MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

The urgency over our defence build-up has lessened as we now have some defence capability. The emphasis must now be to train men to higher levels of competence, and among the regulars, to develop an increasing sense of professionalism. Further, the range, quality and intensity of training of technical and engineering personnel must be given the highest priority as a modern armed force uses weapons of great complexity and sophistication.

With proper selection of personnel, with improved systems of training, with a clear-cut policy of career development, we shall achieve quality in commanders and staff officers in whom we entrust so large a proportion of our young men. Then the prodigious effort and enormous sums of money we have put into defence would yield returns in security and stability which an efficient combat force of high discipline, morale and professional skill will provide.