National Service (NS) has a different meaning to different people. My own experience was moulded by luck, effort, and the people around me.

I enlisted on 8 Apr 2017 and was classified PES C due to an injury I sustained just a year before my enlistment. After Basic Military Training, I was posted to Air Force Training Command (AFTC) to undergo the Air Force Technician Flight Line Crew Rotary Wing Course. This was where I learnt the fundamentals in aviation engineering, specifically for helicopters. Soon after graduating, I was assigned to 120 SQN - home of the Redhawks and the AH-64D Apache Attack Helicopters.

My work at 120 SQN included aircraft servicing, refuelling and marshalling, amongst other duties. Learning the ropes while I was still green as grass was not easy, and it was overwhelming working on the aircraft initially. One problem I faced was identifying the specific aircraft components for inspection. 

However, with the guidance from my training instructors, support from my batchmates, senior NSFs, and my own initiatives, I managed to gain the required knowledge along the way to overcome these hurdles.

Working in this SQN has proved to be very rewarding for those with a positive attitude and perseverance towards their work. For instance, my fellow NSFs and I had the opportunity to participate in the Singapore Airshow 2018, where we had the opportunity to showcase the Apache to the public. 

It was a good experience for me to develop my confidence and to test my knowledge of the aircraft I worked on daily. Coincidentally, I remember visiting the Singapore Airshow when I was younger and being captivated by the Apache, and now I am part of the team that gets to maintain it!

During my service, I was also involved in many standby duties for various national events. While on duty, we will prepare the aircraft so that it is ready for launch at a moment’s notice. One very memorable event was the DPRK-US Singapore Summit in 2018. We were on standby 24/7 and always on alert in the SQN, while watching the whole summit unfold on television. Through this event, we had a better appreciation for our role in deterring potential aggressors. 

Though the work was tough, we were glad to receive recognition for our efforts. It was through times like this that everyone in the SQN learnt to trust in each other’s abilities and knowledge to get the job done. There was no better situation that exemplifies our professionalism.

In Sep 18, a group of my fellow NSFs and I had the opportunity to participate in Exercise Wallaby in Australia. The exercise really pushed us to realise our utmost potential as Air Force Technicians. The main highlight of the exercise was the period we spent operating outfield, where we had to perform our duties in a foreign environment for the first time. Through this exercise, we became more independent and adaptable. It made me more grateful for the constant comfort and support that I have from my family back in Singapore, and a determination to step out of my comfort zones when required.

I am definitely grateful for the many opportunities this SQN has provided me, as well as for the people I’ve met along the way. My greatest advice for future NSFs, no matter your vocation, is that you should take your time in service to discover who you truly are and what you are capable of. Always strive to do your best, and your journey will be a fruitful one wherever you are and whatever you do.