Meet Our National Day Awards Investiture Recipients

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Meet Our National Day Awards Investiture Recipients

Recently, we had the opportunity to (virtually) speak to two of our NSmen, LTC(NS) (DR) Chew Ee Ming, Darryl and LTC(NS) Lim Kheng Choon to understand a little more about their experience in the RSAF and how they feel about receiving the Commendation Medal (Military) at the National Day Award Investiture 2022!

Hi Sirs, before we jump into the interview, do give us a quick introduction of yourselves!

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: Hello! I’m LTC(NS)(DR) Darryl Chew. I serve as a medical officer in the RSAF. My current appointment is Deputy Commanding Officer (DyCO) of 1 Medical Squadron.  Outside of NS, I work as a Hand Surgeon in the SingHealth cluster – I see adult patients at the Singapore General Hospital and children at Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children's Hospital.

LTC(NS) Lim: Hi everyone, my name is LTC(NS) Lim Kheng Choon. I am an Air Engineering Officer by vocation and I serve as the Dy CO 817 SQN, 7 Air Engineering and Logistics Group (AELG)for my National Service appointment. I am currently a Consultant Radiologist with Singapore General Hospital subspecialising in neuro-radiology.

First and foremost, congratulations to both on receiving the Commendation Medal (Military) at the National Day Awards Investiture 2022! Could you tell us how do you feel about receiving this award and is there anyone that you would like to attribute your success to?


LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: It is a great honour. The appreciation shown to NSmen by the SAF motivates me to serve better and contribute more in my role.

I would like to thank my previous COs for nurturing my potential. They provided support, guidance and opportunities in my National Service (NS) journey. I am also very grateful to my employer, SingHealth, who has always been a strong supporter of NS. And most importantly, my wife for her personal support and my children for whom we are securing a better tomorrow.

LTC(NS) Lim: I am very honoured and grateful for the award. This award is dedicated to the airmen and airwomen of 7 AELG Wolf Pack. They work tirelessly day and night to support aircraft operations. Even though I am not physically there all the time, they have kept me close and tight within the pack and looked after me. Special shout out to ME7 Sreekanth Sankar, ME6 Seah Kwee Siam, ME6 Bernard Cai, ME4 Wong Khiong Hwa and ME4 Lim Chun Hua for taking such good care of me. I also want to thank the Commanders in Paya Lebar Air Base and Air Power Generation Command for their support.

Well-said, Sirs! Indeed being able to contribute to our nation’s defence is something we should feel proud of. So LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl, could you share with us more on your experience serving as an NSman?


LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: I was exposed to a very different aspect of medicine that I did not see as a student or in my civilian work. As a Full-Time National Serviceman (NSF) staff officer, I took on an administrator's view of medicine as I was involved in planning medical-related operations and had the opportunity to organise exercises.

I eventually chose to join 1 MS as an NSman because there was an abundance of opportunities to fly. The squadron’s primary role was in executing Heliborne Medical Evacuations, which sounded very exciting to me as an NSF. I wanted to take the scenic route for my NSman journey because I was looking for excitement. Within the 10-year Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) cycle, I had the privilege of attending overseas exercises like Ex WALLABY, COPE TIGER and FORGING SABRE.

The RSAF also played a big role in developing my leadership abilities by providing opportunities to attend leadership courses and helping me put those skills into use for betterment of the squadron.
 

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl (right) at Ex WALLABY 2008 with one of the flight medics (then 3SG Chuah Jun Jie (left) who is currently 1 MS flight senior medic 2IC)

What about you, LTC(NS) Lim, how was your experience in the RSAF like?


LTC(NS) Lim: After my BMT and OCS tri-service term, I was awarded the SAF Local Study Award and I disrupted my training to pursue my tertiary education. When I returned from my studies, I was posted to Air Logistic SQN in Sembawang Airbase. I then spent 7 and half years in Air Logistics Organisation, holding various command and staff appointments mainly within the helicopter community. 

One of the memorable times was my involvement in Ops Blue Orchid in 2004. I was the logistics officer for the KC-135R Stratotankers detachment, where SAF participated in the multinational reconstruction efforts in Iraq. It was an eye-opening experience for me. Being in an operational environment allowed us to work closely with our counterparts in the allied forces and learn from them. I also made many close friends during the mission, some of whom I still keep in touch today. 

Shortly after that, I was involved in another major deployment, which was the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004. I was deployed as Engineering Officer for the Chinook detachment to Medan, supporting the relief efforts in Melaboh, Aceh. It was an extremely challenging period. The initial chaos and confusion gave way to stoic determination to help as many as possible by delivering supplies and evacuating victims. It was also during this time, when I saw how the medical team provided support, comfort and relief to the victims of this unprecedented disaster, that it re-kindled my passion and interest to pursue medicine.
 

LTC(NS) Lim at Melaboh, Indonesia as part of the team delivering relief supplies and evacuating victims

I am sure those are some experiences that you would always hold dear to your heart. Are there any particular incident that was especially memorable to you during your service?


LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: Ops FLYING EAGLE 2004 comes to mind.  I was supporting the Heliborne Medical Evacuation of civilians in Sumatra who were affected by the Boxing Day tsunami.  At the time, I was an NSF staff officer involved in planning medical-related operations.  Although I was working from behind the scenes in Singapore, it was my very own colleagues in Sumatra performing these evacuations whom I was supporting directly.  This motivated me to get the job done efficiently and done well.  We had to organise rapid delivery of essential equipment and were informed of new requirements each day.  It was a good experience learning how to be creative given the logistical constraints and short notice we were given. 

The other memorable experience for me would be Ex FORGING SABRE 2015 as it was the first time our squadron participated in an Exercise in Arizona. As an NSman, I led a team of NSmen and conducted our Heliborne Medical Evacuation training. The challenge was doing this in an unfamiliar environment with a new team. The time we spent interacting with personnel from other squadrons and navigating our way to achieve mission success gave us a deeper appreciation of the different roles each squadron played.  The camaraderie was warm and the challenging experience brought the NSmen team closer together.

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl (left) at Ex FORGING SABRE 2015, performing medical procedures on a medical simulator during a training flight on board a Chinook.

We understood that you also extended your Reservist on Voluntary Extended Reserve Service (ROVERS) twice. Could you share with us the motivation behind doing so?


LTC(NS) Lim: I consider the Air Force as my extended family. I spent a significant part of my formative years as a young working adult wearing blue and made some of my best friends in the RSAF. I am also very grateful for the opportunities and training that the RSAF has given me during my early years that allowed me to develop, grow and overcome later challenges in life. As long as the RSAF finds me useful and wants me back, I will be happy to contribute and do my part for the defence of Singapore. 
 

LTC(NS) Lim (second row, seventh from left) and his team at Medan Airport, Indonesia during Ops Flying Eagle for the Tsunami Relief in 2004.

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: Coming towards the end of the 10-year ORNS cycle felt like a cliff hanger.  The journey did not feel like it had come to an end.  There was much more to contribute towards strengthening the squadron, especially in the area of training of our NSmen medical officers and medics.  My background as an academic teaching faculty for specialist surgeons in SingHealth was helpful in this aspect.  We were able to introduce updated medical education concepts for training to the squadron.  After a cycle of ROVERS (3 years), my CO invited me to continue for another cycle as to see through implementation of a new training framework.  I agreed heartily to this.  Working closely with a cohesive group of Key Appointment Holders in the squadron was a joy I could not decline.

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl (second from right) at Ex FORGING SABRE 2015, leading the NSmen team deployed for Heliborne Medical Evacuation training.

In your personal opinion, why do you think it is important to serve the nation as NSmen?


LTC(NS) Lim: If anything, the recent global security situation drove home the point that small countries like us cannot take our independence and sovereignty for granted. Our way of living, our achievements as a nation will come to nothing if we don’t have the means and will to defend it. A strong SAF is also guarantor of peace and stability. I firmly believe every Singaporean have a role to play in the nation’s defence and I am proud to have served as a member of the SAF.

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: Working in the public healthcare system, I witnessed ourselves go into “crisis-mode” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the disruptions, we saw Total Defence at work.  While some normalcy is returning now, it made me treasure the peace and progress that our nation has. The ongoing global security situation has driven home the point that our nation’s freedom and independence is important.  National defence is something that cannot be outsourced.  The contribution of every individual is important.

I couldn’t agree more. At the same time, many of our audience are also keen to find out how do you balance between work, NS and family commitment especially during High Key ICTs?

LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: Preparation and communication is key. I am glad that my family was able to use technology to bridge the gap. When I was in Arizona for Ex FORGING SABRE in 2015 and I intentionally spoke with my family twice a day. My daughter, who was 3 years old at the time, was excited to see my face on a video call every day. My wife definitely appreciated the regular contact and updates, knowing that I was training safely. 

I take regular opportunities to teach my children on their father’s role in the RSAF. We learn about aircraft each time a Super Puma or fighter jet flies overhead. Whenever I am on in-camp training (ICT), they look out the window and wonder if I am on that Super Puma or Chinook they see flying by our home.
 

Ex WALLABY 2008, securing the airway of a victim while training on board a Super Puma.

LTC(NS) Lim: It is not possible to balance ICT without support from family and colleagues at work. I have very supportive family. I also have very supportive bosses and colleagues at work, who have had to pick up the slack when I am away on ICT. During the pandemic, because I work in healthcare frontline, my Commander and CO were both very understanding and flexible with my ICT arrangements, allowing me to defer twice at the very last minute to augment manpower at the hospital. It is this understanding and flexibility from my work place colleagues and commanders from 7AELG that made it possible for me.

LTC(NS) Lim (third from left) at the RSAF 50th Anniversary Open House in the Heartlands in 2018.

Finally, do you have any parting advice for our readers?


LTC(NS) (DR) Darryl: There is a part for everyone and no contribution is too small. Be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.

LTC(NS) Lim: To members of the SAF past, present and future, as a Singaporean, I am grateful for your service and sacrifice. I hope that like me, you can look back to your days in SAF with pride, knowing that you have given a part of you to build what we have today.