FROM MILITARY MUSICIAN TO MILITARY POLICEWOMAN

Her mother is the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) first female military musician, and her father is the SAF Band’s longest-serving Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM).

Being in the military runs in 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Nurin Qhaireena Binte Abdul Razak’s blood, and today she’s forging her own path in the SAF Military Police (MP) Command.

Following in her parents’ footsteps

Growing up, 3SG Nurin enjoyed listening to her mum and dad’s stories about the SAF.

Curious about the military life and wanting to understand her parents’ experiences better, she decided to take the leap of faith and sign on.

But you’d be surprised if you thought her decision would be met with no questions – instead, her parents were shocked, and her siblings even tried to talk her out of it! 

As the youngest of four, her family was worried that she wouldn’t be able to cope with the rigors of military life.

“My friends thought I was super cool though,” the 20-year-old said with a laugh.

She pushed ahead because she wanted to prove that she could do it, and, despite their initial worries, they came to support her decision.

“Dad would always tell me his army stories. After I enlisted, he also shared his knowledge and experiences to help make (my adjustment to life in) the SAF less overwhelming,” she shared.

On 2 Apr, she enlisted into Basic Military Training (BMT). 

Learning from “The Legend”

Of course, 3SG Nurin has some of the best role models.

Her dad, ME3 (Ret) Abdul Razak Mohammed Noor, is a familiar face to generations of military musicians, having spent 40 years in the SAF Band and the last two decades as its RSM.

“Every time his colleagues talked to me, they would either say: ‘Your dad is a legend’ or ‘He’s a good boss’.

“It let me know that he’s a great leader who inspires and empathises with others, and I aspired to be like him one day,” 3SG Nurin shared.  

Her mum, Ms Nur Saba Aziz, was also a trailblazer – she was the first woman to join the then-Republic of Singapore Navy band where she served as a clarinettist.

In fact, that was where she and ME3 (Ret) Abdul Razak first met!

“It felt like my mum broke barriers by being the first woman in the SAF Band, so I wanted to be like her too!” she added.

The Service bands were later restructured and the SAF Band was formally established in 1994.

Choosing her own path

Although 3SG Nurin is a musician herself and plays the guitar and ukelele, she knew that her passions lay elsewhere.

On 13 Aug, she entered the Military Police Specialist Cadet Course (MPSCC) as the only female cadet.

Her most memorable experience? Undergoing Exercise StrongTower, where she had to learn how to adapt to different situations and lead others in her role as Leader Platoon Specialist.

“We went through multiple scenarios under high pressure and fatigue. Once, we had a simulated mission at 4am to search a building for two people armed with weapons. Everyone worked together and we all understood why (such training is) so crucial.”

All her hard work and perseverance over the 22 weeks paid off: she was named the top cadet of the MPSCC.

On 20 Nov, she was awarded the Golden Bayonet at the Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade (SCGP) held at Pasir Laba Camp. 

“I feel proud to be receiving the Golden Bayonet because I worked really hard for this.”

She added emotionally: “It means a lot to my family too, because it shows that their support over the past eight months of my training has not gone to waste.”

She is looking forward to the next phase of her journey, where she will be taking on a new role in the Military Police Enforcement Unit.

No longer just “the boss’ daughter”

3SG Nurin and her dad continue to share a special bond watching movies and travelling overseas together.

Now, they are closer than ever, thanks to their shared military experiences.

“I hope my daughter will strive and excel in everything she is involved in,” ME3 (Ret) Abdul Razak said, watching 3SG Nurin march in the graduation parade.

3SG Nurin reflected: “When I was younger, it was fun to be ‘the boss’ daughter’. Once I got older and more mature, I felt proud that my dad had gained a lot of respect from the people around him.”