SHE'S GOT SOUL

As an engineer in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Military Expert (ME) 1 Gorgina Choo spends her time with CH-47 Chinook helicopters, helping to keep them in tip-top condition.

In her free time, the 24-year-old enjoys whipping up culinary masterpieces that she calls "soul food". "To me, that means fried chicken and nuggets! Those are my go-tos whenever I feel down."

The avid home chef spends her weekends seeking out recipes. Her best dish is pad kra pao gai, or Thai basil chicken with rice. She is now working to master the art of making another Thai classic, tom yum soup.

While her Thai mother fostered her love of food, it was her late father - an Aircrew Specialist in the RSAF - who influenced her decision to sign up for a military career during her first year at Singapore Polytechnic where she studied aerospace electronics.

"I still remember the look on his face whenever he talked about his pride and joy -  the Chinook helicopter."

She is thrilled to be working on the same type of aircraft that her father did, and enjoys her job in the RSAF. "We maintain our aircraft to keep them at a high state of readiness, and I like the mental and physical challenges of the job."