He was there as the reviewing officer presiding over the commissioning parade for new Singapore Armed Forces officers yesterday.
He was also there as a proud parent.
And once his official duties were over, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean joined hundreds of other parents in congratulating their sons' on their achievements.
Mr Teo's son, Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) Teo Eng Siang, was among the 504 graduating cadets who received their commissions yesterday, in a ceremony that is held four times a year after 38 weeks of rigorous training.
Mr Teo was not the only Cabinet member at Saturday's parade at Safti Military Institute in Jurong.
Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Swee Say were also there.