FROM NURSE TO ARMY OFFICER

Going through a mid-career switch can be daunting, but that did not stop 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Zakiah Huda Binte Sapari from taking a leap of faith.

Previously an Emergency Nurse with Woodlands Health Campus, 2LT Zakiah Huda joined nursing a year before the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2019.

“Seeing empty roads in the early mornings back then really made me feel that my healthcare colleagues and I were chosen to fight this pandemic for a reason. The fight was worth it,” recalled the 25-year-old, who was a nurse at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for more than four years before leaving in September 2023.

For her efforts as a frontline worker, she was awarded the COVID-19 Resilience Award in December 2023 by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

Taking the path less travelled

Helping others has always come naturally for 2LT Zakiah Huda, given the numerous times she has put herself at risk as an emergency nurse.

“I always knew I wanted to help people, which is why I became a nurse… But as time went on, I started to feel a stronger urge to serve (in the military) as I wanted to contribute to national defence. It was like there was still something missing inside me,” she said.

Inspired by her four older brothers’ commitment while serving in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), 2LT Zakiah Huda decided to join the military.

She also wanted to continue her late brother’s legacy – he was a dedicated full-time national serviceman who had earned the best Physical Training award and was the top cadet in the foundation term of Specialist Cadet School 18/2013 batch in ‘B’ Company.

It was his dream to enter Officer Cadet School (OCS). Unfortunately, he passed away in a traffic accident in 2014.

“Now, ten years later, I'm here to fulfil his dream of becoming an SAF officer.”

Women in uniform

In September 2023, 2LT Zakiah Huda entered Basic Military Training (BMT).

For her, there wasn’t a big shock transiting to the military as she had already experienced a slice of it during her time in the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) a few months earlier.

“(BMT) wasn’t too foreign to me as I have already gone through the two-week Basic Training when I was in the SAFVC,” said 2LT Zakiah Huda, who added that she felt empowered and united in purpose with her batch mates during BMT.

She had joined the SAFVC while still working as a nurse in March 2023.

 Her BMT commanders also left a positive impact on her. “Their ability to connect personally and professionally, being very patient and dedicated to developing very new young soldiers, inspires me to commit to excellence,” said 2LT Zakiah Huda.

“I definitely had a good start to my army career because of them.”

Emerging stronger

While she was in OCS, 2LT Zakiah Huda was hit with another tragedy – her grandmother’s passing.

Transforming loss into strength was not easy, but she managed to do it.

“The toughest moment was booking in a day right after my grandmother passed away and was laid to rest."

“My commanders offered me compassionate leave but I knew she wouldn’t have wanted me to spend the days alone crying over her. She was the strongest, most independent and determined woman I know,” recalled 2LT Zakiah Huda.

“That particular book-in was one of my hardest outfields to date. Yet again, a new limit was broken during that outfield – I didn’t know I could be that strong.”

Becoming an officer

On 7 Sep, 2LT Zakiah Huda was among 196 cadets who were commissioned as officers in a parade held at SAFTI Military Institute (SAFTI MI).

Of the graduands, 141 were from the Singapore Army, two from the Republic of Singapore Navy and 53 from the Republic of Singapore Air Force. 

Following her commissioning, 2LT Zakiah Huda will be going through the Guards Conversion Course on 18 Sep. She will then be posted to 3rd Battalion,Singapore Guards as a Platoon Commander.

Her success today is thanks to a strong spirit that drives her in overcoming setbacks and becoming a better leader.

“I’ve never experienced such rigorous physical demands as I did during my training at OCS… This experience has really helped me to be adaptive to my training,” said 2LT Zakiah Huda.

“Working with a diverse age group has taught me about teamwork, the importance of understanding different perspectives and, ultimately, managing a team with varying levels of experience and age.”