RSAF pilot bags top student award at Indian military college

He is the third Singapore Armed Forces officer to receive the Southern Star Medal

- Kolette Lim

Major C. Teeneshwaran is in his element in the sky. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilot has been flying the C-130 aircraft for 15 years and knows its controls, throttle and the low humming of its engines like the back of his hand.

So when he was grounded for 10 months during a military staff course in India, spending most of his time in lecture halls instead of cockpits, there were many times the 36-year-old felt out of his depth.

"It was academically very rigorous and demanding," said MAJ Teeneshwaran of his time in Wellington, Tamil Nadu. "Adding on to the need to adapt to a learning environment and the pressure to perform among a diverse group of international peers... I had to maintain a positive and resilient attitude." He started attending the 79th Staff Course from June 5, 2023, at the Defence Services Staff College, one of India's oldest military institutions.

At a convocation ceremony on April 13, MAJ Teeneshwaran was awarded the Southern Star Medal, which is presented to the best international student officer. A total of 36 international student officers from 27 nations took part in the course.

He is the third Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officer to receive the Southern Star Medal. Typically, one SAF officer attends the course each year, but it is unclear when officers from Singapore first participated.

The honour caught him off guard, said MAJ Teeneshwaran, who was in the middle of a conversation when his name was announced.

"I just focused on doing everything well," he said of his time in India. "I made sure to do my best and give my 100 per cent for every assignment and, thankfully, that led to me emerging as the top student.