SINGAPORE: The President’s office has appointed four full-time aides-de-camp for the first time, instead of three or fewer in previous years. This move comes as the workload of full-time ADCs and volunteer ADCs “is expected to continue to be heavy for the year ahead”, the Istana told The Straits Times. The ADC nomination ceremony and appreciation dinner will be held on May 27 at the Istana.
Continuity Amidst Leadership Change
The Istana further said that the number of events the ADC Corps is expected to support also continues to fluctuate.
The Istana was responding to ST’s questions on whether the pace would accelerate, as 2024 marked the first time in 20 years that Singapore saw a change of leadership at the head of government level.
Roles and Responsibilities of ADCs
ADCs, picked from among the best officers in the uniformed services, are responsible for the coordination, planning, execution and monitoring of presidential events, both locally and overseas.
They also ensure that locally and internationally recognized protocol practices are followed at all times, including attending the guests, such as foreign heads of state, during their official visits.
Honorary ADCs support them. They are officers who retain their primary role in their uniformed services but, in addition to these roles, assist the President at receptions and events.
However, for the 2024/2025 working year, the number of volunteer ADCs remains unchanged at 103. Of these, 16 are new and the rest have been reappointed.
Recognition and Appreciation
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said at the appreciation dinner on May 27 that it is the people of the Istana, i.e. the ADCs, who make the historic events that took place at the majestic building memorable.
“Often working behind the scenes with precision, our ADCs’ efforts are critical, even if they may not always be noticed,” Mr Tharman added.
Major Fung Ka Kin, 34, is one of the four full-time ADCs and the first Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer to be assigned the role. He was most recently the commander of Paya Lebar fire station.
Before Major Fung, the appointments, made after several rounds of selection culminating in an interview with the President’s Office, had been awarded to officers from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) or the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
