OCS cadets commissioned as SAF officers on 13 Dec, with strong emphasis on teamwork
On the evening of 13 Dec, 405 Officer Cadet School (OCS) cadets were commissioned as officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at a parade held at the SAFTI Military Institute.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and National Development Indranee Rajah reviewed the parade and encouraged the graduands to lead by example as they step into their new roles.
Image courtesy of MINDEF
Commissioning Parade marks end of 38-week OCS training
The 139th Officer Cadet Commissioning Parade marked the completion of 38 weeks of rigorous training at OCS, designed to sharpen the cadets’ combat, planning and leadership skills.
Of the 405 newly commissioned officers, 320 are from the Singapore Army, 49 from the Republic of Singapore Navy, and 36 from the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
During the parade, Ms Indranee also presented the Sword of Honour to the best-performing cadets in the cohort.
Among the recipients was 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Ryan Joshua Ong Sheng-En, the son of former Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong.
Source: Pioneer
Overcoming self-doubt through perseverance and support
According to Pioneer, 2LT Ong entered Basic Military Training with enthusiasm, but felt both excited and intimidated when he was selected for OCS due to its high standards.
He initially struggled to adjust and experienced moments of self-doubt. However, through hard work and determination, he grew into his role, with his buddy describing him as an “approachable and capable leader”.
Source: Pioneer
2LT Ong also credited the friendships he forged in OCS for helping him through the toughest days.
“I’ve also learnt so much from them about teamwork and looking after one another,” he said. “As a team, we are only as strong as our constituent parts, and so we always must look after each other.”
