“TIGER MUM” IN RSAF’S 203 SQN

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“TIGER MUM” IN RSAF’S 203 SQN https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/6may25_news1
06 May 2025 | PEOPLE

“TIGER MUM” IN RSAF’S 203 SQN

ME4 Lucy Apparajoo may not be blood-related to those under her charge, but she’s forged close bonds with them through her care and compassion.

//STORY BY NICOLE YONG /PHOTOS BY CHAI SIAN LIANG & LOH YU ZE

"Tiger mum" ME4 Apparajoo (second from right) is the Command Chief of 203 SQN who takes pride in caring for the people under her charge.

Parents, teachers or mentors – we often look up to different people at various stages in life.

For many Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and Regulars at 203 Squadron (SQN), it is 58-year-old Military Expert (ME) 4 Lucy Apparajoo.

Known as a motherly figure in the squadron, this Command Chief strikes the right balance of kindness and tough love, getting others to open up their heart to her.

Overseeing a large squadron

ME4 Apparajoo has been the Command Chief of 203 SQN – which manages Singapore’s airspace and provides inflight control for the RSAF’s operations – since 2022.

Apart from being involved in day-to-day operations, she looks into the safety as well as regimentation and discipline of over 100 personnel. These include Air Operations & Systems Experts, Air Operations Specialists, and Air Warfare Officers.

ME4 Apparajoo (second from left) at a dialogue session in 2023.

ME4 Apparajoo (front row, second from left) with 203 SQN during a cycling trip at East Coast in 2024

ME4 Apparajoo doesn’t let the size of her team intimidate her. A paracounseller since 2013, she constantly checks in with them – whether they are operating in base or at other locations – to ensure that they are doing well.

“The feedback that my NSFs and Regulars have always given me is that they know I’m a very tough person in terms of discipline. But at the end of the day, they see how much I care for them and value their inputs.

“When they look back, they realise that they’ve grown to become a better person. That makes me very happy. These are the memories that I’ll always keep with me,” she fondly recalled.

To Corporal (CPL) Mark Lee Jun Kai, a 20-year-old Signal Specialist in 203 SQN, ME4 Apparajoo is “someone who really tries to go beyond what her duty entails”.

“I remember her trying to get to know everyone in the squadron personally – including my batch mates and I – and this is a difficult task because the squadron is very big.”

To ME4 Apparajoo, one of her most impactful moments in her role is when she receives positive feedback from her NSFs after they ORD (reach their Operationally Ready Date).

ME4 Apparajoo (front row, fourth from left) with her colleagues at Marina Barrage for a National Education tour in 2024.

Being a “tiger mum”

“I’m a tiger mum – it’s a lot of tough love,” ME4 Apparajoo said with a laugh as she described the type of mother figure she has become to them.

“Where work is concerned, I am very strict. But they also know that I can ‘come down’ to be very caring and take care of their welfare.”

To bridge the wide age gap between her and the younger generation in her team, she takes up many courses and is now a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner, often using these skills to reach out to them.

When asked if they joke around with each other often, ME4 Apparajoo teasingly exclaimed: “You give them an inch, they ask for a yard! Once they are comfortable with me, they can get very naughty.”

ME4 Apparajoo (front row, far right) celebrating Air Surveillance and Control Group’s anniversary in 2025.

As a mother of two sons (who are aged 33 and 29 this year), ME4 Apparajoo sees many similarities between raising her boys and guiding those under her charge.

“I always tell my guys that they are like my children –  because anything that happens to them, I am responsible for it.

“Whenever I scold them or instruct them about certain things, I will always explain the reason for it. I do these things because I care for them. Care and love come with discipline as well.”

(From left) CPL Lee, 3SG Bahadur and ME1 Wong Hansen, 22, are Signal Specialists who work closely under ME4 Apparajoo (second from right) in 203 SQN. All three share the same sentiments that she is a tough “tiger mum” when she needs to be, but they appreciate her kindness and guidance as a leader.

Signal Specialist 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Vedant Bahadur, 20, can certainly attest to this. “ME4 Apparajoo is always there to give us support and make the tough decisions that we may not like in the moment.

“But after reflecting, we know that it was the right call and we trust her guidance.

“I think the next batch of NSFs would be very lucky to have her!”

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