By Calyss Ng (24A01A) and Vera Heng (24S03R)
In commemoration of the 40th year of Total Defence (TD40), we welcomed 1 Guards (1st Guards Battalion) as they put forward a school exhibition on 15 February 2024. The booths gave students a sneak peek into military life—from taste-testing military food rations to trying out various military weaponry—in hopes of evoking greater appreciation of their commitment to national defence.
It was quite a sight to see the canteen being unusually empty that day, as students crowded around the booths lining from the Hodge Lodge, all the way to the Amphitheatre. “Besides discovering my hidden talent for shooting, I learnt a lot more about the strength of Singapore’s military,” shared Claire Ong (24S06K). “We should not take our country’s safety for granted.”
“I would rate the pasta 6.5/10 and the mashed potatoes 7.5/10. Besides the coldness and aftertaste, it tasted quite normal,” Jade Yap (24S03R) commented, when asked about how the military food rations tasted.
“Contrary to popular belief, most people think that going to the NS doesn’t bring them transferable skills. However, I beg to differ,” 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Sakthidaran Avanindran, a commander, expressed. “As a commander, I have six to seven men to take care of. I also have superiors that I have to respect and take instructions from,” he explained. “That is the same sort of hierarchy one would face in the workplace.” 3SG Sakthidaran found himself becoming much more responsible and started to understand that the daily decisions he made “would not only impact him, but also the people around him”.
“As cliché as it sounds, NS (National Service) is the one milestone that transforms boys to men.”
3SG Sakthidaran Avanindran
When asked for words of advice, Corporal (CPL) Justin Boh assured that although life as a Guardsman can be challenging, it “builds brotherhood and shapes you into a stronger individual”. CPL Justin remarked that challenging periods come alongside rewarding times, pointing to the care and support from their commanding officers as an example.
“Overall, Guards is a close-knitted family,” he said. Justin also urges the upcoming batch of NS men—the current J2s—to have better mental preparation for their transition from civilian to military life. “Things like being separated from your family and being confined in Tekong require a strong mental fortitude.”
“Guards is an infantry unit but with many different varied capabilities such as amphibious and helicopter operations. As a vocation it is tough but interesting,” 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Hiren elaborates, reflecting on how the process of overcoming challenges together served to help him forge stronger bonds with his unit.
“When it comes to resilience and teamwork, those two things are what gets you through NS because you’re away from friends and family and having such experiences build your resilience to face obstacles.”
2LT Hiren, a Guardsman
Beyond getting a glimpse of the NS experience, the Guardsmen also hoped that students would take away greater lessons on Total Defence from the exhibit. “Besides Guards, there are many other vocations as an NSF like artillery,” explains Corporal (CPL) Chapman.
He suggested learning more about the SAF through open houses such as those by the Navy, or the ‘Anything But Regular’ campaign which shows small snippets of what the army does through documentaries.
When asked about how the younger generation could best contribute to Total Defence, CPL Chapman aptly brought up the introduction of the new sixth pillar of defence: cybersecurity. “Its importance can be seen when we look at the increasing number of online scams and misinformation. The younger generation, who are more tech-savvy, should have a stake to play in it,” he explains.
Ultimately, they emphasised that regardless of whether someone was actively serving in the Armed Forces, they would still have an ability to contribute to Total Defence.
“There are many aspects to Total Defence and the military is just part of it. It is the community’s responsibility in terms of awareness in fostering racial and religious harmony in society.”
CPL Chapman, a Guardsman
