ON THE GO
PHOTO // Mark Teo
She just can't keep still - "I like to be on the move!" is the reason Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jess Ong wouldn't trade her trainer role for a job behind the desk.
As a Senior Trainer at the Artillery Institute, she enjoys watching her trainees learn the ropes and graduate as artillery operators and specialists. "I feel a sense of achievement seeing them master the skills and graduate.
"Of course, I feel sad sometimes when they leave for their respective units, especially after I've gotten to know them better, because I won't be able to work with them anymore."
SSG Ong also loves having students who can inject some fun and enthusiasm into the classroom: "It's interesting to meet energetic trainees who like joking around and having fun - if the class was quiet, my trainer life would be very flat too."
And don't expect her to take her off-days lying down. This outdoor sports enthusiast still joins her former schoolmates to sweat it out.
"Back in polytechnic, I used to do adventure racing - it's a multi-faceted outdoor sport that requires both brains and brawns. For instance, it might start with a 10km run, followed by rock-climbing, before we're given a Sudoku puzzle to complete!
"Now, it's harder to find time for outdoor activities, but we'll still meet up occasionally for activities like rock-climbing or cycling."
