Page 20 - MustangEbook

As works began on a permanent home for MI was then known as the SAF Training
SAFTI at Pasir Laba, the first batch of 300 Institute or SAFETY and was originally
recruits arrived at the Institute on 1 June 1966. housed in Jurong Primary School.
Immediately after Singapore gained
A fee special-to-arms training schools also independence, one of the most compelling
had their beginnings in SAFTI. These include tasks faced by our leaders was to build a
schools, Artillery, Engineers, Armour, credible armed force. Hence, the primary aim
Signals, Infantry Weapons and Military of SAFTI was to train officers and Non-
Medicine.

Commissioned officers (NCOs or Specialists
OFFICER CADET SCHOOL (OCS) – as they are known today) to lead then infant
FIRST INTAKE OF OFFICER CADETS SAF.

To attract the best of the nation’s youth to
join, the Ministry of Defence mounted a
massive recruitment campaign in May 1966.
The response was overwhelming with some
2500 young men applying. Of these, 500 were
shortlisted and called up for selection. The

Applicants were required to sit for an IQ test. selection process was rigorous and thorough
and included written tests, IQ tests, interviews
The Officer Cadet School (OCS) is widely and physical fitness tests. The process was
known among Singaporeans and is often meticulous to sieve out those with the
associated with prestige and leadership. necessary mental attributes, physical
Graduands of OCS have every reason to feel endurance and determination to qualify for
immeasurable pride with having completed OCS. Such were the high expectations of the
nearly a year of intensive and often gruelling officer cadet course! On 1 June 1966, the first
physical training as well as mental and intake of officer cadets was received into
psychological testing to become the future SAFTI.
leaders of the Singapore Armed Forces.
Today, the spirit of Officer Cadet training
remains unwavering in its primary aim to
produce future leaders for the SAF. Emphasis
is placed on technical knowledge and its
application; physical aptitude including
physical fitness, dexterity with weapons,
alertness, and combat skills; and the spiritual
foundation that will prevail over the trials in
the battlefield. Officer Cadet training is as

The arrival of the first batch of recruits on June 1,
June 1966

Today, officer cadet training is located at the
SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI) in
Jurong. Established in February 1996, SAFTI