My Dad and I, marching together for S’pore

Imagine if the head of your marching contingent was also…the head of your household?

Military Expert 4 Apprentice (ME4A) Timothy Quek will be marching in the Defence and Intelligence Service (DIS) GOH contingent, with someone very special leading the way – his father ME5 Jesper Quek is the Contingent Commander!

The 20-year-old has just begun his journey as a Military Intelligence Expert in the DIS, just like his dad.

Growing together, serving together

ME5 Quek, 47, and ME4A Quek may soon be sharing the NDP stage, but this is not the first time they are donning the same uniform together.

ME5 Quek, a section head in the Joint Intelligence Command (JIC), turned up in his No. 4 uniform to support ME4A Quek at his Basic Military Training (BMT) graduation parade in March last year.

“Another time was when Timothy was on course in the same camp that I was working in, and we met up a few times to have lunch together,” ME5 Quek recounted.

“Those meals we had together were memorable as it was during a stay-in period for me, so I was delighted to be able to see my father, not just on the weekends!” said ME4A Quek, who is now in JIC as well.

ME5 Quek added: “As a father, I feel a deep sense of pride watching my son undergo the same rite of passage, and we have a lot more common topics to talk about.”

Lessons from father to son

Although ME4A Quek’s decision to sign on was his own, growing up and hearing about his father’s military experiences gave him an early glimpse into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

It wasn’t until BMT that the idea of a career in the SAF began to take root. Enlisting gave the Anglo-Chinese Junior College alumnus a stronger sense of purpose and motivation to give back to the nation.

In March 2024, he signed on with the DIS.

ME5 Quek admitted that he was surprised by his son’s decision: “I didn’t expect that he would follow in my footsteps, but I feel a sense of achievement that he has grown up to be a man serving the SAF and protecting our nation.”

Asked what’s the best piece of advice his father has given him, ME4A Quek replied: “To always place the mission and the team before myself.”

In step, on and off duty

Father and son don’t just share the same workplace, they also share a love for rearing parrots – 12 of them in fact!

“Aside from bringing our pet parrots for walks, we often have meals as a family, and we also participate in leisure activities together,” said ME4A Quek.

He added that stepping into a similar role within the SAF gives him a deeper appreciation of the responsibilities his father has shouldered, and a quiet determination to honour that legacy in his own way.

ME5 Jesper, too, takes pride in seeing that continuity, and in knowing that the values he upholds are being carried forward to the next generation.

We continue to upkeep our core values and do our best for the SAF,” he said.

Marching forward

Marching together at the NDP, especially in a year like SG60 when Singapore is celebrating a milestone birthday, makes the experience even more special for the pair.

Said ME5 Quek: “I’m excited and looking forward to such a memorable moment in my life, to be able to march alongside my son.”

ME4A Quek added:“It’s about carrying on the legacy my father has created.”