Chief of Defence Force, Service Chiefs,

Senior Commanders,

Graduands of the 25th SAF Senior Military Expert Course,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Introduction

A very good evening and heartiest congratulations to the 141 newly appointed Senior Military Experts. Let me begin by acknowledging your dedication throughout this learning journey. All of you have demonstrated the leadership and professional knowledge required of the rigorous Military Domain Experts Course.

The Value of SAF in a Time of Increasing Turbulence

Even as COVID-19 transits from pandemic to endemic, the global environment is increasingly characterised by tensions and mistrust.

We have witnessed the intensification of geopolitical rivalry between the superpowers of US and China. Both are locked in strategic competition across multiple domains such as trade and technology. They risk conflict escalation over dangerous flashpoints, and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war also demonstrates the harsh reality that an armed conflict is not inconceivable in an interconnected world.

Singapore has upheld international law and maintained a principled diplomatic approach. Even so, the fact remains that we live in an increasingly fragmented world. We witness an erosion of the rules-based order, and countries more frequently resorting to unilateral actions. These global events highlight the hard truth that no amount of diplomacy can prevent conflict against a resolute aggressor, or overcome the acute vulnerabilities that confront small nations like Singapore.

A strong SAF is therefore needed to be the ultimate guarantor of peace for our nation, and to do so, having superior technology and firepower alone are not sufficient. Our key ingredient of success is the leadership and deep expertise that our people possess.

Strategic Imperative of MDES

The Military Domain Experts Scheme was introduced in 2010. Our Military Experts are a strategic capability for the SAF. In the face of a complex and fast-evolving security landscape, our Military Experts answer the call to meet the SAF’s growing needs. These include the need for deep expertise in critical military domains such as cyber, intelligence, engineering and medical.

Externally, the conflict in Russia-Ukraine gave us glimpses of how the war of the future would look like. On the battlefield, tactical skirmishes are being transformed by drone technology and artificial intelligence. For instance, the employment of unmanned drones and loitering munitions make visceral how these capabilities can target adversaries and disrupt operations. Beyond the conventional battlefield, non-kinetic warfare is waged fiercely through numerous cyber-attacks and disinformation campaigns, to disrupt critical facilities and fracture the solidarity of the nation.

It is therefore critical that the SAF possess the capabilities to counter these growing threats. We established the Digital and Intelligence Service last year to guard against aggressors in the digital domain and meet the expanded intelligence demands for non-conventional threats.

The SAF is also on track to develop a future-ready force as part of its next-generation transformation, which requires a highly skilled and highly competent workforce

Amongst our graduands today is ME4 Evon Khoo, who is also the recipient of the DIS’ Sword of Honour. Evon was previously a teacher at the Ministry of Education, but decided to join the SAF to pursue a meaningful career with the military and her interest in data science and analytics. Being a Senior Military Intelligence Expert in DIS provides Evon the opportunity to harness the use of digital technologies to uncover threats and address vulnerabilities. We wish her all the very best in this journey, in her new unit, in our new DIS.

ME4 Foo Moo Kiat is a Coxswain onboard one of our Formidable Class Frigates. Over his 18 years of service as a Weapons Control System expert with the Flotilla, Moo Kiat has developed a deep understanding of the highly complex suite of weapon systems and sensors. His technical and operational expertise enabled him to train missile firing teams for highly complex naval firings at multinational exercises such as Exercise RIMPAC. Moo Kiat is also a qualified aircraft controller, having stepped out of his comfort zone to learn about the Frigate’s aviation systems, and playing his part to advance integration with the S-70B naval helicopters. Moo Kiat’s deep expertise and skillsets stand him in good stead for the Frigate’s next bound of transformation.

ME4 Vinod Kumar from the RSAF is another example of someone who exemplifies deep expertise. As an Air Force Engineer, Vinod was trained in the F-5 and F-16 fighter jets in the early phases of his career. He subsequently expanded his range of technical competencies when he transited to support the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, or MRTT for short. During Exercise Cope Tiger last year, Vinod utilised his technical abilities to support the MRTTs, ensuring that all aircraft generation performance indicators were achieved. Vinod was awarded the Best Production Superintendent for his contributions during the exercise. He also holds the Deep Expert Level of M6 under the Market Adjustable Specialisation Component framework, in recognition of his technical competency.

MDES also allows us to harness the civilian expertise of our NSmen under the Expertise-Based Deployment Scheme. This enables the SAF to tap on the nation’s wider talent pool to expand our operational capabilities in niche areas of civilian expertise.

ME4 Jeevan Raj, an NSman, had initially served his NS with the 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade as a Reconnaissance Commander. In his professional job, Jeevan is a Marine Operations Superintendent of a shipping company that operates close to a hundred vessels. He is also a qualified Captain in the merchant navy and possesses a Class 1 Certificate of Competency. With his background in the marine industry, Jeevan was re-deployed as a Senior Military Expert in the RSN under 3rd Flotilla as a ship Commanding Officer, where he is able to draw from his rich professional experience, to convert from the Army to the Navy and maximise his full potential as a NSman.

Your Role as Senior Military Experts

As you receive your appointment as Senior Military Experts today, bear in mind your responsibility as a leader in the SAF.

First, the bedrock of military leadership is a strong foundation of values and ethics. Always uphold the core values of the SAF and stay humble. Leadership is not about the rank one holds, but the ability to influence and inspire the commitment of your people to achieve mission success.

Second, continue to embrace continuous learning. Learning is a lifelong journey, and our Military Experts take pride in their expertise and professionalism. ME4 Mazlan bin Mohamad Khalid, the Chief Master Trainer in the SAF Medical Training Institute, is a fine example of one who embraces continuous learning. As a medical expert, Mazlan already has the relevant nursing qualifications. However, to prepare himself better as a trainer and educator, Mazlan enrolled himself in the Advanced Course in Educational Studies at the National Institute of Education (NIE) and attained a perfect GPA. Mazlan is now taking it one step further by pursuing a Master of Arts in Education Management at NIE. Mazlan’s drive towards self-improvement is an inspiration for all of us.

Lastly, for the SAF to stay relevant and to grow, it is crucial that all of us embody a spirit of innovation. Take for example ME4 Lincoln Too, a young engineer with the SAF Ammunition Command who is among the graduating cohort today. During his time at G1-Army as a project officer, Lincoln was actively involved in the Army's Human Resource digitalisation effort. He created a Minimum Viable Product of a digital skills dictionary that maps military qualifications with public accreditation. His efforts are foundational to the larger digital transformation drive under the Army Skills Study initiative, which empowers soldiers to develop the right skillsets to meet the organisational needs. Besides pursuing digital transformation, Lincoln had also worked to enhance daily productivity by developing a one-stop site for Army commanders to refer easily to HR and training related policies.

Lincoln’s efforts to drive continuous improvement for the Army is indeed commendable. Likewise, as you implement change in your respective domain areas, I hope you continue to possess the gumption to confront challenges head on and overcome them with grit and creativity. Never accept the status-quo and continue pushing the SAF’s capabilities and boundaries as you forge the path ahead.

Conclusion

In closing, congratulations again to our newly appointed Senior Military Experts. Today is indeed a proud and momentous occasion for everyone, and I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the families and loved ones of our graduands. Your support is indeed meaningful and valuable to all of us. I urge you, as they move on to the next phase of their careers, to continue your steadfast and unwavering support, shouldering the burdens that they could not while at work, that they can give their utmost to defend our beloved country and our home.

I wish you all the very best as you embark on this new phase of your military career. Thank you very much and have a wonderful evening.