ANSWERING A NATIONAL CALLING; EIGHT AWARDED SAF OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIP

There are some things you just have to see to know what you must do. For Officer Cadet (OCT) Lim Yu Han, who has always been interested in public service, a flight over Singapore in a Chinook helicopter cemented his decision to make defence his career.

"I saw for myself how small Singapore really was. One moment, I saw the Marina Bay area and the next moment after the helicopter turned, it was all HDB flats," said OCT Lim.

That experience made him realise how vulnerable the nation was, and that he wanted to play a part in protecting it. The short introductory flight was organised by the Republic of Singapore Air Force during his student days.

He was one of eight OCTs who received the prestigious Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Overseas Scholarship from Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Istana on 29 Jul.

When asked why he chose a military career, OCT Lim said: "There's a purpose and greater meaning to this job. It's not going to be an easy career, but I'm sure it will be a fulfilling and challenging one."

The 19-year-old also holds the distinction of being the first from the NUS High School to be awarded the scholarship, widely recognised as being second only to the President's Scholarship. He will head to Yale College in the United States to read Global Affairs.

Speaking to the recipients at the ceremony, Dr Ng reminded them of the responsibilities they must bear as SAF scholars. "This national calling, to be a SAFOS recipient, comes with a heavy responsibility, but it is a noble and deeply satisfying one... you will be regarded as role models personifying the values of the SAF."

Fellow SAFOS recipient OCT Jonathan Loh You Qing, 19, took a more philosophical stance as to why he chose the SAF over other career paths. "What you cannot guard, you cannot call your own. That's why I see defence as one of the core instruments of the state. Without defence, there is no peace."

"The SAF also provides many unique opportunities for me to lead men and a chance to influence their development for the better," he added. The Raffles Institution alumnus will head to Imperial College in the United Kingdom to read Ecology and Environmental Biology.

Another SAFOS recipient OCT Maung Thet Naing Win, also mentioned his short flight with the RSAF as one of the reasons he chose to join the SAF.

Though born in Myanmar, he has spent most of this life in Singapore and is now a Singapore citizen. The 19-year-old has signed on as a pilot. Like OCT Loh, he will be going to Imperial College, but reading Chemistry. "People might see me differently but I feel the same (as any Singaporean) since I grew up here."

OCT Maung Thet's parents, who had lived under military rule in Myanmar, were initially against him choosing a military career. "But that only made me question more and strengthened my resolve to join the military. I think that I can best contribute to Singapore's defence as a military man."

The SAFOS, introduced in 1971, is awarded annually to outstanding service personnel who have excelled in their studies and co-curricular activities, and performed well in the Officer Cadet Course.

Upon completion of their tertiary education, the scholars return to assume a variety of challenging appointments to groom them for the highest level of leadership positions in the SAF and the Ministry of Defence.