TOMBOY AT HEART

thumbnail https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/_migrated_english/thumbnaile1b8d41f-f3de-4a96-8ad0-c1ce33e7ce62.jpg?sfvrsn=1224eff0_2 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/TOMBOY-AT-HEART
https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/TOMBOY-AT-HEART
TOMBOY AT HEART
30 Jul 2014 | PEOPLE

TOMBOY AT HEART

// Story Koh Eng Beng / Photo Mark Teo 

// Styling Fong Fan / Hair & Makeup Rick Yang 

// Clothes Susana Monaco, Tang & Co / Location John Erdos Gallery

ME 2-1 Rain Teo, 26, Marine Engineering Specialist, RSS Intrepid

Most girls are into fashion and beauty, but not Military Expert (ME) 2-1 Rain Teo. In fact, the self-confessed tomboy cringed when she had to wear a feminine dress for this photo shoot. The 26-year-old clearly prefers a tank top and jeans, her usual outfit when riding her Honda Super Four motorbike.

She is into sporty stuff and doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. Knowing that she wouldn't be able to stand a desk-bound job, ME2-1 Teo chose to study marine engineering at Singapore Polytechnic. She was one of only three girls in her cohort. That perhaps explains why she felt very much at home when she joined the Navy in
2009.

Her most cherished moment on the job so far? Spending 14 weeks in the Gulf of Aden for a counter-piracy operation in 2012.

"It's just your crew with you when you are out at sea. They are like my family, the ones who share my happiness and problems," she said.

Suggested Reading
INSPIRED TO LEAD, COMMITTED TO SERVE
PEOPLE
13 Sep 2025

Teamwork, discipline and resilience: These values were instilled in 2LT Nithira and 2LT Dylan Loo in sport and at school, and continue to guide them as newly minted SAF officers.

Cover story
EX FORGING SABRE RAMPS UP USE OF UNMANNED ASSETS IN INTEGRATED STRIKE OPERATIONS
OPS & TRAINING
12 Sep 2025

In this 10th edition of Exercise Forging Sabre, the SAF sharpened its cutting edge for the dynamic modern battlefield, with expanded integration between manned and unmanned platforms.

Feature
CHIEF, SAILOR, BROTHER
PEOPLE
03 Sep 2025

If the heart of a ship is its engine, then ME3 Malcolm Tan is the man who keeps its pulse healthy: he makes sure both vessel and crew are in top shape.

BACK FROM GAZA AID AIRDROP MISSION
OPS & TRAINING
02 Sep 2025

On 25 Aug, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 transport aircraft returned to Singapore after completing the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) delivery of the ninth tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This was also the second airdrop operation to send aid to the region.

Feature
MENTOR & ROLE MODEL
PEOPLE
01 Sep 2025

Seeing his trainees become stronger and more confident brings him joy in his work. Meet Air Warfare School instructor CPT Louis Lee.

Feature
SHAPING UP SOLDIERS
PEOPLE
29 Aug 2025

Guardsman 3WO Muhammad Aliff is passionate about making an impact on the growth and development of the soldiers under his charge.

Cover story
TRAINING WITH PURPOSE
PEOPLE
27 Aug 2025

MSG Nathanial Ng displays a quiet steely dedication towards imparting the right knowledge and skills to new Army Deployment Force (ADF) operators.

Cover story
OPERATING OVER SKIES & SEAS
TECHNOLOGY
22 Aug 2025

This gear is designed to help a Sensor Supervisor survive emergencies in the air and at sea.

BECOMING SPECIALIST LEADERS
PEOPLE
21 Aug 2025

3SG Defred Lau and 3SG Danish celebrate a milestone in their NS journeys as they earn their specialist ranks.

Cover story
Geared up against chemical threats
TECHNOLOGY
18 Aug 2025

How do our soldiers keep safe when rescuing casualties of chemical or biological weapons?