A serving couple from Singapore have capped an exceptional year at the Defence Academy, graduating from the Advanced Command and Staff Course (ACSC).
Lieutenant Colonel Jek-Kai Tan of the Singapore Army, and Lieutenant Colonel Cristal-Anne Low of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, were among an international cohort representing almost 50 nations which completed the Defence Academy’s flagship course.
Lt Col Tan was one of only 10 officers awarded a Director Joint Services Command and Staff College (JSCSC) Commendation. Presented by the Commandant and Chief Executive of the Defence Academy, Major General Peter Rowell, the award recognised Lt Col Tan’s outstanding contributions to ACSC activities and his role as the international course member lead.
Meanwhile, Lt Col Low was named joint winner of the Andover Prize for the Best Defence Research Paper by an International Course Member, one of the course’s most academically prestigious awards. Winners receive a silver model of an Andover aircraft, retained at the College, together with a one-year subscription to the Royal United Services Institute.
The couple, who first met as students before reconnecting while studying in London, described their selection to attend ACSC together as a rare privilege:
“We were especially grateful to have been selected concurrently, as it gave us the rare opportunity to serve, learn and live abroad together.”
Their shared experience extended beyond the classroom. Living within the international ACSC community allowed them to build friendships with military professionals from around the world.
“We were able to form friendships with our fellow course members which we hope to maintain even after the course,” said Lt Col Low, describing the close-knit international community as a “home away from home.”
Lt Col Tan, who served as lead international course member representing 98 international officers from 46 countries, highlighted the enduring value of these relationships:
“These relationships and understanding of each other’s perspectives, I believe, will be valuable as our nations collectively navigate a world that is becoming increasingly complex and ambiguous.”
At the conclusion of the course, both officers were also presented with the Defence Academy’s Cormorant Pin, a bronze badge awarded exclusively to international graduates. Presented by Margorie Glasgow, BEM, Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, the pin signifies successful completion of ACSC and symbolises the lasting bonds formed between the Defence Academy and its international partners. The badge stands as a visible reminder of the global network of defence leaders developed through the programme.
Reflecting on their experience, Lt Cols Tan and Low said studying alongside officers from around the world broadened their understanding of global security issues and different national perspectives. Their success, and the honours they received, underscore the significance of the Defence Academy’s international professional defence and security education in developing trusted relationships, intellectual agility, and future leaders capable of addressing increasingly complex global challenges.
ACSC prepares future military and government leaders for senior appointments through advanced study of strategy, leadership, defence management, and contemporary security challenges.