SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces is promoting 464 officers with effect from July 1. They include regulars and Operationally-Ready National Servicemen from the Army, Navy and Air Force. Those promoted to the ranks of Colonel and above received their certificates from Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean at a ceremony on Thursday evening. Among the five colonels who were promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General or Rear-Admiral (One-Star) this year was the first Malay general, Colonel Ishak Ismail, who is Commander of the 6th Singapore Division. The others include Commander, Air Defence and Operations Command, COL Kwek Kok Kwong; Head, Joint Communications and Information Systems Department, COL Lee Shiang Long; Chief of Medical Corps, COL (Dr) Seet Hun Yew Benjamin; and Commander, Maritime Security Task Force, COL Tan Wee Beng. Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Desmond Kuek, gave out certificates to those promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. Mindef said the promotion exercise reflects the importance it places on rewarding and grooming officers who have performed well and who show potential and commitment to hold key leadership roles in the SAF.

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