ISSUE 209 MARCH 2013

www.mindef.gov.sg/army

Promoting Shooting Excellence

ISSUE 210 APRIL 2013

www.mindef.gov.sg/army

HIGHLIGHTSYJC Celebrates Values Day with 24 SA

Training with Gas Maskfor Medical Emergencies

One Live Saved

BUILDING A

RESPECTED ARMY

1

CONTENTS

8

5

22

10

3-7 AROUND OUR ARMY

8-9 One Life Saved

10-17 COVER STORY Building a Respected Army

18-19 Men of Steel in Oriente Primus

• WeareSpecialists!• ExerciseBoldKurukshetra• ExerciseKochaSinga• COAEngagesRecruitsat

BMTC• YJCCelebratesValuesDay

with24SA• TrainingwithGasMaskfor

MedicalEmergencies• ArmourRoadRelay

20-21 Speed Through Skill Signals Formation

22 Guards Medical Officer Honoured with COA’s Commander Coin

23 The Singapore Army Facebook

24 Quiz

3

ARMY NEWS is a monthly publication of the Singapore Army. The opinions and views in this newsletter are those expressed by the writers and do not reflect the official views of the Ministry of Defence. All rights reserved. Subjected to the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1986, no part of this publication may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced or transmitted without prior written permission from the publisher.

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Editorial Board

News Crew

Editorial Advisor

COL Alfred FoxCOL Chua Boon KeatCOL Yang Si Cheng

LTC De Silva Joe RoneshMAJ Dennis Oh

CWO Tang Peck OonMr Lucas Lai

BG Tung Yui Fai

EditorTan Wee Meng

Deputy EditorCharles Eu

WritersBjorn Teo

Jotham Yeo

PhotographersMatthew TanVishnu PremBoey Jun WeiLim Wei Liang

Graphic DesignersDennis WangSim Chun You

Army News would like to thank Vishnu Prem for his service and contributions during his stint in Army News PASSING ON THE BATON

Editor SpeaksThis is my last ‘Editor Speaks’ as I will soon move to a

new job. In the blink of an eye, 87 monthly issues and several special supplements had passed me by. Over the years, Army News has indeed grown to become a major Army communication and engagement platform.

As I reflect on recent years, what stood out most is the rapidly changing media landscape, in particular the rise of social media. It is indeed an exciting time

(and sometimes heart-stopping as my Facebook [FB] colleagues would testify) since the recent launch of the Army FB to provide another channel for engaging our soldiers and public. While social media has risen in importance, it is also imperative that the monthly Army News maintains its relevance by continuing to innovate and improve – a challenge no doubt the next editor will face.

Whatever it is, I firmly believe that ultimately, content is king regardless of location. Good stuff never fails to attract. To illustrate –foodies will go anywhere in Singapore for their favourite hawkers to satisfy their craving.

As I take my leave, it is my pleasure to introduce Melvin Ferdinands who will helm Army News from the next issue. Thanks for your past support.

Cheers!

Tan Wee Meng

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, an annual bilateral training with the Indian Army, was held in Central India from 26 February to 3 April. Participating in this year’s exercise were 40th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (40 SAR), 38th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (38 SCE) and HQ 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade (8 SAB).

The exercise’s highlights included an Armoured Live Firing Section (ALFS) conducted by 40 SAR involving the Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles and Mortar Tracked Carrier. Chief of Army (COA), MG Ravinder Singh, visited the exercise troops on 20 March to engage and encourage the men.

Exercise Bold KurukshetraStory by Jotham Yeo / Photography by Dennis Wang

Bionix IFVs executing a manoeuvre during the exercise

Exercise Kocha SingaStory by Bjorn Teo / Photography by Lim Wei Liang

Held in Singapore from 19 to 26 March, Exercise Kocha Singa 2013 involved participants from the SAF’s 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (3 SIR) and the 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment from the Royal Thai Army (RTA). This bilateral exercise has enabled both armies to share and improve their professionalism in various areas. The exercise culminated in a Battalion Full-Troops Exercise (Bn FTX) with soldiers from both armies participating in a Battalion day deliberate attack held at the Murai Urban Training Facility (MUTF). The closing ceremony on 26 March was jointly officiated by Chief of Army (COA), MG Ravinder Singh and Commander-in-Chief of the RTA, GEN Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

Troops from both armies performing a cheer during their training at MUTF

We are Specialists!Story by Lim Wei Liang / Photography by Sim Chun You

After 22 weeks of arduous training that stretched them to their physical and mental limits, 1,077 graduands from the 14/12 Specialist Cadet Course stood proudly on the Leaders’ Square in Pasir Laba Camp on the evening of 22 March. They proudly basked in the presence of their families and friends; knowing that they had finally earned the rights to be called Specialists in the SAF. It was an emotive moment as they donned their new epaulette with help from their loved ones

In his speech, the reviewing officer, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education, Ms Indranee Rajah, urged the new Specialists to carry out their duty with pride, honour and integrity. She said, “You are the critical link between the soldiers and the SAF leadership. As commanders, you must also look out for your men’s safety and well-being.”

SCT Muhamad Rafie, a Golden Bayonet Award (Infantry) winner shared his aim to be an effective ‘hands-on’ leader rather than one who merely gives instructions. He said, “I hope to have mutual respect between me and my men. I will engage my men and get to know them well.”

Another Golden Bayonet Winner was SCT Mohan Krishnasamy from the Military Police Training School who signed on after completing his full-time National Service. He revealed, “During my NSF days as a Military Police Outrider, I was given opportunities by my Platoon Commander to develop my organisational skills. As the escort IC, I was involved in the detailing and tasking of operations and had to liaise with other unit commanders during events. Seeing how my NSF experiences had developed my strengths, I decided to sign on as a Military Police Specialist.”

Three newly-minted sergeants bask in their moment of glory

AROUND OUR ARMY

5 APRIL 20134

COA Engages Recruits at BMTCStory by Jotham Yeo / Photography by Dennis Wang

COA interacting with the recruits

COA (2nd from left) running with Jaguar Company recruits

E n l i s t m e n t D a y o n 1 3 M a r c h a t t h e B a s i c M i l i t a r y Tr a i n i n g C e n t r e ( B M TC ) o n Pu l a u Te k o n g w a s a l i t t l e d i f f e r e n t t h i s y e a r a s C h i e f o f A r m y ( COA ) , M G R a v i n d e r S i n g h , p a i d a v i s i t t o e n g a g e t h e r e c r u i t s . H e l a t e r a l s o t o u r e d t h e t r a i n i n g f a c i l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e g r e n a d e t h r o w i n g b a y, t o b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d t h e r e c r u i t s ’ r i g o r o u s t r a i n i n g.

A f t e r a 2 . 6 - k m r u n w i t h r e c r u i t s f r o m t h e J a g u a r C o m p a n y, COA e n c o u r a g e d t h e m t o d o t h e i r b e s t f o r N a t i o n a l S e r v i c e . H e s a i d , “A f t e r y o u r N S , y o u m u s t b e t r a n s f o r m e d t o b e a g o o d s o l d i e r a n d g o o d y o u n g m a n .”

COA a l s o e n g a g e d t h e r e c r u i t s f r o m Vi p e r C o m p a n y w h o w e r e u n d e r g o i n g t h e t e a m s i t u a t i o n a l t e s t ( S I T E S T ) , a t o o l f o r a s s e s s i n g l e a d e r s h i p a b i l i t i e s . H e e x p r e s s e d h i s c o n f i d e n c e i n S I T E S T ’s e f f e c t i v e n e s s a n d i m p a r t i a l i t y i n s e l e c t i n g p o t e n t i a l l e a d e r s a n d u r g e d t h e r e c r u i t s t o g i v e t h e i r b e s t i n t h e i r N S j o u r n e y r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r a s s i g n e d v o c a t i o n s .

YJC Celebrates Values Day with 24 SA

MAJ Teng (right) interacting with Mr Heng

2SG Tan helping a student to try out the field pack and iLBV

On 2 March, the 10th anniversary of Yishun Junior College’s (YJC) Celebrating Values Day (CVD) took on a special significance as men from the 24th Battalion Singapore Artillery (24 SA) participated in the event under the SAF-School Partnership Programme. Gracing the occasion was Minister for Education, Mr Heng Swee Keat.

At the 24 SA’s booth, students were able to have a hands-on experience with several SAF equipment and weapons, such as the iLBV (integrated Load Bearing Vest) and the Singapore Assault Rifle 21 (SAR 21). In emphasising the importance of engaging the students, Mr Heng said, “It is important for everyone to appreciate that, and we must start young, start from all our students.”

Commanding Officer 24 SA, MAJ Adrian Teng Choon Hon, felt that the CVD presented a good engagement opportunity as the values celebrated are in line with those of the Army. 2SG Tan Eng Teng Benjamin, a Battery Sergeant Major, shared, “The pre-enlistees benefited a lot from our presence. Many students wanted to clarify with us about the movie Ah Boys to Men and we felt this was a good opportunity to clear up their doubts before they enlist.”

Story by Jotham Yeo / Photography by Matthew Tan

APRIL 20136 7

Training with

Gas Mask for

Medical EmergenciesStory by Bjorn Teo / Photography by Lim Wei Liang

Army units usually start their day with a good dose of morning physical training (PE), consisting of a Five Basic Exercises (5BX) warm-up and followed by a run. However for

soldiers from the Medical Response Force (MRF) unit, their morning run has been made more challenging with the donning of gas mask.

How does donning the gas mask help in their training? Commanding Officer, MRF, LTC Chong Si Jack (DR) explained, “MRF personnel require respiration control training as they are required to extricate severe casualties from a contaminated environment. Conducting strenuous

yet safe masked training serves to improve the troopers’ physical and heat endurance to allow them to efficiently carry out their duties.”

As with all tough training, running with the gas mask on comes with its challenges. CPL Yang Jin Jie, an MRF Trooper, shared, “Running with the gas mask on was physically demanding during my conversion days. It was not easy to a c c l i m a t i s e to the p h y s i c a l

demands of wearing the gas mask. With the mask on, we can only see through the two circular lenses. It is also difficult to communicate as we cannot easily project our voice clearly through the mask.”

Despite the difficulties faced during training, the troopers fully understand the need to condition themselves Assistant Chief of General Staff (Operations),

BG Chan Wing Kai (right), sweaty but satisfied after the run

In a visit to the unit in March, members of General Staff (Operations) had the opportunity to participate in a 2-km Gas Mask Run with the MRF soldiers

physically and mentally with the gas mask. As CPL Yang said, “The gas mask is the most important gear in our protective equipment as our airway is the easiest route of entry for contaminants. I think it is essential that we as troopers are able to effectively complete our tasks wearing the gas mask. After all, if we cannot get used to wearing a simple gas mask, how are we as medics going to render aid to our casualties in a chemical crisis?”

T h e A r m o u r R o a d R e l a y ( A R R ) 2 0 1 3 o r g a n i s e d b y 1 2 C 4 I B n w a s h e l d o n 3 A p r i l i n K r a n j i C a m p I I . H e l d t o c e l e b r a t e t h e r i c h h e r i t a g e o f t h e ‘ B l a c k B e r e t s ’, t h e A R R h a s b e e n t h e A r m o u r f o r m a t i o n’s s i g n a t u r e e v e n t s i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n i n 1 9 7 4 . T h i s y e a r m a r k e d t h e 4 0 t h e d i t i o n a n d m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t l y, i t w a s t h e f i r s t n i g h t r a c e h e l d - p r o v i d i n g a l l r u n n e r s w i t h a m e m o r a b l e r a c e e x p e r i e n c e .

T h e t o u g h t r a i n i n g c o n d u c t e d m o n t h s i n a d v a n c e f o r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s h a d h e l p e d t h e A r m o u r p e r s o n n e l t o e n h a n c e t h e i r p h y s i c a l f i t n e s s . I t a l s o b r o u g h t o u t t h e i r p e r s e v e r a n c e , d i s c i p l i n e a n d f i g h t i n g s p i r i t a s t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s g a v e t h e i r b e s t t o h e l p t h e i r u n i t s w i n t o p h o n o u r s . C h i e f A r m o u r O f f i c e r, B G S i e w K u m Wo n g, e m p h a s i s e d t h e e v e n t ’s v a l u e w h e n h e s a i d , “ I t ’s m o r e t h a n t h a t ( b u i l d i n g c o h e s i o n ) , i t i s a c o m p e t i t i o n , v e r y i n t e n s e r i v a l r y. I t i s s o m e t h i n g t h a t a l l t h e u n i t s l o o k f o r w a r d t o e v e r y y e a r, i n t e r m s o f p r e p a r i n g a n d w a n t i n g t o c l a i m t h e b r a g g i n g r i g h t s .”

T h e b i g g e s t w i n n e r i n A R R h o w e v e r i s t h e A r m o u r f a m i l y a s t h e e v e n t h a d h e l p e d t o f o s t e r c o h e s i o n a n d b u i l d a s t r o n g i d e n t i t y. I t u n d e r s c o r e s t h e t a g l i n e “O n c e A r m o u r, A l w a y s A r m o u r ”. C o m m a n d i n g O f f i c e r 1 2 C 4 I B n , M A J

ARMOUR ROAD RELAYStory and photos contributed by 12 C41 Bn

E r i c G o h s h a r e d , “A s o u r u n i t i s a n e w m e m b e r o f t h e A r m o u r f a m i l y, I f e l t t h a t t h e A R R i s a v e r y g o o d p l a t f o r m f o r A r m o u r c o m r a d e s , b o t h p a s t a n d p r e s e n t , t o c o m e t o g e t h e r f o r a n i g h t o f c o m p e t i t i o n , c o h e s i o n a n d b o n d i n g.”

Pa r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e v a r i o u s C h a l l e n g e c a t e g o r i e s w e r e 3 1 t e a m s w h i c h i n c l u d e d R e g u l a r s , N S F s , N S m e n , A r m o u r v o c a t i o n a l i s t s o u t o f t h e f o r m a t i o n a s w e l l a s f r i e n d s f r o m S T K i n e t i c s a n d D e f e n c e S c i e n c e & Te c h n o l o g y A g e n c y. A t t h e e n d o f t h e c o m p e t i t i o n , 4 2 n d B a t t a l i o n , S i n g a p o r e A r m o u r e d R e g i m e n t w a s c r o w n e d t h e O v e r a l l C h a m p i o n f o r t h i s y e a r ’s A r m o u r R o a d R e l a y.

APRIL 20136

Ready, get set... GO! The starting line of the Armour Road Relay gets a pounding from the adrenaline-charged runners

Men from 42 SAR cheering in sheer jubilation upon being crowned this year’s Overall Champion

9 APRIL 20138

ONE LIFEStory by Lim Wei Liang / Photography by Boey Jun Wei

On 21 February, LCP (NS) Chew Koh Leong suffered a cardiac arrest while undergoing IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT) in Maju Camp. Fortunately, the medical personnel present on site and those at Maju Camp Medical Centre were quick to react and resuscitated him successfully.

Timely Intervention

When LCP (NS) Chew collapsed while moving between static stations during his IPT, two NSmen, CPT (DR) (NS) Chen Teik Hong and CPL (NS) Edwin Huang were nearby. CPT (DR) (NS) Chen is a doctor in private practice while CPL (NS) Huang is a Commando who was also trained as a medic. CPT (DR)(NS) Chen recounted, “When LCP (NS) Chew collapsed, someone shouted for the medic and the group of us immediately went forward to provide assistance. When we found that he has no pulse and was unresponsive, we started CPR immediately. The good thing was that the medic, LCP Muhammad Haikal Bin Samin, was around and well-equipped to enable us to provide further treatment. We quickly set up the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and within three minutes, the first shock was

delivered. He responded after a few shocks and we continued to perform full CPR for another 10 minutes before evacuating him to the medical centre for further treatment.”

CPL (NS) Huang added, “The quick

intervention helped saved his life; the most important thing was that the AED was available to restart LCP (NS) Chew’s heart. This really illustrates the importance of well-trained medical personnel who are fully equipped to handle a medical emergency.”

No Time to Panic For LCP Haikal, the evening of 21

February started off uneventfully. A rookie who had recently passed out from the SAF Medical Training Institute (SMTI), he has never encountered any actual cardiac arrest. However, medical training was provided through realistic simulation of the various medical emergencies at SMTI.

His well-honed skills kicked in during the actual emergency as he quickly overcame his initial fear in dealing with a real life case. He vividly recalled his reaction, “I had thought that for a static station, the type of medical incident would be the routine kind, such as bumps, cuts or fractures. But when I was told that the casualty was unconscious, I knew that things were much more serious and had to react quickly.”

For CPT (DR) Dedrick Chan Kok

Hong, the duty medical officer at Maju Camp Medical Centre, there was some initial anxiety as he led his team in further resuscitating LCP (NS) Chew. Again, the thorough training and emergency procedures in place helped greatly. “There are standard protocols to follow for every medical emergency. So what was on my mind at that time was a mental checklist of all the things to be done for the patient,” CPT (DR) Chan elaborated.

CPT (DR) Chan further explained, “The focus of the medical team in a medical centre is to resuscitate and stabilise the patient so that he can then be sent to the hospital for further treatment. As we had successfully stabilised LCP (NS) Chew at the medical centre, his chances of

survival were much higher compared to sending him directly to a hospital.”

Teamwork In a medical emergency, the

difference between life and death can be measured in minutes. Despite the pressure, the medics at Maju Camp Medical Centre worked well as a team and performed their roles admirably. They attributed this to the realistic training they received as trainees.

3SG Oh Yau Ming and PTE Wan Alfyann were the duty medics at the medical centre when the incident occurred. 3SG Oh said, “When we first received the call about an unconscious casualty, we were a little apprehensive as it was our first time dealing with an unconscious casualty. However, we didn’t feel that way for long as we confidently prepared for the casualty’s arrival at the medical centre.”

PTE Wan added, “We were focussed

on doing what we could to save the casualty. We also needed to pay attention to what the medical officer wanted us to do.”

Two off-duty medics, CPL Chan Wei

Xiang and CPL (NS) Yeo Teck Kian, also chipped in without hesitation when LCP (NS) Chew was rushed into the treatment room. CPL Chan said,

S AV E D

“We went over to help in any way we could. It was the most natural thing to do at the time.”

Reflecting on his experience, CPL (NS) Yeo said, “The training we received in SMTI was very challenging and realistic. As a result, when we encountered a real emergency, the situation faced did not differ much from the training scenario. That really helped us to handle the incident well.”

A Happy Ending

After his condition was stabilised, LCP (NS) Chew was sent to the National University Hospital for further treatment. He has since been discharged.

For their role in the successful resuscitation, CPT (DR) Chan, CPT (DR) (NS) Chen, CPL (NS) Huang and LCP Haikal were awarded the “One Life Saved” Resuscitation Distinction Award by Chief of Defence Force, MG Ng Chee Meng, at the SAF Medical Corps Workplan Seminar on 5 April. For their efforts, 3SG Oh, CPL (NS) Yeo, CPL Chan and PTE Wan were awarded the Resuscitation Merit Award. The Resuscitation Distinction Award recipients also received a Certificate of Appreciation from Chief of Army, MG Ravinder Singh, at the Army Workplan Seminar on 28 March.

The medical team at Maju Camp Medical Centre. From L-R: LCP Haikal, CPL Chan, 3SG Oh, PTE Wan and CPT (DR) Chan

CPL (NS) Yeo receiving the Resuscitation Merit Award from the Chief of Defence Force, MG Ng Chee MengRecipients of the Certificate of Appreciation during the Army Work Plan Seminar. From L-R: CPT (DR) Chan,

CPL (NS) Huang and CPT (DR) (NS) Chen

FEATURE

APRIL 201310

O n 2 8 M a r c h , t h e A r m y Wo r k p l a n S e m i n a r w a s h e l d , b o t h i n M I N D E F A u d i t o r i u m a s w e l l a s i n L e a d e r s H a l l , P a s i r L a b a C a m p ( P LC ) . T h i s y e a r ’s t h e m e “ B u i l d i n g a R e s p e c t e d A r m y ” e m p h a s i s e d t h e i n t e n t o f o u r A r m y i n r e a l i s i n g t h e “ R e s p e c t e d ” p o r t i o n o f i t s v i s i o n s t a t e m e n t : “ O u r A r m y – R e a d y, D e c i s i v e , R e s p e c t e d ”. T h e s e m i n a r a l s o s e r v e d a s a p l a t f o r m f o r t h e A r m y t o t a k e s t o c k o f i t s a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s i n t h e l a s t Wo r k y e a r, a n d t o c h a r t o u t t h e k e y f o c u s a r e a s f o r t h e n e w Wo r k y e a r a h e a d .

Building aRespected Army

Story contributed by G5 Army

M e s s a g e f r o m S M S

I n h i s k e y n o t e a d d r e s s , S e n i o r M i n i s t e r o f S t a t e ( D e f e n c e ) , M r C h a n C h u n S i n g , r e m i n d e d t h e A r m y t o m a i n t a i n a c o n t i n u a l a w a r e n e s s o f t h e r e g i o n a l g e o - p o l i t i c a l r e a l i t i e s ; t o m o v e a h e a d a n d m a s t e r t h e n e w s o c i a l t e r r a i n . To b u i l d a m o r e e f f e c t i v e a n d s t r o n g e r A r m y, i t m u s t a l s o b u i l d s y s t e m s t h a t i t s p e o p l e c a n m a s t e r .

C O A a n d S M A P r o v i d e K e y T h r u s t s

I n h i s w o r k p l a n p r e s e n t a t i o n , C h i e f o f A r m y ( C O A ) , M G R a v i n d e r S i n g h , p a i d t r i b u t e

t o t h e A r m y ’s s e v e r a l a c h i e v e m e n t s i n W Y 1 2 / 1 3 , w h i c h i n c l u d e d i t s d e p l o y m e n t s i n A f g h a n i s t a n , o p e r a t i o n a l i s i n g n e w c a p a b i l i t i e s a n d c o n t i n u i n g w i t h t h e t r a i n i n g t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , a s w e l l a s t h e s u c c e s s f u l o r g a n i s i n g o f A r m y O p e n H o u s e , N S 4 5 a n d N a t i o n a l D a y P a r a d e .

F o r W Y 1 3 / 1 4 , C O A r e i t e r a t e d t h e A r m y ’s f o c u s i n c o n t i n u i n g t o d e v e l o p t h e k e y t h r u s t s i n t h e a r e a s o f b e i n g “ R e a d y ”, “ D e c i s i v e ” a n d “ R e s p e c t e d ” ; w i t h s t r o n g e m p h a s i s o n s o m e o f t h e “ R e s p e c t e d ” i d e a s . W i t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f s o m e a c t i o n a b l e i d e a s , t h e s e e d s w e r e s o w n t o e n g e n d e r t h e c h a n g e s i n c u l t u r e a n d s h i f t s i n b e h a v i o u r t h a t m u s t b e m a n i f e s t e d a t a l l l e v e l s o f c o m m a n d i n o u r A r m y.

S o m e o f t h e s e i d e a s w e r e f u r t h e r e l a b o r a t e d b y o t h e r p r e s e n t e r s a t t h e s e m i n a r. S e r g e a n t M a j o r o f t h e A r m y ( S M A ) , C W O Ta n g P e c k O o n , r e c o u n t e d t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s t h u s f a r i n t h e W a r r a n t O f f i c e r a n d S p e c i a l i s t C o r p s ’ t r a n s f o r m a t i o n j o u r n e y a n d s p o k e o n h o w a d i s c i p l i n e d A r m y w o u l d a l s o b e a R e s p e c t e d A r m y.

B e c o m i n g a R e s p e c t e d A r m y

A s s i s t a n t C h i e f o f G e n e r a l S t a f f ( P e r s o n n e l ) , C O L A l f r e d F o x a n d A s s i s t a n t C h i e f o f G e n e r a l S t a f f ( P l a n s ) , C O L O n g Tz e - C h ’ i n , t h e n j o i n t l y p r e s e n t e d s o m e o f t h e “ R e s p e c t e d ” i d e a s , i l l u s t r a t i n g w i t h s t o r i e s f r o m t h e g r o u n d . U n d e r l y i n g t h e i r l i v e l y p r e s e n t a t i o n s w a s t h e m a i n m e s s a g e t h a t c o m m a n d e r s a t e v e r y l e v e l c a n m a k e t h a t d i f f e r e n c e i f t h e y s t r i v e t o p l a n b e t t e r a n d c r e a t e t h a t m e a n i n g f u l m o m e n t f o r t h e i r s o l d i e r s .

To w a r d s a M o r e E n g a g i n g W o r k p l a n P r e s e n t a t i o n

I n a d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e p r e v i o u s p r a c t i c e o f a 2 - p a r t s e m i n a r, A r m y W o r k p l a n S e m i n a r 2 0 1 3 w a s c o n d u c t e d i n h a l f a d a y w i t h a n e w f o r m a t t h a t s e e k s t o a c h i e v e a m o r e i n t e g r a t e d a n d s e a m l e s s p r o g r a m m e . T h e f i r s t s e g m e n t w a s s t i l l h e l d i n M I N D E F, w i t h a s i m u l c a s t b e i n g p r o j e c t e d a t P a s i r L a b a C a m p ( P LC ) . W h i l e A s s i s t a n t C h i e f o f G e n e r a l S t a f f ( I n t e l l i g e n c e ) , C O L S t e v e n S e n g p r e s e n t e d h i s b r i e f i n P LC , t h e M I N D E F a u d i e n c e t o o k t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o t r a v e l t o P LC f o r t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e s e m i n a r. T h e I n t e l l i g e n c e b r i e f p r o v i d e d u s e f u l u p d a t e s f o r R e g u l a r

Mutual Respect Respecting our Soldiers

COVER STORY

APRIL 201310 11

COL Ong (left) and COL Fox delivering a lively presentation on becoming a Respected Army

READY

DECISIVE

RESPECTED

15 APRIL 201314

This year’s Work Plan Seminar is engaging and interesting. The content resonated with me especially the part on the respect campaign. I will keep an open mind and empathise with the NSmen to earn their respect. Once there is empathy, I will be able to better understand the issues they faced regarding their in-camp training. It’s all about empathy, understanding what they go through and the need for them to balance between career, family and NS.

LTC (NS) KOH TONG SENG HEAD NSSC

SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS’ FEEDBACKAfter the seminar, Army News interviewed some participants to gather their main takeaways from the event. Some also

shared what they would do differently to achieve the aim of building a Respected Army.

Compared to previous years, this year’s work plan has taken a refreshing approach in its organisation. There is a good balance between traditional topics like capability development and other issues such as discipline and respect. What I would do differently to help build a respected Army is to explore how we can involve the families more in making decisions so as to better recognise our people. The families do take on a heavy load of responsibilities when our people are out there training and serving NS. We need to find a way to balance this and to recognise them

COL DINESH VASU DASHCOMD 3 SIB

Self Respect Professional Pride and Purpose

Respect for our ArmyTell Our Story

APRIL 201314 15

As NSmen, it’s good for us to be kept updated on what the Army is doing in the new work year so that we have a better perspective of how we are developing in tandem with the rest of the Army. As our stint each year is only a few weeks, it’s easy to develop a silo mind-set and fail to see the relevance of what we do as an NS unit. Understanding the larger picture helps us to understand how we fit into the Army’s work plan. The sharing on respecting our uniform is also interesting because I think it is an important mindset that we need to inculcate. If we respect ourselves, wear our uniforms proudly and behave correctly, that would definitely help shape the public perception of us positively.

MAJ(NS)(DR) KOH POH KOONCO 18 CSSB

a n d N S g r o u n d c o m m a n d e r s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f r o m t h e b r i g a d e s , t r a i n i n g i n s t i t u t e s , a n d t h e i r r e g i m e n t a l s e r g e a n t m a j o r s .

T h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e w o r k p l a n s e m i n a r, h e l d a t P LC , a l s o i n c l u d e d s o m e t h i n g n e w. B e s i d e s t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e S A F B a n d t o p r o v i d e l i g h t e n t e r t a i n m e n t d u r i n g t h e b r e a k a n d a c c o m p a n i m e n t t o t h e s i n g i n g o f N a t i o n a l A n t h e m , t h e A r m y C o l o u r s w e r e a l s o m a r c h e d i n t o t h e L e a d e r s ’ H a l l p r i o r t o t h e s t a r t o f t h e p r o g r a m m e .

C P T W u J i a n m i n , o n e o f t h e o r g a n i s e r s f r o m G 5 - A r m y, s a i d , “ W e w a n t e d t o i n t r o d u c e s o m e o f t h e h e r i t a g e a n d t r a d i t i o n s o f t h e A r m y i n t o t h i s a n n u a l e v e n t , s o t h a t w e a l l r e m e m b e r w h y w e c h o s e t o j o i n t h e A r m y , a n d c a n w a l k o u t o f t h e W o r k p l a n S e m i n a r f e e l i n g g o o d t o b e i n t h e A r m y.” C O A a l s o p r e s e n t e d L e t t e r s o f A p p r e c i a t i o n t o

R e g u l a r s , N S m e n , N S F s a n d D X O s w h o h a v e g o n e a b o v e a n d b e y o n d t h e c a l l o f d u t y , t o b r i n g p r i d e a n d r e c o g n i t i o n t o t h e A r m y.

T h e o r g a n i s e r s p u t i n a l o t o f e f f o r t t o m a k e t h i s S e m i n a r

d i f f e r e n t f r o m p r e v i o u s y e a r s , a c t i n g o n f e e d b a c k t o p a c k a g e t o g e t h e r a m o r e m e a n i n g f u l a n d m e m o r a b l e e v e n t . T h i s a l s o e x e m p l i f i e d s o m e o f t h e “ R e s p e c t e d ” i d e a s , i n b e i n g a b l e t o g a t h e r f e e d b a c k , a n d r e d e s i g n t h e e v e n t w i t h t h e u s e r - c e n t r i c e x p e r i e n c e a s o n e o f t h e k e y o u t c o m e s . S t o r i e s a n d v i d e o s w e r e a l s o c r a f t e d u s i n g g r o u n d p e r s p e c t i v e s , i n o r d e r t o b e t t e r r e a c h o u t a n d c o n n e c t w i t h t h e l a r g e r A r m y.

T h e A r m y W o r k p l a n S e m i n a r 2 0 1 3 e n d e d w i t h a l i v e l y P l e n a r y D i s c u s s i o n , a n d a s t i r r i n g a n d p a t r i o t i c r e n d i t i o n o f o u r N a t i o n a l A n t h e m b r o u g h t t h e w h o l e e v e n t t o a c l o s e .

L e t ’s w o r k h a r d t o g e t h e r a n d c o n t i n u e t o m a k e a d i f f e r e n c e , i n w h a t e v e r r o l e t h a t w e p l a y i n t h e A r m y, i n t h e W o r k y e a r a h e a d !

APRIL 201316

I would like to remind my guys on what Senior Minister of State (Defence) Chan Chun Sing said about not losing sight of the larger environment beyond the SAF and Singapore. This shapes a lot of what we are doing today. As a commander, I must communicate this to my soldiers and help them understand the ‘whys’ of NS and its purpose. To me, there are three parts to building respect and a lot of it is about building credibility. Our soldiers must first believe in their own fighting abilities and secondly, they must have confidence in their war-fighting doctrines. Finally, they must possess a sense of purpose. They need to understand the big picture and relate what they are doing to it.

We’ve done a lot of good work over the last decade and they have not been showcased to the public. Doing so would gain us a lot of social capital and goodwill from the public as it lets them know what we’re doing. People are also our main focus and I think that’s the right thing to do. SMA’s speech on discipline was very, very insightful. This ensures that discipline is not neglected as we build our capabilities. I will also strive to do more and differently in the area of recognition, especially for our NSFs and NSmen.

CPT ZISHAN AMIRDY S3, 3 SIB

SWO PETER ESTROPCOMMANDO FORMATION SERGEANT MAJOR

Today, the seminar is very ground breaking and close to the heart. Everything is face-to-face and we get to hear and clarify issues and at the same time understand how to go around getting an understanding on the term respected. I think it resonated very well with the audience. I think every part of the seminar is relevant. We have a lot of NSmen in Armour and getting them to really understand our Army’s mission and vision is very important. I think we also need to engage the regulars because a lot of emphasis has been put on the NSmen and NSFs. The regulars sometimes tend to be forgotten, so it is good that today they brought it up. This will motivate the regulars to be even more confident and committed in our job, knowing that the Army is taking care of them.

The Army Leadership has full confidence in the Warrant Officer and Specialist Corps and is giving us the opportunity to do what’s right. Like what COA said, it’s not only about doing right things but doing things right. Having a clear understanding of where the Army is going would help us to better achieve our mission and vision. Unlike the past when we took orders without really understanding them, today we are more knowledgeable and this allows us to add value to what our commanders want to achieve. The roles and responsibilities that SMA talked about are very dear to us. For Commandos who are a closely knitted group, it is important that we fully understand our roles and responsibilities to effectively achieve our mission.

SWO GORDON CHITRAN ARMOUR FORMATION SERGEANT MAJOR

APRIL 201316 17

MAJ CHAI GHEN SIONG CAREER MANAGER, AOMC

CPT TONG WEI LYNNSTAFF OFFICER, G1 ARMY

MAJ JAMES LOW, CO 30 SCE

I think it’s good that our Army is now moving towards engaging more of the regulars in addition to reaching out to our NSmen and NSFs. What resonated with me is the part about self-respect, about wearing the uniform with pride and respect. It is also important to have the discipline to do the right thing even when no one is watching. I will be more conscious of this in my daily work and when I am in public, I will strive to uphold the image of our Army.

The seminar was a timely reminder of the good work that the Army has done behind the scene to defend our nation. It also reminded us on the importance of our roles in safeguarding our nation and the need to respect our profession and uniform. If we pursue this mind-set and do our best, we will receive our fellow Singaporeans’ support. I will continue to take pride in my profession and uphold the image of the Army, motivated by the larger purpose of our Army’s mission and vision.

I think the seminar is very engaging and the issues discussed are very close to the heart of most Army commanders. My main takeaway is a better understanding on this year’s theme of building a Respected Army. Every day we do a lot of good work in the Army and sometimes, these are not very recognised. The Army must strengthen the element of respect so that we can garner more support from the public. What will I do differently? I think it starts with the self. Every formation is unique. I will focus on strengthening the Medical formation’s image as an operationally-ready force. When the need arises, we must be ready to make a difference to the soldiers’ lives.

ME4 KOH PING WAH INSTITUTE SERGEANT MAJOR SAF MEDICAL TRAINING INSTITUTE

19 MARCH 201318

MEN OF STEEL

IN ORIENTE PRIMUS

It was this “heat” from overseas deployment that has shaped 3WO Terrence Ng into the soldier he is today. He credited the culture of the formation and said, “As gunners, we have to deliver our firepower and radar systems timely and accurately, and also operate the systems safely as a team. For me, this will shape a soldier to be meticulous, responsible, and have a good attitude towards team work.”

Being meticulous and possessing a high level of readiness came in very handy for 3WO Ng during his overseas deployment. He shared, “In Afghanistan, I was a radar operator and our mission was to provide friendly personnel with early warnings on any indirect attack threats. We had to deal with unfamiliar terrain, so we had to have faith in what we had learnt about operating the radar and systems.”

3WO Ng was also glad that the formation was very supportive towards him and the other team members during their Afghanistan deployment. He said, “The formation had very open communication with us, and gave us technical advice as well as family support.”

He elaborated further, “As a father and a soldier, I have experienced the welfare and support that the Artillery formation has given me, regardless of whether I am on or off duty, and this support has greatly benefited my family and me.”

The Artillery formation has its beginning 125 years ago with the establishment of the Singapore Volunteer Artillery in 1888. In 1967, a young CPT MS Gill was tasked with the responsibility of building up the Artillery capability to support a young SAF. The fledging formation quickly evolved, reaching a major milestone in 1974 when the General Artillery Headquarters was renamed Headquarters Singapore Artillery. Today, the Artillery formation is a formidable force equipped with highly sophisticated platforms and systems to perform a full spectrum of operations.

During his 24 years of service in the Artillery formation, 1WO (RET) Koh has witnessed its transformation first-hand, both in its people and equipment. The Artillery veteran highlighted the importance of teamwork. He said, “Artillery is one formation that requires close teamwork to achieve performance targets. For example, an artillery gun detachment needs all its members to operate as a team for efficiency and safety. All six gun detachments need to work closely for the battery, and the different batteries have to work closely for the battalion to function at its best.”

As such, it is no surprise that his Artillery experiences have enabled 1WO (RET) Koh to be a stronger person, both physically and mentally. He said, “I have

developed professionally over years with my various stints as a Gun Detachment Commander, Battery Sergeant Major and Regimental Sergeant Major in the Artillery

formation. This has allowed me to grow as an individual and contribute to the formation in various capacities.”

1WO (RET) Koh also holds high regard for his fellow Artillery soldiers. He said, “The Gunners Spirit best defined Artillery gunners as “men of steel”. Artillery gunners demonstrate physical and mental resilience during overseas deployment and training. Just as steel undergoes a tempering process through heat, the “heat” from overseas deployment and training helps mould and shape gunners as men of steel.”

1WO (RET) Vincent KohManager, MINDEF

3WO Terrence NgTraining Warrant Officer, 24 SA

1WO Koh (3rd from right) with his fellow Artillery mates during the Artillery 102nd Anniversary 23 years ago

Story by Bjorn Teo / Photography by Dennis Wang and Terrance Yee

OUR PEOPLE

21 APRIL 201320

For 3WO Jeffrey Ho, his biggest source of influence and motivation is his commanders. He said, “Not only do we have competent people in the formation who work to align our values and competency to the organisation’s needs, but also mature commanders who are taking steps to let warrant officers and specialists have more say in training, and more space for us to develop and create our own identity. Without mature commanders in the formation, this would not have taken place.”

During his overseas deployment in Afghanistan, 3WO Ho also experienced the strong cohesion within the formation. He shared, “We are one. This is how I felt when I was going through training and overseas deployment. Whenever I expressed the need for assistance, everyone in the formation rendered their help in any way they could.”

3WO Ho also highlighted a memorable experience with his fellow formation mates, “My unit bought me a birthday gift, delivered it to me, and my Family Liaison Officers celebrated my wife’s birthday with my family when I was away. It was this unity that has touched my heart.”

3WO Ho also believes that the formation’s culture has played a large role in shaping the values of the Signallers. He said, “The four Cs of our formation, ‘Competent’, ‘Confident’, ‘Cohesive’ and ‘Committed’ have clearly shaped what the commanders expect of us, and what we can expect from them. These values have built trust and confidence among the people in the formation, and thus made us more confident of ourselves.”

3WO Ho’s experiences gained from his overseas deployment had also boosted his confidence in the formation. He explained, “During my deployment, I noticed that we have similar systems and capabilities as our Australian and US counterparts. This benchmark gave me the assurance that our Signals leadership is always seeking new capabilities to keep SAF ahead or at least on par with the best militaries in the world.”

3WO Jeffrey Ho Jun MingCompany Sergeant Major, Charlie Coy, 10 C4I Battalion

While the formation has leveraged heavily on technologies, it also focuses strongly on developing its people, as exemplified in the distinguished career of 1WO Leon

Margaret. She is the formation’s longest serving female combat warrant officer with 37 years of service under her belt.

In her long service, 1WO Margaret has developed a close and personal relationship with the formation. She said, “The Army and the Signal

formation are very dear to me as I have improved professionally, and have become more confident in everything that has been

assigned to me over my years in the service. I have definitely become a better person and I would like to thank my

formation for believing in me.”

She also strongly believes in the ability of the Signal soldiers to deliver. She said, “We make up a

great formidable team in any assigned tasking as we believe that ‘as a team, we make it happen’. Teamwork is very important in the Signals formation because we train and understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses before any deployment, and so far, no one has let the Signals formation down.”

1WO Margaret added, “With emerging technologies and tech-savvy soldiers, the formation has

invested heavily in delivering new C4 equipment for the 3rd Generation Army; and developing our people professionally and in leadership qualities. I feel that the formation is heading in the right direction as such investments will instil confidence in our people and develop competent leaders for the future.”

1WO Leon MargaretCourse Commander, Specialist Cadet Training Wing, Signal Institute

SPEED THROUGH SKILL

SIGNAL FORMATION

The Signal formation can trace its humble beginnings to the establishment of the 1st SAF Signal Corps in 1966 at the now-defunct Beach Road Camp. Since then, it has come a long way, developing and maturing into a force with 3rd Generation C4 capabilities.

Story by Bjorn Teo / Photos contributed by 1WO Leon Margaret and 3WO Jeffrey Ho

23 APRIL 201322

The visit to HQ Guards on 1 March provided

Chief of Army (COA), MG Ravinder Singh, with

a good opportunity to engage the commanders

from the Guards formation. Upon his arrival at

Dieppe Barracks, COA participated in an Individual

Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) training, which

included 800m interval training and static exercise. He

later held a lively dialogue session with the commanders

during which two key issues of respect and safety were

discussed.

COA also presented the COA’s Commander Coin to CPT (DR)

Nikhil Gautam (right) for his excellent performance, both as the

Medical Officer (MO) for 1st Battalion Singapore Guards (1 GDS)

and MO 2IC for the Bedok Camp Medical Centre. CPT (DR) Nikhil

also helped to man a National Day Parade (NDP) 2012

medical post and was present for all rehearsals as the MO

in-charge of the NDP Medical Resuscitation Team. He had

even volunteered to extend his full-time National Service

to participate in an overseas exercise.

CPT (DR) Nikhil’s passion to serve was strongly evident

when he volunteered for the Guards Conversion Course

(GCC) last year. It turned out to be a fortuitous life-saving decision when he saved a

trainee’s life during a 12-km fast march test. He recounted, “It

was just minutes after I finished the test when I saw another trainee who was not looking very well. I went to check on

him and after assessing his condition, I decided to evacuate him immediately.” CPT (DR) Nikhil had correctly diagnosed the trainee to be suffering from heat stroke and his

quick thinking and swift action in stabilising him at the Medical Centre’s Body Cooling Unit saved him from

further complications. Despite being physically and mentally fatigued from the test himself, CPT (DR)

Nikhil spent two hours to ensure the recovery of his patient.

For CPT (DR) Nikhil the posting to the Guards formation has been a dream came true.

Taking great pride in being a member of the Guards family, he enthused, “I cannot

think of any specific highlight in my NS, because being in Guards, it has given me a very wide range of experiences

and I enjoyed all of it.”

APRIL 201322

APRIL 201324 25

Armour Road Relay 2013: The need for speed is evident as the baton is passed on

Send us the correct answer and stand a chance to win a pair of Golden Village movie vouchers, There will be 5 winners!

Rank / Name:

Unit: E-mail:

NRIC: Contact No.:

1.ThiscontestisopentoallArmyNewsreadersexcepttheexecutivestaffofArmyNewsSection.2.Eachpersonisallowedoneentry.3.Youcane-mailto:armynews@starnet.gov.sg.Alternatively,youcanalsomailyourentryto:Blk308GombakDrive#04-28Singapore669645.4.Prizesarenotexchangeableforcash.WinnerscaneithercollecttheirprizesfromArmyNewsorarrangeformaildelivery.5.Thejudges’decisionisfinal.6.Prizesnotcollectedwithinamonthofnotificationwillbeforfeited.

Across

3. SITEST helps to ascertain recruits’ ______ qualities.

6. The Signals formation’s humble beginnings can be traced to the 1st SAF Signal Corps located in the now-defunct ______ Road Camp.

Down

1. The _______ Response Force personnel don their gas mask during training to improve their physical and heat endurance.

2. Exercise Bold Kurukshetra is an annual _________ exercise held between the SAF and the Indian Army.

4. The theme for this year’s Army Workplan Seminar - “Building a __________ Army”.

5. In March, 24 SA held an engagement visit to Yishun Junior College under the SAF-School ________ Programme.

APRIL 2013 / ISSUE 210

MARCH / ISSUE 209 Quiz Answers MARCH / ISSUE 209 Winners1. LIONS 4. ACADEMIC2. SAFISAM 5. APPRECIATION3. STAND 6. FACEBOOK

1) DXO NGIA SEOW PING SXXXX641G2) MSG (NS) NGE AIK SIN SXXXX917A3) ME1 JASON TAN JIE SHEN SXXXX532E4) LTA (NS) LIM YEJIE SXXXX781C5) 3SG (NS) OW SENG BEE SXXXX143F

CLOSING DATE: 25 MAY 2013

FITNESS IN ACTION

APRIL 201326