Speech by Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence RAdm Teo Chee Hean at the NCC Centenary Dinner (28 July 2001)

SPEECH BY RADM TEO CHEE HEAN, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION & 2ND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AT THE NCC CENTENARY DINNER ON SAT 28 JUL 01 AT THE ORCHID COUNTRY CLUB AT 1915 HOURS

1. It is my pleasure to join you at your centenary dinner celebrating the 100th anniversary of the NCC in Singapore. Singapore is a young country, so celebrating a hundred years of history is no mean feat. I congratulate you on your enduring presence in the chronicles of our schools' Co-Curricular Activities programme.

2 The NCC has, in the course of its history, evolved into a premier uniformed CCA in secondary schools. It is noted for producing leaders in the public service, private sector, and the SAF. Today, the NCC counts more than 15,500 Singapore students as its members. As we progress into the knowledge era, how should NCC move ahead to continue to maintain such a remarkable achievement?

3. I believe NCC can continue to do well if firstly, it holds fast to its core values; and secondly, it prepares for the future by learning and adapting new qualities to excel in the knowledge age.

4. It is important for the NCC to hold fast to its core values. In the knowledge era, everything is moving at lightning speed. Sometimes, we can get lost in the sea of change. The core values provide the NCC with an anchor of stability.

5. The seven NCC core values - Loyalty to Country, Leadership, Uprightness, Commitment and Responsibility, Adventurous Spirit, Discipline and Care for Fellow Cadets - remain relevant today. The core values will provide NCC with a strong sense of unity and identity. The core values will serve as valuable and timeless principles in the way you conduct yourselves and carry out your responsibilities in the NCC and in your lives. More importantly, when put together, the core values manifest themselves as a strong will to fight, to overcome all odds and great adversity, and to excel even in the face of unforeseen demands and challenges.

6. As an example of the importance of core values, let me illustrate a particular battle in the Falklands War in 1982. The 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment came ashore at night, from landing craft, through freezing cold water. They carried out a forced march the next day and night carrying 45kg packs. The day after that, they were to capture a strategic location, Goose Green. As the battle raged, the battalion commander personally led a small group of his men against two heavy machine guns blocking the path of the Paras. He was killed but the machine guns were silenced. This was a critical turning point in the battle and the Paras swept to victory thereafter, capturing Goose Green. It was only after the battle did the 600 strong battalion realize that it had attacked and overcome a force more than twice its size. They captured 1,400 prisoners. 17 Paras were killed, and an estimated 250 of their enemy. What could have led the Paras to fight with such tenacity under such adverse circumstances? Core values. They held on to their values of loyalty, discipline, commitment and responsibility with their lives. The NCC must strive to imbue the same spirit in its cadets.

7. As the NCC anchors itself in the core values, it must also strive to position itself for the future. The NCC teaches its members the discipline and skills needed to defend the country. While the spirit required to defend the country remains the same, with the advent of new technology and new ways of fighting wars, new knowledge and skills are required. To remain dynamic and relevant, the NCC must be able to help its cadets understand the changing nature of warfare and develop the new qualities of soldiering. These are qualities that are also required to do well in the knowledge age.

8. The NCC should provide its cadets an understanding of the latest technology and weaponry, for example, stealth fighter aircraft and warships; new tanks, guns and missiles that have a longer range and greater accuracy; and electronic weapons that can disable radars and communication systems. These are the things that interest and fascinate our young people today. Our young people will also be thrilled by new warfighting concepts such as Precision Strike and Information Dominance. The NCC can learn from the SAF in this area.

9. The SAF has transformed itself into a capable and advanced military force. It has been harnessing new technology to enhance its capabilities. You will have heard about our new submarines and Apache attack helicopters. A good number of you will also have seen or even fired our new SAR 21 rifle and ridden in our new Bionix infantry fighting vehicle. These new capabilities require a thinking soldier and a new way of fighting.

10. The SAF can fight and win in modern warfare only if it develops the right qualities in its soldiers. The approach and philosophy of the SAF training system has undergone fundamental changes, from Basic Military Training all the way through to training of senior commanders. It is not enough for the SAF to have soldiers who know their drills and obey orders. The SAF needs thinking soldiers who can exploit the potential of these new technologies and capabilities. The soldiers are now empowered with access to more information and firepower. This gives them the ability to accomplish more than what they were able to do before. When opportunities arise, they must be able to act independently and exercise initiative. They must think and understand the intent of their commanders so that they can contribute to its achievement. A single soldier has the power to turn the tide of battle. He can do this by using the weapons at his disposal, or by calling down tremendous long-range firepower. And, he can still change the tide of battle by his leadership, his personal bravery, sacrifice and example.

11. As the SAF strives to develop these qualities in its soldiers, the NCC should also do the same. Independence, initiative and innovation - these are also the same qualities that will help the cadets through their lives in the knowledge-based economy.

12. The challenge now is for the NCC to draw up the necessary programmes to help its cadets understand the changing nature of warfare and develop the qualities of the new thinking soldiers. It can start by leveraging on its strong affiliation with the SAF through the longstanding SAF-NCC Affiliation Scheme. In addition, the NCC can also broaden its knowledge base by learning and sharing its knowledge and experience with other Uniformed Groups.

13. I am pleased to note that the NCC is already doing so by setting up the NCC Motivation Centre. The centre, which will function in 2002, aims to complement the National Education programme in schools and to showcase the NCC's rich history and heritage. It will recount the chronology of the NCC's growth, its contribution to youth development and its role in the National Education initiative.

14. Few youth organisations in Singapore have the honour of being as old as the NCC and fewer still can be proud of achieving great things at this age. To continuously reaffirm itself as a premier uniformed youth organisation and position itself for the new century, the NCC should hold fast to its core values and develop new qualities to excel in the knowledge era.

15. Once again I take this opportunity to congratulate the staff, officers and cadets on the NCC's 100th anniversary. I am confident that you will continue the work of ensuring that the NCC remains strong, dynamic and future oriented in the coming years.