Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiated at the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College (GKS CSC) Command and Staff Course (CSC) 2018 Graduation Ceremony and Dinner held at the Istana this evening. This year's ceremony marked the completion of the 49th CSC, 19th CSC (National Service), as well as the 10th and 11th CSC (Executive). The 227 graduates comprised 129 regular officers from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), 51 National Service (NS) officers, 28 military experts, two warrant officers, one Singapore Police Force (SPF) officer, and 16 international officers from 13 countries – Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. The CSC, CSC (NS) and CSC (Executive) prepare officers for senior command and staff appointments in the SAF, and are the highest level of formal military education offered in Singapore for Regular, NS and international officers.

Addressing the graduates, Dr Ng reminded them of Singapore's inherent constraints and challenges as a small state, and the importance of developing capable and committed military leaders who contribute to Singapore's branding as a trusted broker, and provide the premium to our continued survival and prosperity. He said, "As Singapore enters its next 50 years, we would do well to remember our immutable vulnerabilities and recognise the foundations that provide the stability and endurance of our small city state. Without doubt, capable and committed leaders, especially military leaders, that the College produces is one strong foundation stone."

On Singapore's defence policy, Dr Ng said that the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SAF have been able to build Singapore's strong defences through strong partnerships with other countries, and with security challenges becoming increasingly transnational, these partnerships are crucial to help Singapore tackle these challenges. As a further sign of MINDEF and the SAF's commitment to partnerships, Dr Ng announced that the GKS CSC will increase the annual number of international officer billets by 50% to 25 from 2019 onwards. 

At the ceremony, Dr Ng presented awards to six top graduates: Major (MAJ) Giam Sui-Qing Spencer, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Ng Yanjie and MAJ Lim Seng Wee, who received the Top Army, Navy and Air Force Graduate Awards respectively in the 49th CSC; MAJ (NS) Phua Wei Liang Allan, who received the Top Graduate Award in the 19th CSC (National Service); as well as LTC Chia Sze Tien Adrian and MAJ Goh Keng Wah Prem, who topped the 10th and 11th CSC (Executive) respectively. Dr Ng also presented graduation certificates to the SPF officer and the 16 international officers. 

The Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong had earlier presented the graduation certificates to all the 210 SAF graduates at the SAFTI Military Institute on 26 Oct 2018.