The '3-second' legend

Actions
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/wcm/connect/pioneer/197d123e-9334-4f14-b706-8b0344a41cc1/09dec22_news1_thumbnaila.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_1QK41482LG0G10Q8NM8IUA1051-197d123e-9334-4f14-b706-8b0344a41cc1-ok45Jua /web/wcm/connect/pioneer/197d123e-9334-4f14-b706-8b0344a41cc1/09dec22_news1_thumbnaila.jpg?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE.Z18_1QK41482LG0G10Q8NM8IUA1051-197d123e-9334-4f14-b706-8b0344a41cc1-ok45Jua /web/portal/pioneer/article/regular-article-detail/community/2022-Q4/09dec22_news1
/web/portal/pioneer/article/regular-article-detail/community/2022-Q4/09dec22_news1
09dec22_news1
09 Dec 2022 | COMMUNITY

The '3-second' legend

Story by Koh Eng Beng

Photos by Chai Sian Liang and Courtesy of CFC (NS) Chua

English 华文

What unfinished business does CFC (NS) Johnathan Chua have in the Naval Diving Unit (NDU), and what exactly is the '3-second legend' of NDU-lore?

CFC (NS) Chua is the co-founder of GRVTY Media, a media company that houses popular channels such as Vulcan Post and the Daily Ketchup Podcast.

Midway through his Combat Diver Course, Corporal First Class (CFC) Johnathan Chua was unceremoniously put out of course. The reason? He clocked only 9:17 min for his 2.4km run – three seconds shy of the Commmando/Diver's Gold timing. (Those three seconds are now the stuff of NDU-lore; more on that later.)

This was in 2012. Going below 9:15 min for 2.4km run and scoring maximum points at every Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) station was one of the five key criteria that all trainees had to fulfill before they could graduate as combat divers in the Naval Diving Unit (NDU).

"I went back to my bunk and cried," said CFC Chua, then a Full-time National Serviceman (NSF).

He explained: "If I really wanted something and I worked really hard for it, I would always achieve it. And I really worked very hard in NDU; I always trained when I booked out on weekends but yet I still failed."

CFC (NS) Chua was given an honorary certificate for his efforts in the Combat Diver Course.

Unfinished business

Almost a decade later, he found himself back in NDU again – this time as a celebrity guest for the new reality TV show, CAMOKAKIS: Whole Lot Fall In. He joined local artistes and influencers to take on challenges that naval divers go through during training.

In episode 11 of CAMOKAKIS: Whole Lot Fall In, he teams up with actor-model Paul Foster (centre), and Singapore’s only female racing driver, Claire Jedrek (left).

It was a chance for the 32-year-old to finish his unfinished business in NDU. Can he complete the challenges – now that he is older and flabbier? (The six pack abs from his naval diving days are a distant memory.) Catch the series on Channel 5 or online at meWATCH to find out how he fared!

Nostalgic memories

CFC Chua said returning to NDU brought back fond memories. Some of his instructors were still in NDU and remembered him, and even the current NDU trainees had heard about him.

"Two of them asked me, 'Oh my god! Are you that three-second guy?" said CFC (NS) Chua.

Apparently, all these years, the instructors had been sharing his story with new trainees to spur them to train harder.

CFC (NS) Chua was evidently fit during his NDU days.
CFC (NS) Chua (centre) with his bunk mates from NDU.

Looking back at his NSF days, CFC (NS) Chua said he was really upset about being dropped from NDU. "My instructor even gave me 'compassionate' days off (to grieve)," he said with a laugh.

He eventually shrugged off the disappointment, and continued to serve with conviction in his new role as a weapon systems specialist on frigate RSS Tenacious.

He was given the NSF of the Year award in 2013 for his excellent NS performance.

"When I was posted to the ship I was very keen to learn. I didn't want to waste my entire NS experience," said CFC Chua. He was trained to load the A-Gun and conduct flight deck operations, among other tasks.

CFC (NS) Chua (right) with the cast of The Daily Ketchup Podcast. -- Photo: @TheDailyKetchupPodcast/YouTube

Gritty entrepreneur

His grit would serve him well in his entrepreneurship journey. In 2017, he co-founded GRVTY Media, a digital company that houses popular channels such as Vulcan Post, Millennials of Singapore (MOSG), and The Daily Ketchup Podcast.

Together with his co-founder Mr Jacky Yap, he led the company to survive the economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. It even managed to pay out a small bonus to its staff.

"It was bad times like this that people needed the bonus most, not during the good times," said CFC (NS) Chua. "They were worried about whether they'd still have a job, whether their parents would lose their jobs."

GRVTY Media, which is also a creative agency, now serves big-name corporate clients as well as various government agencies. And earlier in June this year, Towerhill, the investment firm of Kiat Lim, son of billionaire Peter Lim, acquired a majority stake of the company for an undisclosed sum.

What motivated CFC (NS) Chua to do well was his 45-strong staff.

"I didn't want to let them down. I know how talented they are; they can easily find a job elsewhere and earn more money but they chose to hustle with me," he said.

Catch CAMOKAKIS: Whole Lot Fall In on Channel 5 and online on meWATCH.

Suggested Reading
Two new female combat divers join NDU's ranks
Cover story
Two new female combat divers join NDU's ranks
PEOPLE
21-Mar-24

To hell (week) and back: Buddies through the gruelling Combat Diver Course, CPT Jhosy Ng and CPT Angelia Tan spurred each other on to graduate together as elite naval divers.

She walked so others could run Feature
She walked so others could run
MILESTONES
08-Mar-24

This International Women's Day, we look at 10 inspiring servicewomen who stepped up to be the first in their fields.

Naval divers' trivia face-off
Cover story
Naval divers' trivia face-off
COMMUNITY
15-Nov-23

It's a battle of brains vs brawn between these naval divers.

Navy@Vivo returns, bigger & better!
Navy@Vivo returns, bigger & better!
COMMUNITY
16-Oct-23

Hands up if you miss Navy@Vivo.

Dad bod? No way!
Cover story
Dad bod? No way!
PEOPLE
27-Jan-23

ME3 Joseph Ng plays sports with his sons every weekend to maintain his fitness and avoid getting a "dad bod". That’s what has helped him score full marks for IPPT in the past two years!

Putting in the work for a 100-point IPPT Feature
Putting in the work for a 100-point IPPT
PEOPLE
16-Jan-23

Even before joining the Army, LTA Muhammad Irfan had already set his sights on getting full marks for his IPPT.

Swimming his way to 100 points
Cover story
Swimming his way to 100 points
PEOPLE
09-Jan-23

Ex-competitive swimmer 2LT Tey Yi Jun scored a full 100 points for IPPT when he took it for the first time during BMT, and has since maintained this record – for seven more times.

She's a diver-doctor in NDU
Cover story
She's a diver-doctor in NDU
PEOPLE
20-Dec-22

She is the first Singaporean woman to undergo the gruelling US Navy Diving Medical Officers' Course. Meet CPT (Dr) Chiew Wenqi, the formation medical officer of the Naval Diving Unit (NDU). Here's five things you need to know about her:

The secret to scoring 100 points? My dog
Cover story
The secret to scoring 100 points? My dog
PEOPLE
26-Oct-22

LTA Felicia Yap has been scoring 100 points for IPPT for four consecutive years. Find out how she does it, in the third of our 100-pointer IPPT series.