Finish the 2.4km run behind her and you can forget about getting Gold for your Individual Physical Proficiency Test. Captain (CPT) Katie Lin's personal best of 9min42s - a shade faster than the men's timing for Gold - was the standard for guys to beat during her midshipman days.
But while fitness is never a problem, she sheepishly admitted that her poor sense of direction caused her quite a few headaches when she was learning to navigate a ship. "I can even get lost driving on the roads. Imagine navigating in the open sea where there are no lanes or signs - that's hard!"
But she overcame her weakness through plenty of hard practice, and became the Assistant Navigating Officer of missile corvette RSS Valiant. Early this year, she became a New Media Engagement Officer with the Navy Information Centre. And in October, she started her new role as a staff officer in Joint Operations Department.
Wherever she goes, the sporty 25-year-old, who has a degree in psychology and a master's in counselling from the University of Pennsylvania, makes it a point to spend time interacting with her men. "When I manage to inspire them even just a little bit, it gives me a sense of satisfaction."
Find out more on CPT Lin in the iPad edition of PIONEER!
