400 personnel attended the second edition of the Army Training & Learning Symposium, held at two venues in Pasir Laba Camp.

While last year's inaugural symposium featured external speakers, the speakers this time were mostly drawn from the Army.

They talked about raising leaders, warriors and thinkers in the Army, and about enhancing the learning experience.

"I recognise the high degree of professional knowledge and experience which we have raised amongst our people over the years," said BG Lim.

"To broaden the sharing, I felt that this year, we should allow our own training experts to share their best practices with the invited audience."

He added that the symposium aims to "serve as a platform" for the Army's training professionals "to propose and share new and innovative training practices".