SAF officer top foreign cadet at Sandhurst
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Queen Elizabeth and Junior Under Officer Abubakar bin Abdillah Alkatib
[photo by Mike Smith]
THE OVERSEAS SWORD, awarded to the Overseas Cadet considered by the Commandant to be the best of the intake, was presented to Junior Under Officer Abubakar bin Abdillah Alkatib of Singapore.
Junior Under Officer Abubakar bin Abdillah Alkatib grew up and went to school in Singapore. After leaving school he joined the Singapore Army, was selected to attend officer cadet school and was awarded the Silver Bayonet.
He has represented the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst at association football.
He hopes to join the Singapore Infantry.
AbubakarÂ’s father Abdillah was a Major in the Civil Defence Force and his mother, Zainah, teaches English.
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http://www.sandhurst.mod.uk/news/parades.htm -
joining infantry like a bit wasted?
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don't think he has much choices anyway...Originally posted by thoreldan:joining infantry like a bit wasted? -
He and one other officer graduated in the same batch.
Singapore, Abu Bakar Bin Abdillah Alkatib
Singapore, Ang Wee Kiat, Emerson -
Nice!
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In my eyes, a Sandhurst military education makes one a far better officer and soldier than reading engineering at MIT.
But it's a waste in the sense that most SAFOS scholars will take the COA/CDF posts. -
why do u call it a waste, the guy graduated frm sandhurst ma..Originally posted by LazerLordz:It's a waste. In my eyes, a Sandhurst military education makes one a far better officer and soldier than reading engineering at MIT.
I have a much higher level of respect if my commader came from a mil college rather than some scholar from a foreign uni. it shows, to me, a certain level of commitment and strong military affinity.
In fact, although it is not very feasible, I hope to one day see sg have such a similar concept.
As for joining Infantry, whilst it's true he does not have much options, i believe as long as one is commited, no matter what formation he's in. he will excel.
We might be looking at a future Malay BG here.
cheers -
lose to a gurl
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I'm saying it's a waste that Sandhurst graduates do not make it to Service Chief level, which are usually occupied by SAFOS scholars.Originally posted by sir sickolot II:why do u call it a waste, the guy graduated frm sandhurst ma..
I have a much higher level of respect if my commader came from a mil college rather than some scholar from a foreign uni. it shows, to me, a certain level of commitment and strong military affinity.
In fact, although it is not very feasible, I hope to one day see sg have such a similar concept.
As for joining Infantry, whilst it's true he does not have much options, i believe as long as one is commited, no matter what formation he's in. he will excel.
We might be looking at a future Malay BG here.
cheers
And I do agree with you totally, that military college graduates should get much more respect in the soldiering sense.
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That doesn't tally. OCS dun award bayonets.Originally posted by LazerLordz:was selected to attend officer cadet school and was awarded the Silver Bayonet. -
oh, ok. i get your point now.Originally posted by LazerLordz:I'm saying it's a waste that Sandhurst graduates do not make it to Service Chief level, which are usually occupied by SAFOS scholars.
And I do agree with you totally, that military college graduates should get much more respect in the soldiering sense.
However, I feel that these mil college trained officers, and to me they are more of a soldier than a scholar are better placed to be Commanders rather than Service Chiefs. To be directly in charge of men is a better honour than to plan in an Ops Hub.
As for the silver bayonet thing, maybe he was from SISPEC then he crossed over? -
I think he was a SISPEC crossover. And things do get mixed up, bearing in mind that the article was written by the UK MoD.Originally posted by sir sickolot II:oh, ok. i get your point now.
However, I feel that these mil college trained officers, and to me they are more of a soldier than a scholar are better placed to be Commanders rather than Service Chiefs. To be directly in charge of men is a better honour than to plan in an Ops Hub.
As for the silver bayonet thing, maybe he was from SISPEC then he crossed over? -
But frankly...I think the way of meritocracy doesn't really reflect itself here. Formation chiefs, service chiefs and CDF shouldn't always be SAFOS scholars. Coz they end up studying at MIT or some prestigious business school, and the ultimate aim for them is to move on to some govt. stat board or into politics. Personally feel that it is best to have someone whom is well schooled in a military academy makes a better wartime leader as he/she is able not only to make strategic assessments of the situation, but also tactical assessments which the PCs and COs of units have to make on the ground.
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HelloOriginally posted by SpecOps87:But frankly...I think the way of meritocracy doesn't really reflect itself here. Formation chiefs, service chiefs and CDF shouldn't always be SAFOS scholars. Coz they end up studying at MIT or some prestigious business school, and the ultimate aim for them is to move on to some govt. stat board or into politics. Personally feel that it is best to have someone whom is well schooled in a military academy makes a better wartime leader as he/she is able not only to make strategic assessments of the situation, but also tactical assessments which the PCs and COs of units have to make on the ground.
I sense that the majority of the opinion here feels that having SAF leaders undergo a military education is much better for the organisation than sending the scholars to Oxbridge or the Ivy League to study engineering or economics. I wish to offer some balance to the discussion. You need both kind of people to work in the organisation and perharps a more intellectual kind of approach would be more appropriate for senior management in the SAF. The reality is that modern warfighting demands a high level of intellect at a macro level. Things like operations research, planning sustainability requirement, the conceptualising and implementation of a network centric warfighting strategy are not things that Sandhurst or West Point would teach. You need creative leaders in this time of changes, people who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and able to find relations and applications for the SAF among the frantic developments outside the SAF. This may be a general statement but what would be more conducive to incubating such traits? The wild and bohemian nature of the MIT campus or the strict regimental nature of West Point? I am not disdaining the training one gets at Sandhurst or West Point. They are fulfilling what they do best - the training of junior leaders capable of leading their platoons and companies on the battlefield. However, to be in senior management demands much more rigourous intellectual training.....The SAF can teach you platoon and company warfighhting but finds it much more difficult to train the strategic and inquisitive thinkers that the SAF needs ... -
Yes, I do agree that we need creative leaders. But then again, SOPs and other rules exist for a reason. Frankly, in the Military, creativity is bound to the confines of such rules. And yes, I do agree that all organizations should have room for challenging the status quo, but ask yourself this, would you like someone to challenge status quo when you have to lead a platoon to take a hill or a company to clear a city block? Creativity is good, but we have to also be realistic about the limits to which it can happen. Not against creativity but I do believe that Sandhurst, West Point cadets are schooled to think out of the box but within the bounds of military SOPs and Rules of Engagement etc.Originally posted by solaris:The reality is that modern warfighting demands a high level of intellect at a macro level. Things like operations research, planning sustainability requirement, the conceptualising and implementation of a network centric warfighting strategy are not things that Sandhurst or West Point would teach. You need creative leaders in this time of changes, people who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and able to find relations and applications for the SAF among the frantic developments outside the SAF. -
I know this guy...
3/4 during Ex Starlight.. Attend B...
Fatigue party for most of the exercises...
dunno how he can still commission...
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i think i know him too .. from my sch last time
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secondary sch?Originally posted by Saint`:i think i know him too .. from my sch last time -
MJC .. unless i recognize wrong person
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Originally posted by SpecOps87:Yes, I do agree that we need creative leaders. But then again, SOPs and other rules exist for a reason. Frankly, in the Military, creativity is bound to the confines of such rules. And yes, I do agree that all organizations should have room for challenging the status quo, but ask yourself this, would you like someone to challenge status quo when you have to lead a platoon to take a hill or a company to clear a city block? Creativity is good, but we have to also be realistic about the limits to which it can happen. Not against creativity but I do believe that Sandhurst, West Point cadets are schooled to think out of the box but within the bounds of military SOPs and Rules of Engagement etc. so we need both then. Some officers who are educated at Oxbridge and the Ivies as well as some leaders who are educated at the West Points and Naval Academies. Thinkers to conceptualised and to plan, Warriors to lead and to fight. Neither one is better than the other but both need each other to achieve the synergy for the SAF. Anyway, how are SOPs and Rules of Engagement promulgated in the first place? They do not pop out of a vacuum....
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So, it is not about working hard. It is also about working smart.Originally posted by Master -_-:I know this guy...
3/4 during Ex Starlight.. Attend B...
Fatigue party for most of the exercises...
dunno how he can still commission... -
agreed and very insightful balance to this discussion.Originally posted by solaris:Hello
I sense that the majority of the opinion here feels that having SAF leaders undergo a military education is much better for the organisation than sending the scholars to Oxbridge or the Ivy League to study engineering or economics. I wish to offer some balance to the discussion. You need both kind of people to work in the organisation and perharps a more intellectual kind of approach would be more appropriate for senior management in the SAF. The reality is that modern warfighting demands a high level of intellect at a macro level. Things like operations research, planning sustainability requirement, the conceptualising and implementation of a network centric warfighting strategy are not things that Sandhurst or West Point would teach. You need creative leaders in this time of changes, people who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and able to find relations and applications for the SAF among the frantic developments outside the SAF. This may be a general statement but what would be more conducive to incubating such traits? The wild and bohemian nature of the MIT campus or the strict regimental nature of West Point? I am not disdaining the training one gets at Sandhurst or West Point. They are fulfilling what they do best - the training of junior leaders capable of leading their platoons and companies on the battlefield. However, to be in senior management demands much more rigourous intellectual training.....The SAF can teach you platoon and company warfighhting but finds it much more difficult to train the strategic and inquisitive thinkers that the SAF needs ...
I'm not putting down scholars with SAFOS or SAF SMS. In fact, I agree they should be holding key appointments in ops planning and future ops planning.
However, due to the inherent career path in the SAF, some mil college trained officers may not get a good career path. And thus why some good officers stay away from going to a mil school... because the chances, realistically speaking, are not as good as going to top universities worldwide under the more prestigious SAFOS or SMS.
Bottom line is I am for having Oxbridge or Ivy league scholars, for they too will wear green ( or blue or navy) and contribute to SAF, in their own capacity.
merry christmas -
Prince Williams and his gf, Kate Middleton, was the limelight of the ceremony
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OCS awards bayonets for best knowledge and other smaller awards.
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his my very good friend`s brother , very nice dude , quite soft spoken , his other brother is a law undergrad