DOING HER PART FOR THE NATION

17oct19_news-1 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/_migrated_english/17oct19_news-1.jpg?sfvrsn=88feaae3_2 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/DOING-HER-PART-FOR-THE-NATION
https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/DOING-HER-PART-FOR-THE-NATION
DOING HER PART FOR THE NATION
17 Oct 2019 | PEOPLE

DOING HER PART FOR THE NATION

// Report by Chia Chong Jin

// Photos by Chua Soon Lye

Would you reschedule your honeymoon to cover for a colleague while he went for In-Camp Training (ICT)? Ms Ulfah Khairiah Binte Aman did just that in December last year. She went out of her way to help her colleague who had report to for ICT. His ICT dates happened to clash with her honeymoon plans.

"The both of us work together as a pair, so if we were to be away during the same period, our work would have piled up by the time we return – there would be a mountain of backlog that we would have to take care of," said the 24-year-old Fleets and Assets Supervisor of SMRT Buses.

"I also didn't want a situation where both of us weren't available to return to work if there was an emergency, so I did what's best for both of us."

She reported back to work just two days after wedding, and rescheduled her honeymoon plans so that she could cover her colleague's duties. She is convinced that it was the right thing to do, as it allowed her colleague to better focus on his National Service (NS) duties.

For her selfless act, Ms Ulfah received the NS Advocate Award for Individuals at the annual Total Defence Awards Dinner held on 17 Oct at Raffles City Convention Centre.

A total of 167 NS Advocates Awards were presented to 85 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), 44 Large Companies, 31 Organisations and seven Individuals.

The award is the highest accolade conferred on businesses, organisations and individuals in recognition of their exemplary support towards Total Defence and NS.

Speaking at the dinner, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How highlighted that today's security challenges have expanded to include terrorism, cyberattacks, disinformation and other subversive activities.

He also said that Total Defence remains relevant, and that it is more important than ever to get Singaporeans to work together to defend the nation.

Mr Heng also commended the award recipients for their contributions to Total Defence and NS. He said: "Individual actions and vigilance make a real difference… There are myriad ways each of us can make this difference.

"Bottom-line is: together, we are stronger."

His words resonated with the recipients. Said Ms Ulfah: "Us Singaporeans are counting on our Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) and full-time National Servicemen to defend us when the time arrives.

"Without them, whom do we depend on?"

While she is glad to be presented with the NS Advocate Award, she recognised that she could not have done it without the support of her husband, 3SG (NS) Muhammad Danial bin Zainal.

Asked what her husband thought of the idea to reschedule their honeymoon, Ms Ulfah said: "As an NSman himself, he understood the importance of ICTs.

"I'm very thankful for my husband's support and for being here for me."

Suggested Reading
Feature
CHAMPIONS FOR INNOVATION
TECHNOLOGY
30 Jul 2025

Eleven Minister for Defence Awards (MDA) were given out this year, for innovations by MINDEF and SAF personnel that led to improved efficiency and safer working conditions.

Feature
GIANT LEAPS INTO NEW BOOTS
PEOPLE
29 Jul 2025

A career change is never easy, but a jump out of their comfort zones into the SAF is just what mid-careerists ME4 Jessica Ho and ME4 V. Yoginita wanted.

Feature
BEHIND THE PARADE
COMMUNITY
28 Jul 2025

Months of hard work and burnt weekends, all for Singapore’s biggest birthday bash. Here’s your backstage pass to this year’s National Day Parade!

MINDEF VOLUNTEERS HONOURED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO S’PORE’S DEFENCE
COMMUNITY
24 Jul 2025

These volunteers play a key role in promoting public awareness on defence matters and inspiring support for National Service.

FROM AUDITOR TO AIR WARFARE OFFICER
PEOPLE
23 Jul 2025

LTA Liz Voon swapped financial audits for air defence missions. Meet this mid-careerist who left one of the “Big 4” accounting firms to pursue her purpose in the RSAF, in PIONEER’s “From Desk to Field” series!

SHIP-TACULAR NDP 2025 DISPLAY AT MARINA BAY
COMMUNITY
19 Jul 2025

The maritime display is part of this year’s special NDP mobile column, joining the aerial flypast over the Padang and the drive-past along St Andrew’s Road.

Cover story
COMMITMENT IS OUR GREATEST DETERRENCE: MR CHAN
OPS & TRAINING
19 Jul 2025

Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing witnessed the commitment of NSmen to Singapore’s defence, during his visit to a mobilisation exercise involving over 2,000 soldiers.

WHEN ENGINEERING INNOVATION MEETS NATIONAL DEFENCE
PEOPLE
16 Jul 2025

ME5 Joshua Tay brings 18 years of expertise in many different fields to the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS). Meet this mid-careerist in the latest of PIONEER’s “From Desk to Field” series!

Cover story
FLYING HIGH FOR SG60
COMMUNITY
10 Jul 2025

The sky’s the limit when it comes to putting on a spectacular National Day Parade (NDP) aerial display for Singapore’s Diamond Jubilee. 

From hospital ward to hyperbaric chamber
PEOPLE
09 Jul 2025

ME1 Kaitlynn Arumugam shares why she made the switch from nursing to joining the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), in the latest of PIONEER’s From Desk to Field series.