INTEGRATING THE NEWCOMERS

How has National Service (NS) -- which has been described as a social glue -- brought new citizens and permanent residents closer to Singaporeans, and shaped their lives? PIONEER speaks to three to find out.

2LT Scott Alexander
Permanent Resident / Country of origin: United Kingdom

How come angmo (Hokkien for Caucasian) need to do NS? This is a question that 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Alexander often gets from taxi drivers.

The 20-year-old London-born is a second-generation Permanent Resident (PR) who came to Singapore as a toddler. His father and mother are PRs working here.

Despite growing up in Singapore, he did not interact much with the locals, having studied in an international school since Primary 3. Imagine the kind of culture shock he had when he enlisted for NS in 2014!

"Obviously I was very nervous," he recalled. "It was a big culture shock, but in a good way. I've met people from all over Singapore, from all different walks of life."

For 2LT Alexander, NS has helped to build his character. The most challenging experience for him so far was the nine-day Jungle Confidence Course where he had to survive on just two days' worth of combat rations. "I'd never felt so hungry before," he recalled. "But it helped to build my mental strength. I learnt that if I set my mind on something, I can do it."

Now a staff officer in the Training and Development Branch, Officer Cadet School, he cherishes the special bonds and friendships that he has developed in the Army.

"I feel that NS has brought me closer to Singaporeans. It is a common ground for everyone. No matter if you are a junior college or polytechnic student, or from any background, everybody serves two years," said 2LT Alexander, who hopes to get his citizenship in the near future.

"If you run out of conversation topics at a dinner table, you always have NS to fall back on -- the times you had to crawl in the mud and dig trenches."

CFC Anuraj Rajesh
New Citizen / Country of origin: India

When Corporal First Class (CFC) Anuraj enlisted for NS in 2014, he got to know a different world -- one that was markedly different from the one he grew up in.

The 20-year-old comes from a well-off family, and studied in the United World College of Southeast Asia, an international school. In contrast, one of his section mates had to juggle work and studies in order to support his family. Another was already a father of a baby.

Living and training with them enabled him to understand the struggles of people of different backgrounds. "In NS, they put you right in the middle of it. You start to understand and appreciate the hardship that others go through," said CFC Anuraj, who came to Singapore at the age of four, and became a citizen in 2013.

On one occasion, CFC Anuraj, an assistant investigation officer in the Military Police Command, escorted a drug offender for a house search.

Upon entering the house, the offender collapsed to his knees and apologised to his mother for what he had done. She was crestfallen to see him in handcuffs, but there was no scolding -- just tears and hugs from mother and son. "I couldn't show my emotions as I needed to remain professional, but I was tearing inside," he recalled.

Part of his job requires him to assure the accused that they have a future if they learn from their mistakes. "My biggest takeaway from NS is having the chance to understand the different backgrounds that people come from, and being able to make an effort to help them in any way possible," he said.

LTA Tee Chze Hao
New Citizen / Country of origin: Malaysia

During his Full-time NS, booking out from camp meant a long journey across the Causeway. Lieutenant (LTA) Tee was then a second-generation PR, but resided in Johor Bahru. His Malaysian parents are PRs who have been working in Singapore for decades.

"The journey didn't bother me. I see meaning in NS. This country has given so much to me, it is only natural that I serve," said the 26-year-old, who graduated from the National University of Singapore last year.

He came to Singapore to study when he was in Secondary 3. So when he enlisted in 2009, LTA Tee did not have any problem integrating with the locals. He was clueless about the Army though. "I was very focused on my studies and didn't know much about what's Basic Military Training or command school."

However, the Army is where he found his calling. LTA Tee excelled in the School of Infantry Specialists (now Specialist Cadet School), and received the Silver Bayonet. He also received the NSF of the Year award in 2011 when he was a platoon sergeant in 4th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (4 SIR).

After getting his citizenship in 2012, he became a career soldier. He was commissioned earlier this January, and received the Sword of Honour for being the top officer cadet in the Infantry Formation.

One of his reasons for signing on was so that he could make an impact on the lives of others. He broke into a wide smile when he shared stories about how some of his former 4 SIR soldiers -- delinquents with troubled pasts -- went on to become better sons, and husbands, with successful careers.

"That's what we, as commanders, want to see. These are examples that make us feel that we have done a good job," said the Company 2nd-In-Command in 5 SIR.