ALL IN THE FAMILY 2

It's not surprising to find three soldiers in a family. But what if one of them is a girl?

Military Expert 1 Trainee (ME 1T) Esther Yeo is the only girl in a family of boys, but forging a career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had always been her dream.

"I've wanted to join the military since I was young. I see this as a challenge, and I'm pushing myself to achieve a higher standard," said the sporty 23-year-old, who plays an impressive variety of sports ranging from soccer to volleyball and badminton. "My Dad is especially supportive, as he knows I'm the sporty kind and the training wouldn't be a problem for me."

Having an Operationally-ready National Serviceman (NSman) elder brother is also helpful. "He gave me tips and taught me to pack my 10-pack items and lay them out in order on the ground sheet," the ammunition specialist said of her 26-year-old brother, who is in 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment.

With a sister who is a Silver Bayonet recipient, the pressure is now on her younger brother, who will be enlisting soon. "He wants to keep up to my standard, so he has been running more to stay fit," she explained modestly.

ME1T Yeo was one of 1,003 Specialist Cadets (SCTs) who received their 3rd Sergeant epaulettes at the 23rd Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade on 24 Jun, at Pasir Laba Camp.

The parade marked the end of a gruelling 22-week Specialist Cadet Course (SCC), during which the SCTs from the Army, Navy and Air Force underwent rigorous and realistic training to prepare them as leaders in the SAF.

Reviewing Officer Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Law and Education, congratulated the SCTs on their graduation. Reminding them that people were the SAF's most valuable assets, she extolled them to take their new responsibilities seriously.

"The strength of the SAF lies not in its military hardware, but in the continued competence, commitment and fighting spirit of its people," she told the graduands, in the presence of their families and friends.

"Train your soldiers well, train them hard, and help them achieve the standards that you set for them. Maximise their strengths, unlock their potential and motivate them to give their best. Help your men understand and internalise the importance of NS. Lead by example and with conviction, empathise with your fellow soldiers, and engage them sincerely - be their friend, their guide and their mentor."

Being given the opportunity to lead was the reason SCT Yong Heng Soon decided to become a specialist. At 35, he had spent 16 years as an infantry enlistee before working his way up. He was awarded the Golden Bayonet for his outstanding performance in the SCC.

"When I came to the SCC, I already knew most of the things (about the Army). But it's still a learning process because I started out as an enlistee and now I m a sergeant. I can understand the challenges my sergeants faced (when leading their men)," said the infantry specialist.

Being the oldest SCT in his cohort, he had many life experiences to share with his fellow course mates. However, he admitted that he, too, was learning from them: "Training with them is also beneficial to me because when I train younger soldiers in future, I will know how to manage them."

As for SCT Mohammad Hafeez bin Mohammad Rafik, the SCC was a journey of self-discovery. He said: "Going through the SCS, I saw that I had the personality and charisma to be a leader, and I felt that this was what I wanted to do." Currently a full-time National Serviceman, the 21-year-old infantry specialist is planning to sign on as a Regular. "I want to join the force and make a difference to the lives of people around me," he added.

The Silver Bayonet recipient was also grateful to his parents for their support through the five-and-a-half-month course. "They told me: 'Don t give up, it's just a little bit more. Go for it.'." They also had a special catchphrase for SCT Hafeez: "Believe to achieve", which he held fast to throughout his course.

Family support was also an essential component in SCT Sashindran s/o Rajendran's journey to becoming a specialist and a Regular in the Air Force. After completing his NS, he worked as an aircraft component technician for about a year before deciding to return to the SAF.

"My parents told me that if I could endure the training during NS, I could definitely do it better this second time around," he explained. He was also awarded the Golden Bayonet.

The 24-year-old Air Defence Systems specialist had another reason for choosing to join the SAF. "After working outside, I realised that this is where I belong. Also, reading in the news about potential threats, I (want to) contribute to the nation by coming back and being a part of the Air Force," he said.