TRAINING WITH PURPOSE

“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” 

Every Army Deployment Force (ADF) trainee who has passed through Master Sergeant (MSG) Nathanial Ng knows that this cadre cares as deeply about their personal development as he does their skills and knowledge.

A trainer with a reputation

Having only taken on the role in 2024, MSG Ng may be relatively new to being a trainer. But he has already earned himself a name for being the go-to guy if the trainees have any questions.

Although a man of few words, the 30-year-old is known for his wealth of knowledge and willingness to help.

Former trainee 2nd Sergeant (2SG) Hamza Lu Fanghai said: “He has quite the reputation – they always say, if you need somebody to ask (for answers), you should go to him. 

“Even after leaving the training wing for Ops Coy (Operations Company), many operators still go to him with their questions.” 

2SG Lu, 24, had spent four months training under MSG Ng in the training wing. He described the latter as “very understanding, very reliable and very patient”.

With purpose & reason

MSG Ng understands the high standards demanded of an ADF operator – soldiers in this high-readiness unit are trained to deal with a range of threats, from terrorism to national emergencies or natural disasters.

After several years, becoming a trainer felt like a natural progression as MSG Ng wanted to impart the right skills and lessons to new soldiers joining ADF.

He drew inspiration from the seniors who shaped his own experience and forged the soldier he is today: “They taught me that if you want to do something, do it properly. Don’t try and cheat your way through it or find a shortcut.” 

Describing his training style, MSG Ng calls it “very practical”. 

For him, every lesson “must have purpose”, and he makes sure to explain to his trainees the rationale behind what they do.

2SG Lu is one of the trainees who appreciates MSG Ng’s efforts. He recalled an outfield exercise where MSG Ng repeatedly reminded them of the importance of weapon maintenance, down to the oiling and clearing of the gun barrel.

“Most people see it (weapon maintenance) as going through the motion, but if you don’t maintain your weapon, it will not serve you.”

Every trainee a leader

On his no-nonsense, purposeful approach to training, MSG Ng pointed to the ADF’s mission and the unique responsibilities borne by those who join its ranks. 

“(When we carry out our operations,) we have to deal with members of the public, so we need to think about how to resolve situations calmly. 

“We need our operators to be street smart and empathetic towards the civilians (they encounter), (which is) something not a lot of other units are trained to do.” 

The expectations placed on each ADF operator are high too, he added. 

They are not just expected to be physically fit and clinch the minimum IPPT (Individual Physical Proficiency Test) gold standard. Every member is also expected to be a leader, regardless of rank. 

Which is why it brings him satisfaction when trainees begin to ask deeper questions that are not just about “how we do things, but why”, showing that they are trying to “think in depth”.

From trainees to teammates

Having just completed taking his first batch of trainees through the ADF Combat Qualification Course, MSG Ng’s greatest pride comes from watching them grow from freshmen to soldiers he would be proud to fight alongside.

“When you see them at the start, they’re all just lost, very lost!” he said with a laugh.

“But slowly, as they go through the training and push through (challenges), you see them becoming someone you will trust… (All these trainees are) going to be your teammates in the future, so that’s good to see.”

He is looking forward to the day his next batch of trainees graduate to become full-fledged operators.

“Once they finish everything and stand at the ceremony to receive their badges, that will be rewarding (to me). It shows our efforts over the past few months (have borne fruit).”