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The Officer Cadet School (OCS) is a
military training centre A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
that trains
commissioned officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent contex ...
s for the four branches of the
Singapore Armed Forces The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF ...
(SAF): the
Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
, the
Navy A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It i ...
, the
Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
, and the
Digital and Intelligence Service The Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) is the digital service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible in providing military intelligence to the armed forces, building up the country's digital defence, and protecting the psyc ...
. Located within the
SAFTI Military Institute The SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI) is a military institute of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) comprising five schools: the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College, three SAF Advanced Schools, and the Officer Cadet School. Located on an ...
complex in
Jurong West Jurong West is a planning area and residential town located in the West Region of Singapore. Jurong West shares boundaries with Tengah in the north, Jurong East in the east, Boon Lay and Pioneer in the south, and Western Water Catchment in t ...
, it has twelve
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expres ...
s inclusive of tri-service wings. Nine wings are named according to the
NATO phonetic alphabet The (International) Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, commonly known as the NATO phonetic alphabet, is the most widely used set of clear code words for communicating the letters of the Roman alphabet, technically a ''radiotelephonic spelling ...
from A (Alpha) to E (Echo) and S (Sierra) and T (Tango), while the remaining three wings (Mids, Air and Dis) are for the Navy, Air Force, and Digital and Intelligence Service, respectively. The trainees are mostly drawn from the best performing recruits in each
basic military training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...
cohort. Trainees with outstanding performance from the
Specialist Cadet School The Specialist Cadet School (SCS) is the military training centre for the Singapore Armed Forces' specialists, the equivalent of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in other countries' armed forces. Made up of twelve companies divided into thre ...
(SCS), where specialists (
non-commissioned officer A non-commissioned officer (NCO) is a military officer who has not pursued a commission. Non-commissioned officers usually earn their position of authority by promotion through the enlisted ranks. (Non-officers, which includes most or all enli ...
s) are trained, are also invited to transfer to OCS. Career soldiers may also attend OCS on application, recommendation and selection. OCS trainees are known as
Officer Cadet Officer Cadet is a rank held by military cadets during their training to become commissioned officers. In the United Kingdom, the rank is also used by members of University Royal Naval Units, University Officer Training Corps and University Ai ...
s (OCTs) if they serve in the Army and Air Force,
Midshipmen A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afri ...
(MIDs) if they serve in the Navy, and Senior Military Expert Trainees (ME4Ts) if they serve in the Digital and Intelligence Service.


History

The Officer Cadet School traces its origins to the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute (SAFTI), which was established in
Pasir Laba Camp Pasir Laba Camp is a military base of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) located in Western Water Catchment, Singapore. It is home to the Specialist and Warrant Officer Institute, where specialists (non-commissioned officers) and warrant office ...
on 14 February 1966 as a military institute to train officers and non-commissioned officers for the
Singapore Armed Forces The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF ...
. While SAFTI was under construction at Pasir Laba Camp, 60 officers and non-commissioned officers were selected to attend a three-month instructors' preparatory course at Jurong Primary School conducted by a group of foreign advisers. In May 1966, the
Ministry of Interior and Defence Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...
started recruiting trainees for SAFTI through a selection process that included written and IQ tests, physical fitness tests and interviews. Out of 2,500 applicants, 300 were chosen to undergo officer training. SAFTI was officially opened on 18 June 1966 by Minister for Defence
Goh Keng Swee Goh Keng Swee (; 6 October 1918 – 14 May 2010), born Robert Goh Keng Swee, was a Singaporean politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore between 1973 and 1985. Goh is widely recognised as one of the founding fathers of Singa ...
. On 16 July 1967, only 117 of the 300 cadets successfully completed their training and received their commissions at the SAFTI parade square. SAFTI received its colours from Prime Minister
Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew (16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), born Harry Lee Kuan Yew, often referred to by his initials LKY, was a Singaporean lawyer and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Singapore between 1959 and 1990, and Secretary-General o ...
in a ceremony on 16 June 1968. In 1969, six women from the People's Defence Force were offered positions for officer training at SAFTI owing to their outstanding performance. On 10 July 1970, the six women received their commissions along with the fourth batch of infantry officer cadets. The first batch of cadets who attended the Officer Cadet Course was commissioned on 11 November 1972. As more
companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of people, whether natural, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specific, declared go ...
were set up to train cadets, the School of Infantry Officers was renamed Officer Cadet School (OCS) and its headquarters was set up on 1 June 1969. In 1972, a "scholars platoon" was introduced in OCS to encourage cadets with better qualifications to take up government-sponsored scholarships for further training. In the 1970s, after the
National Service National service is the system of voluntary government service, usually military service. Conscription is mandatory national service. The term ''national service'' comes from the United Kingdom's National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939. The l ...
duration was shortened from three years to two years and six months, OCS introduced a nine-month Standard Military Course on 26 December 1974 to improve officer training and provide officers with a longer service period after commissioning. Officer cadets were selected primarily on the basis of their academic qualifications and extra-curricular activities before they enlisted for National Service. In 1977, OCS introduced an overseas training component in the Standard Military Course. On 1 June 1980, OCS became OCS-SAFTI and a nine-month Infantry Officer Cadet Course was introduced on 1 September 1980. Under the new system, officer cadets were selected only after they had completed their
basic military training Military recruit training, commonly known as basic training or boot camp, refers to the initial instruction of new military personnel. It is a physically and psychologically intensive process, which resocializes its subjects for the unique deman ...
. The nine-month course consisted of a 12-week junior term that trains cadets to lead
section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sign ...
s, as well as a 27-week senior term that trains them to lead
platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may range ...
s. In May 1980, the Medical Officer Cadet Course was introduced for officers who wanted to take up medical or dental professions in the Singapore Armed Forces. The
SAFTI Military Institute The SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI) is a military institute of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) comprising five schools: the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College, three SAF Advanced Schools, and the Officer Cadet School. Located on an ...
was opened was 9 June 1990 and a new 42-week Tri-Service Officer Cadet Course was launched on 17 September 1990 by Lieutenant-General
Winston Choo Winston Choo Wee Leong (; born 18 July 1941) is a Singaporean diplomat and former lieutenant-general who served as the first and longest-serving Chief of Defence Force between 1974 and 1992. Early life and education Born in Singapore, Choo ...
, the Chief of Defence Force. In the first 19 weeks of the course, cadets from all three branches of the Singapore Armed Forces trained in the same environment. After that, the cadets from the Navy, Air Force and the Army's support arms attended vocational training in their respective schools, while Infantry cadets remained in OCS to continue their professional training. In the last two weeks, all the cadets returned to OCS to rehearse for their commissioning parade. In 2004, after National Service was further reduced from two years and six months to two years, the Officer Cadet Course was shortened from 42 weeks to 38 weeks. The new 38-week course had its first batch of cadets on 21 March 2005.


Training

The current Officer Cadet Course is 38 weeks long and divided into three terms: Service, Professional, and Joint. During the first two weeks of the Service term, cadets take the Common Leadership Module and undergo an initiation ceremony at the end of the two weeks to mark their entry to OCS. After that, they branch into their respective services for the Service Term. From weeks 3 to 14, Army cadets undergo
platoon A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two or more squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 50 people, although specific platoons may range ...
and
section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sign ...
-level
infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine ...
training. At the end of the Service term, Army cadets will be attached to the various formations (e.g.
Armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
,
Artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, ...
,
Combat Engineers A combat engineer (also called pioneer or sapper) is a type of soldier who performs military engineering tasks in support of land forces combat operations. Combat engineers perform a variety of military engineering, tunnel and mine warfare tas ...
,
Infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine ...
,
Signals In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The ''IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing'' ...
) based on their preferences, performance during the Service Term, security clearance, among other criteria. During the Professional Term from weeks 15 to 35, Army cadets in Infantry remain in the SAFTI Military Institute for further training, while the rest go to various military schools (e.g. Artillery Institute, School of Armour, Signal Institute) to receive training specific to their formations. Cadets in the combat service support formations will attend the Support Officer Cadet Jungle Orientation Training course in Brunei before they report to their respective military schools. Cadets in Infantry will go on two overseas training courses during the Professional Term: the first is to either Taiwan or Thailand for general infantry training, and the second is to Brunei for the Jungle Confidence Course. Navy and Air Force cadets continue their training at the SAFTI Military Institute before they leave for further training at sea and Air Force Training Command respectively for the last six months of the Professional Term. All cadets attend the Joint Term at the SAFTI Military Institute in the last three weeks, during which they learn how the three service branches work with each other and rehearse for their Commissioning Parade. At the Commissioning Parade, the cadets receive their commissions with the rank of
Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
from either the
President of Singapore The president of Singapore is the head of state of the Republic of Singapore. The role of the president is to safeguard the reserves and the integrity of the public service. The presidency is largely ceremonial, with the Cabinet led by the pri ...
or a representative of the President, such as a
Cabinet Minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ‘prime minister’, ...
or
Minister of State Minister of State is a title borne by politicians in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a Minister of State is a Junior Minister of government, who is assigned to assist a specific Cabinet Minister. In ot ...
.


Rank insignia

Like commissioned officers and
warrant officer Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...
s, the cadets wear their rank insignia on chest straps on
combat uniform A combat uniform, also called field uniform, battledress or military fatigues, is a casual type of uniform used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for everyday fieldwork and combat duty purposes, as opposed to dress ...
s and shoulderboards on
full dress uniform Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is the most formal type of uniforms used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for official parades, ceremonies, and receptions, inclu ...
s. The insignia consists of one, two or three white bars denoting their seniority: Freshmen, Junior Bar, and Senior Bar cadets respectively. Senior cadets also have the privilege of taking on school-level appointments in deference to their seniority and course performance during their service term. The graduating class wears
peaked cap The peaked cap, peaked hat, service cap, barracks cover or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It ...
s instead of
beret A beret ( or ; ; eu, txapela, ) is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap, usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre. Mass production of berets began in 19th century France and Spain, and the beret rema ...
s. All cadets take on exercise and admin appointments to hone their leadership skills. Cadets who take on exercise appointments serve as appointment holders (e.g.
platoon commander {{unreferenced, date=February 2013 A platoon leader (NATO) or platoon commander (more common in Commonwealth militaries and the US Marine Corps) is the officer in charge of a platoon. This person is usually a junior officer – a second or first ...
,
platoon sergeant In many militaries, a platoon sergeant is the senior enlisted member of a platoon, who advises and supports the platoon's commanding officer in leading the unit. Singapore In the Singapore Armed Forces, a platoon sergeant serves as the bridge b ...
) during field exercises and wear orange-coloured rank insignia similar to that worn by their non-trainee counterparts. For example, the exercise platoon commander wears an orange rank insignia of a
Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...
while the exercise platoon sergeant wears an orange rank insignia of a First Sergeant. Cadets who take on admin appointments wear the white bar rank insignia with additional loops and whorls to denote their appointments, such as Cadet Platoon Commander and Cadet Platoon Sergeant. The cadets are evaluated on their performance while they are holding these exercise and admin appointments. Each wing's Wing Sergeant Major conducts a change-of-command parade whenever there is a change in appointment holder.


References

{{Authority control Military education and training in Singapore Naval academies Jurong West Educational institutions established in 1966