Aspiring to contribute to Singapore’s defence

This year, a total of 105 Defence Scholarship Awards have been awarded. We speak to three recipients to find out their journey and ambitions as they plan to take on various roles within the SAF.

A passion for aircraft engineering, a desire to contribute to military medicine and a wish to give back to the community.

These were some of the reasons that inspired 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Ashrul Garg, Military Expert (ME) 4A Narengautham Govindar and Officer Cadet (OCT) Elim Qiu to join the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

They were among the 105 recipients who were awarded defence scholarships at Temasek Club on 1 Aug. 

We speak to three of them to find out their reasons for joining the SAF and how they aspire to contribute to the defence of Singapore.

Since young, 2LT Arshul Garg has been deeply inspired by his father’s ethos of service to others.

"My father instilled in me the importance of serving the community. Seeing his many sacrifices and how he handled relationships with friends and family seeded this value in me," said the 20-year-old SAF Scholarship Award recipient, who actively volunteers with OnePeople.sg and other organisations.

After graduating from Victoria Junior College in 2022, 2LT Garg enlisted for Basic Military Training (BMT) in April 2023. He went on to Officer Cadet School (OCS) in June this year signed on as combat engineer towards the tail end of his course. 

Why he took up the SAF Scholarship:

"My inspiration to serve the community began in secondary school. It was during this time that I realised the importance of giving back," said the Victoria School alumni.

"A specific moment that solidified my decision to join the SAF was my positive experience during National Service. The sense of purpose and camaraderie convinced me that this was the path for me."

What did his family say:

2LT Garg’s parents, who came from India, have been a pillar of support throughout his journey. 

"(My parents) settled in Singapore because they found a place where they could raise a wonderful family and not have to worry about security, and defence plays a very big part of that (reason)… so they are very proud of my decision to serve in the SAF.”   

They have also been with him every step of the way, throughout his BMT and OCS.

"My family has always believed in me and encouraged me, especially when I faced challenges during OCS. Their unwavering support has helped me persevere when things got tough.”

What has his experience in OCS been like:

Despite finding the standard obstacle course during his OCS days challenging, 2LT Garg overcame it with his peers’ encouragement.

The combat engineer officer was also inspired by his trainer’s leadership style during the course.

"(My trainer) took the time to understand each of us, kept a listening ear, and guided us towards personal and professional growth. His empathetic leadership is something I aspire to follow.”

What's next:

2LT Garg plans to read Environmental Economics and Policy at the Rausser College of Natural Resources in the University of California, Berkeley. 

"I hope to develop my skills further and contribute significantly to the SAF in the future. My goal is to ensure Singapore's safety for future generations.”

He also looks forward to bring back valuable perspectives on resource management and applying them to the SAF. 

"Resources are finite, and efficient management is crucial. I aim to bring back skills in resource management to contribute to the SAF’s operational and tactical aspects.”

As a child, OCT Elim Qiu has been fascinated by the intricacies of anatomy and physiology. 

Her aspiration to become a doctor was further influenced by her family friend, Dr Jonathan Lim, who shared his experiences as a medical officer in the SAF.

"Dr Lim provided me with honest opinions about what it was like to be a medical officer in the SAF – both the good and the challenges,” said the 19-year-old medical officer cadet.

“He challenged me to think critically about what it means to be both a doctor and a soldier.”

Why she took up the SAF Medicine Scholarship:

Apart from being interested in medicine, seeing how healthcare workers provided treatment, care, and comfort to patients was meaningful and purposeful.

“This ultimately led to my decision of becoming a doctor,” said OCT Qiu.

What her experience in SAF and OCS has been like:

While military life took a little getting used to, OCT Qiu did not regret signing on as she enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie. 

One memorable experience in OCS was during a live firing exercise, where other platoons took the initiative to help her platoon out.

"My platoon was on duty to set up and tear down the equipment,” recalled OCT Qiu.

“Despite the long day (we’ve had), other platoons came to help us at the end of the day. It was a memorable experience because everyone took the initiative to help each other.”

What's next:

While OCT Qiu is excited to start medical school at the National University of Singapore, she is looking forward to bringing back the medical knowledge learnt during her studies to the SAF.    

Having recently completed the orientation program with the HQ Medical Corps, she has learnt how the SAF Medical Corps provides support to the various Services.

“This exposure has helped us understand what the Medical Corps does and how we can contribute when we return in the future." 

OCT Qiu also draws motivation from the quotes she encountered during her military training. 

"One is 'at the end of the day, the day ends,' which reminds me that no matter how bad the day is, it will eventually end. 

“Another is 'don't count the days, make the days count,' which encourages me to make every day meaningful – and this is what keeps me going.”

Since young, ME4A Narengautham Govindaraj has been captivated by the world of aviation. 

Frequent outings to Changi Airport and visits to every air show and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Open House sparked his passion for planes and the RSAF.

"My dad often brought me to air shows and I would take the opportunity to talk to air force personnel and learn more about the RSAF,” said the 21-year-old SAF Engineering Scholarship recipient.

"The question of how a plane flies always intrigued me, and I wanted to find out more."

ME4A Govindaraj pursued his interest in aerospace by enrolling in the diploma program in aerospace engineering at Temasek Polytechnic. There, he deepened his knowledge of aircraft engineering and this solidified his decision to join the air force.

What did his family say:

ME4A Govindaraj’s parents have been very supportive of his decision to join the RSAF.

“My parents have always encouraged me to chase my dreams and put in the effort to achieve them. 

“Because of me, my sister has also developed a strong interest in joining the air force and I hope she follows through with it!"

What his experience in BMT has been like:

"My commanders and peers in BMT were very supportive when I told them I wanted to sign on,” recalled ME4A Govindaraj.

“Their encouraging words, the clarity of thought, vision, and choice of words from my commanders inspired me. I hope to emulate those attributes and inspire the future generation, just like how I was inspired."

What's next:

ME4A Govindaraj will be studying Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. 

"As an Air Force Engineer, we are the enablers of RSAF. We must make sound engineering decisions to keep our warfighting systems operationally ready. 

“I also hope to deepen my knowledge and skills related to my work and develop myself as a good leader who can inspire my team to believe in the purpose of their work.”