Two officers and nine officer cadets have been awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship (SMS) this year. Among them were four female officer cadets.  Five candidates were also conferred the Defence Merit Scholarship (DMS). The Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean presented all the sixteen scholars with their Certificates of Awards at Temasek Club today. The nine officer cadets were also presented with their ceremonial swords.

2.         Four of the SMS recipients are from the Army, four are from the Republic of Singapore Navy and three from the Republic of Singapore Air Force. All the SMS and the DMS scholars will pursue their tertiary education in the United States and the United Kingdom. These scholars have demonstrated both academic excellence and dynamic leadership abilities. For the SMS scholars, they join the ranks of 271 before them while the DMS scholars join five others since the inception of DMS in 2002. The stringent selection for the SMS and the DMS ensures that the Ministry attracts the best talents for the organisation.

3.         Both the SMS and the DMS scholars will be put through a meticulous grooming and development programme to help them realise their full potential. With the wide range of jobs at the senior level available in MINDEF and the SAF, the SMS and the DMS scholars can look forward to a rewarding and challenging career, one that will give them excellent exposure and opportunities to develop their competency profile and personal worth.

4.            Witnessing the presentation ceremony this morning were senior officials from MINDEF and the SAF as well as parents and Junior College principals of this year’s SAF Merit Scholars and Defence Merit Scholars.

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Minister for Defence, Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean (L), congratulates Lieutanent (LTA) Teo Swee Pieu, one of 11 recipients of the SAF Merit Scholarship. In the background are ten other SAF Merit Scholars and five Defence Merit Scholars.