FROM BEACH ROAD TO THE CHEVRONS; 40 YEARS OF BUILDING BONDS

From a small clubhouse on Beach Road, the Warrant Officers, Specialists and Enlistees (WOSE) club has grown to a four-storey modern clubhouse called The Chevrons. Sitting in western Singapore, the clubhouse provides a leafy respite for its 34,000 members.

The club marked its fortieth year with an anniversary dinner held at - where else - its clubhouse on 13 Mar. Speaking at the dinner, 2nd Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing said: "We want to increase the contributions of the Warrant Officer (WO) Corps...as one of the three pillars of leadership in the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces)."

Having spent more than two decades in the SAF, he recounted his early days as a soldier: "As young officers who just joined the Army, it was the Warrant Officers who taught us how to care for our men."

Beyond formal training and operations, the club is an avenue for SAF WOs and Specialists to bond. Said Mr Chan: "Many of the Warrant Officers and Specialists have spent time over the years building up their bonds and personal ties, building up the trust."

"Never underestimate the role played by the club and the role played by the Warrant Officers and Specialists."

The WOSE club remains a rallying point for its members amid the growing responsibilities and stature of the WO Corps. "We come here for cohesion activities - the facilities are good and affordable - and the unit is able to bond and have a meaningful time together, " said Military Expert (ME) 3-2 Ruan Qin Yuan, 39.

The WOSE club began life as the Non-Commissioned Officers club in 1974. "Things have evolved - the club now involves the families of servicemen more," added ME3-2 Ruan, who joined the Navy in 1992 and is now Coxswain on board RSS Endurance - a Landing Ship Tank.

"The club is a good place for us to catch up."

Others hold fond memories tied to the club. For Operationally Ready National Serviceman Master Warrant Officer (MWO) (NS) Frederick Seah, he will always remember the Beach Road clubhouse as the place where he bought his first hi-fi set.

"It was black and sleek - and I was really proud to show it off," said MWO (NS) Seah, 47, who runs a communications firm. He serves as Brigade Sergeant Major in the 12th Singapore Infantry Brigade.

Back in the old days, the NCO club - then located on Beach Road - also operated shops that sold necessities to servicemen on instalments.

"That was one of the ways that the club took care of servicemen," explained SAF Sergeant Major Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Joseph Koa. "Nowadays, Singaporeans are more affluent and the club has also evolved to keep pace." The club now has lifestyle facilities like karaoke rooms, chalets and lounges.

"With the expanded responsibilities of the Warrant Officer Corps, the club is even more important to gel us together and form trust," he added.

The club is not just for Regulars. Full-Time National Servicemen like Lance-Corporal (LCP) Yeo Choon Poh also enjoy holding personal events at the clubhouse. "Some of my friends have celebrated birthdays here, and my unit also holds activities at The Chevrons," said the 25-year-old from Headquarters Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command.

The anniversary event was also attended by former SAF Sergeant Majors and the pioneer group of WOs which included Captain (Retired) Hong Seng Mak - also known as Tiger Hong.

Said Senior Warrant Officer Teo See Keong: "In my 29 years in the SAF, I've been coming to the club." He is currently serving the SAF Warrant Officers School as Directing Staff (Army).

"It's about the brotherhood (among us), and the club has played a big part in bonding us. It's like a rallying point."