Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship
Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship, abbreviated as SAFOS, is a scholarship issued by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The SAFOS is second in prestige to the President's Scholarship. 292 of such scholarships have been awarded as of the year 2013.
SAFOS scholars are groomed for the highest levels of command and management in the SAF and beyond. They generally do another post-graduate degree in Master of Business Administration or Master in Public Policy overseas in the middle of their careers to prepare themselves for appointments beyond the Singapore Armed Forces. Upon graduation, SAFOS scholars go through different tour of duty from other cadet officers.
Selection
The scholarship is awarded to outstanding officer cadets with excellent A level/IB results, impressive co-curricular activities and outstanding performance in Officer Cadet School. They are culled from the Scholar Delta Company in Singapore Armed Forces Officer Cadet School (Singapore).
After they are selected through rigorous rounds of interviews, scholars drop out from their course at the Officer Cadet School to begin their undergraduate studies overseas. Their overseas studies typically takes place in the United Kingdom or United States.
Past Recipients
- Lee Hsien Loong (3rd Prime Minister of Singapore)
- Lee Hsien Yang,
- George Yeo (former foreign minister of Singapore)
- Teo Chee Hean (Current Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore)
- Lim Hng Kiang
- Lim Swee Say
- Chan Chun Sing
- Tan Chuan Jin
- Peter Ho (former head of Singapore's civil service)
- Lee Seow Hiang (chief executive of Changi Airport Group)
References
1. Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the 2013 Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship Award Presentation Ceremony http://www.mindef.gov.sg/content/imindef/press_room/official_releases/sp/2013/29jul13_speech.html