Those were _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ times
As we celebrate 50 years of National Service (NS), here's a look at what five Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) have to say about their experiences.// STORY Teo Jing Ting
// PHOTOS Teo Jing Ting, PIONEER Photographers & Courtesy of Mediacorp & Interviewees
Fifty years may not be a long time for most countries, but to a nation with only 52 years of history, it is a huge deal.
From the time when the first batch of NSmen was called up to today when we have a strong citizen army, NS has come a long way. Many stories have been told, many tales shared, and NS has become a treasure trove of memories that is passed from one generation to the next. A rite of passage every Singaporean male has to go through that also bonds them together for life as comrades, buddies and brothers in arms.
To commemorate NS50, a series of activities has been lined up, including a television series entitled When Duty Calls. Produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), this Mediacorp production, which features celebrities such as Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan, Shane Pow, Felicia Chin and Paige Chua, will be aired on Channel 8 from 31 Jul.
Here at PIONEER, we're marking NS50 with stories of unforgettable NS experiences.
SWEET RED BERET O' MINE
He may be a familiar face on local television, but did you know that actor Desmond Tan almost signed on with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) as a fighter pilot?
Even though he was posted to the Commandos, he was still adamant about becoming a pilot. That is, until he fell in love with the esprit de corps of the red beret formation and decided to forgo the pilot selection interview.
"I miss almost all of my Commando days," said the 31-year-old. "I really feel that the Commando formation is a house of excellence and champions. The mentality there is about winning and excelling in everything that we do, and it pushed me to limits that I never thought I could break."
All the tough training and overseas exercises Mr Tan went through became stepping stones to a strong mind and self-confidence. With the high physical and mental endurance he picked up during his NS days, he was able to stay sharp even after long hours of filming.
A love of fitness and extreme sports also helped fuel his passion for being in the elite unit. The former Officer Commanding (OC) from the Commandos counts the airborne jump as one of his most unforgettable experiences.
Gushing excitedly like a little boy, he recounted memories of his first jump: "The first time the (helicopter) door opened, I was speechless. It felt unbelievable as we had been training on the ground for ages and this was the moment that we were all waiting for."
Pausing to revel in the sweet memory of free-gliding, Mr Tan added: "At that instant, I realised that our training may have been tough, but it's all meaningful in the end."
"I realised that our training may have been tough, but it's all meaningful in the end."
MY CSM, MY BUDDIES AND ME
The same passion for fitness and love for the SAF is shared by 1st Sergeant (NS) Loke Jun Guang, the on-screen character he plays in When Duty Calls. The only difference? Mr Tan, who held a Captain rank during his NS days, now plays an NSman specialist.
Calling it his greatest challenge, he revealed that he studied his Company Sergeant Major (CSM) in order to portray the role accurately. With a laugh, he said: "I even told my CSM that I was portraying him in the show!"
Taking on this role also shed light on the responsibilities of a sergeant and, in turn, gave Mr Tan a deeper appreciation of his CSM.
"My buddies and I often joked that because our CSM is around, we always assume that all we have to do is to plan well and he will take care of everything else. Now that I'm playing this character, I appreciate him so much more -- he's the gel between the officers and the men."
Even though he has completed his In-Camp Training (ICT), there is nary a time that the actor does not miss his army mates. It may have been 10 years, but he and his men still exchange messages as if they enlisted yesterday.
"I hope that when this drama airs, it will remind them that this was the guy who used to go through thick and thin with them," said Mr Tan. "And for the rest of the audience, to bring back good memories of their time in ICT and that they'll reminisce with their buddies."
PILOTING NEW VOYAGES
Back in 2015, Military Expert (ME) 4 (NS) Melvinder Singh Dadwall completed his Operationally Ready NS cycle. Instead of taking a back seat, he chose to go the extra mile by taking up a course to become a senior ME.
In November that year, the then-40-year-old graduated among the first batch of NSmen under the Expertise Conversion Scheme. This scheme allows NSmen to contribute their civilian expertise and continue their NS commitments by enhancing operational capabilities in areas identified by the SAF.
Two years on, the 42-year-old is the Commanding Officer (CO) of a merchant ship in the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) civil resource squadrons -- 192 and 193 Squadrons (SQNs) -- and has no regrets about extending his service.
"Who better than us to do it?" said ME4 (NS) Singh. "In this squadron, a lot of people are volunteers, and all the COs are still volunteering even after hitting age 50."
His role as a harbour pilot with PSA Marine (Pte) Ltd involves guiding ships to the berths, terminals or anchorages within Singapore port waters. It is a specialised skill and there are only 280 harbour pilots in the nation.
Having been with the company for 13 years, his merchant marine experience is a valuable asset to the RSN. Each time he goes back for ICT, ME4 (NS) Singh brings his entire team up to speed on the various aspects of ship handling, navigation and firefighting on a merchant ship.
"These NSmen may have the fundamental skills and knowledge of serving on board a Navy ship, but the structure of a merchant vessel is very different from the military's," he explained.
He added that it is the responsibility of the four merchant mariners -- the CO, chief mate, chief engineer and engineer -- to train the crew in navigation, communications and gunnery. At the end of the three-week ICT, the team must be operationally ready.
OVERCOMING ROUGH TIDES
While he enjoys training his team, ME4 (NS) Singh admitted that he sometimes encounters those who turn up unwillingly for ICT.
To motivate them, he and his team employ various methods, such as putting them in charge of projects to give them a greater sense of responsibility. Dealing with people is never easy and ME4 (NS) Singh said that he picked up people management skills from his merchant mariner days when he had to sail for six months at a time.
"The crew is going to be your family for the next six months. So if you have any issues, you better resolve them because you're going to see them every single day," he said with a laugh.
SAILING AHEAD
To prove how serious he was about NS, the father-of-one had his Physical Employment Standard (PES) reviewed in order to sail. He is now a combat-fit PES B, has achieved Gold in his Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) for the past three years, and plans to continue to volunteer till the doctors say that he can no longer do so.
With a chuckle, he said: "When I go back (for ICT) and my team see my gold badge, they cannot run. Because if the CO is doing it, they will have to try their best to pass their IPPT too!"
His advice to the younger generation of NSmen? To bear arms and defend the nation because no one else will.
"Singapore is all we've got; defend it with your life and protect the soil for the future generation. If you can see what society has done for you and you want to give back to society, this is the greatest avenue you have." The man is certainly walking the talk.
YESTERYEAR ONCE MORE
How would you feel about going through the same rite of passage twice in the short span of one year?
Lieutenant (LTA) (NS) Richie Koh didn't mind at all. In fact, going back to Pulau Tekong brought back so many memories of his NS days that he even contacted his squadron to ask when he was going back for ICT!
The Air Warfare Officer (Command, Control and Communication), or AWO (C3), from the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) 206 SQN completed his full-time NS in June 2016. Just a couple of months later, the 24-year-old took the plunge to play a Full-time National Serviceman (NSF) in When Duty Calls.
LTA (NS) Koh explained that his on-screen character, 20-year-old officer cadet Loke Xian Feng, transforms from a mummy's boy to a confident man after enlisting. Xian Feng eventually signs on as a C3 officer, much to the chagrin of his mother, played by actress Kym Ng. The storyline then follows how he takes charge of his life and convinces his mother about his decision.
"I thought I could get off easy during NS... But it was a blessing in disguise to learn so much about the Air Force."
GOOD OL'DAYS
Their personalities may be as different as chalk and cheese, but LTA (NS) Koh revealed that just like Xian Feng, he is very close to his family. This realisation only hit him when he enlisted in 2014.
"I used to take things for granted and I did not really treasure the times I had with my parents. It was only when I went through BMT (Basic Military Training) that I started to miss having dinner with them," said LTA (NS) Koh.
Being deployed in the RSAF came as a shock to the fresh-faced actor when he realised how much he had to study about Singapore's airspace and helicopters. But the Ngee Ann Polytechnic alumnus took it in his stride and started to enjoy learning about tower control.
"I don't like to study and I thought I could get off easy during NS," admitted LTA (NS) Koh. "But it was a blessing in disguise to learn so much more about the Air Force. Not every NSF gets a chance to learn about controlling, so it was a really rare opportunity."
WORK HARD, PLAY HARD
As a ground controller, LTA (NS) Koh had to clear paths for both ground vehicles and helicopters, especially when the latter was due for take-off. Every instruction had to be clear and there was no room for mistakes.
"We are trained to look, listen and speak at the same time, as we often had to catch keywords from all communicating parties, even at our busiest moments. So now, even when I'm talking, I can actually catch what someone else is saying," he said with a laugh.
That aside, what LTA (NS) Koh really enjoyed about NS were the Air Force culture and bonding during cohesion sessions. "The Air Force works you really hard, but when it's time to relax, you really let your hair down," he fondly recalled.
"During cohesion sessions, the ranks are no longer there and you can speak to your CO or base commander as though they were your father or uncle." Just like how filming for When Duty Calls evoked nostalgic memories of his NS days, LTA (NS) Koh hopes that the show will do the same for viewers. He may not have been attached during NS, but the actor revealed that he had seen his fellow recruits go through painful breakups and wishes that girlfriends of recruits would be more understanding towards them after watching the show.
Said LTA (NS) Koh: "Be a little more understanding towards your boyfriends. I know it's not easy, but if you hold your words a minute or two, it can make all the difference." Girlfriends, are you listening?
WHEN DUTY CALLS
31 Jul to 25 Aug | Channel 8, 9pm
Synopsis: The 20-episode drama follows the lives of three NSmen (played by Desmond Tan, Romeo Tan and Pierre Png) from the 797th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment and two NSFs (played by Shane Pow and Richie Koh). While the NSmen juggle work commitments, NS training and love, the NSFs become friends despite being love rivals. Watch how they eventually put aside their differences to defend Singapore during crunch time!
DOCTOR WITH A MISSION
When a tsunami hit the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia in 2004, Major (MAJ) (NS) (Dr) Saiful Nizam Bin Subari wanted to help out in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
As he was a Medical Officer (MO) at the SAF Infantry Training Institute then, he sought his commander's permission before joining Mercy Relief, an independent disaster relief agency, in their HADR efforts.
In Indonesia, he encountered a child who had a possible case of diphtheria -- a bacterial infection that affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. This was shocking to him because such diseases were not found here, due to early vaccinations.
Recalling the incident, MAJ (NS) (Dr) Saiful said: "These experiences made me appreciate the good vaccination programme we have (in Singapore)."
The tsunami incident fuelled his passion for more HADR missions and he became very involved in the local disaster response scene. The following year, he went to Nias in Sumatra with Mercy Relief after a devastating earthquake. He has since gone on seven such missions.
SKILLS OF THE FIELD
As a seasoned HADR volunteer, the 40-year-old revealed that a lot of careful planning needs to be done before every mission, and he credited the SAF for building up his people and organisation skills.
"In the Army, you have to work together as a team and understand the mission. It's all about people skills -- how you deal with people from different establishments and ranks, and how you approach them," said MAJ (NS) (Dr) Saiful.
Even as an NSF, he volunteered to be posted overseas as a medical centre MO in 2003 because he wanted to take on new challenges.
"The six-month posting taught me how to handle situations as I was the only MO there. Sometimes it was difficult to diagnose the symptoms, so I had to talk to the patients in order to find out what and why they did certain things. These (experiences) have helped me a lot in my career as a doctor."
A Brigade MO from 9th Singapore Division, MAJ (NS) (Dr) Saiful is in charge of the health of the whole brigade, from medical operations to planning.
The father-of-three has not missed an ICT session, and values NS so much that he extended his service in 2015 because he enjoys the camaraderie and learning new things.
"NS is an experience that changes your life, so look at things in a positive manner and try to learn as much as you can from every challenge that you face."
POWERFUL EXPERIENCE
When Corporal (CPL) (NS) Shane Pow received news that he was playing a Navy officer in When Duty Calls, he was ecstatic. Simply because the RSN was the only Service he had not had the opportunity to experience -- till now.
As 20-year-old Yeoh Wei Guo, CPL (NS) Pow's character experiences an inward transformation -- from a reluctant recruit to a garang (Malay for enthusiastic) officer.
"Wei Guo's a Singaporean who lives in Australia and has to return to serve his NS. He is very unhappy about it, so he becomes a sabo (Malay for playing pranks) king and does not get along well with his BMT mates," explained CPL (NS) Pow, a signal operator from the RSAF's 606 SQN.
"But he soon realises the importance of NS when he is posted to the midshipman course in the Navy, and this is a story of how he matures."
THE SHIP LIFE
The 27-year-old actor may not have spent much time on board the RSN's Landing Ship Tank (LST) RSS Endurance (where most of his Navy scenes took place), but he certainly learnt a lot about the Navy and its culture during filming.
one, the lingo on the ship took getting used to. On the ship, the toilet is called the "head" and the kitchen is the "galley". CPL (NS) Pow even bumped his head when getting up from his bed because he forgot how low the bunks were in the cabin.
His most memorable scene? Firing the anti-aircraft gun in the ship's Combat Information Centre with full anti-flash gear on. He was careful to always double-check terms with Navy Regulars in the scene to avoid giving the wrong commands.
Said CPL (NS) Pow: "I have a lot of friends in the Navy who tell me all about their lives on board a ship, but I could never really understand it. Now I feel privileged because we filmed in places only accessible to personnel in the Navy."
Stepping back onto Pulau Tekong as an NSman also brought back many memories. What made his NS experience unforgettable were the friendships he made.
He had a very close group of friends while training as a signal operator in Stagmont Camp, and they still keep in touch today.
"If you don't have friends during NS (like my character), it's terrible because they are all you have. It's the brotherhood and bonds forged that keep you going during the tough times."
"It's the brotherhood and bonds forged that keep you going during the tough times in NS."
WE KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE
NS also gave him a sense of discipline -- from small things like making his bed to bigger ones such as controlling his temper. The latter is an important quality that helps him in his work even today.
"As an actor, there are a lot of things which are not within my control, such as negative comments on social media. If I cannot control my temper and take these criticisms personally, it would be very difficult for me to carry on."
When asked whether the NSmen of today would be up to task to defend Singapore, he replied with a confident "yes". He added that going back for ICT is crucial as it keeps NSmen updated on the latest weapon systems, maintains their state of readiness, and reminds them of the need to serve.
"Nobody is going to help us, we have to help ourselves," he said.
"We know what is at stake. Singapore may be small, but we are always ready."
NS50 HIGHLIGHTS
• 29 Jul - 6 Aug
Commemorating NS50 through the Get Active! festival
Singaporeans can redeem a limited-edition NS50 souvenir when they clock a total of 50,000 steps on the Active SG App.
• 30 Jul - 13 Aug
Singapore Art Society Art Exhibition at Suntec Exhibition Centre
Showcasing special NS moments through art is what 60 artists from the Singapore Art Society have set out to do. Through various art mediums like drawing, painting, sketches and calligraphy, these NS moments will be displayed at the Suntec Exhibition Centre during NS50 week.
• 1 - 10 Aug
NS50 promotions
Retailers and merchants offering NS50 promotions will put on the NS50 badge as a show of support and appreciation for national servicemen.
• 4 - 6 Aug
PlayLAH! Let's Celebrate!
Organised by Singapore EXPO, PlayLAH! Let's Celebrate! is an integrated experiential event for Singaporeans of all ages and interests. Visitors will be able to pledge their support for NS at the LEARN zone, held at Singapore EXPO Hall 5.
• 5 Aug
NS50 Picnic
Held at the Singapore Discovery Centre, the Families-for-Life NS50 Picnic is a fun-filled event for families to spend time and commemorate NS50 together.
• 5 - 6 Aug
NS50 Carnival
"Get Active and Celebrate NS50!" at Toa Payoh HDB Hub In collaboration with ActiveSG, the NS50 Carnival will feature family-friendly activities that encourage a healthy and active lifestyle among national servicemen and their families.
• 6 Aug
Taman Jurong -- People's Association NS50 Commemoration
As part of its National Day Observance Ceremony; Taman Jurong will be commemorating NS50 with a heritage mark for the site at which the 3rd and 4th Battalions, Singapore Infantry Regiment were first established.
• 9 Aug
NS50 Moment at National Day Parade
This year's National Day Parade will pay tribute to national servicemen in the Parade and Ceremony segment.
• 10 Aug
Army Daze 2 musical
National servicemen will enjoy special promotion rates for the 10 Aug run of the musical.
