From grocery runs to National Day

It started with a simple offer to go on a grocery run together.

Today, Military Expert (ME) 2 Soo Yi Xun and ME2 Cecilia Chua are not only parents to a three-year-old daughter, they’re also playing their part to put up a successful NDP for all Singaporeans.

Love on a mission

ME2 Soo and ME2 Chua, both 30, first crossed paths at work in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 2017.

The pair remained friends, until they were deployed to the RSAF’s Oakey Detachment in Australia two years later.

Noticing that ME2 Chua would often head out to the supermarkets her own, ME2 Soo saw an opportunity to spend more time with her.

“She always went out alone to get her groceries. So I started asking her out, using ‘safety’ as a reason,” he recounted with a laugh.

The excuse worked. The two began dating in 2020 and got married three years later.

Understanding the demands of military life

ME2 Soo, who enlisted in June 2015, is an Air Force Engineer (AFE). As part of 806 Squadron (SQN), he rectifies any defects of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter’s rotors and transmission mechanism.

ME2 Chua is also an AFE in 816 SQN, handling the engine and fuel system of the same aircraft.

Being in the same line of work has given the couple a shared understanding of the demands of being in the Singapore Armed Forces.

“We do not have to explain why we are working late, or why our working hours can be odd sometimes,” ME2 Soo said.

“We both understand that there will be certain periods when work has to come first, and we are able to support each other through these challenges.”

Behind the parade

This shared understanding is especially important this year, as they are both involved in NDP 2026.

The Flag In-charge (IC) and Motorised Transport IC of the State Flag Flypast flag party, ME2 Soo oversees the people, equipment and vehicles under his charge, making sure that they are at the right place at the right time.

Rehearsal days are long, beginning with receiving and rigging up the flags to the Chinook helicopters, and ending with recovering the flags at Pulau Sudong and preparing them for the next weekend.

But seeing the flag unfurl perfectly as it takes to the skies makes up for all the hard work.

“In that moment, I felt a strong sense of pride and responsibility, because I realised how much teamwork, precision and trust go into carrying out such an important segment of the parade,” said ME2 Soo.

“Being able to contribute to something that represents Singapore made the experience especially meaningful for me.”

Meanwhile, ME2 Chua is part of the Parade and Ceremony (P&C) Logistics and Finance Team.

Her eight-member team sees to infrastructure support for the P&C segment, and works with various other teams to make sure the parade runs smoothly. They also help to provide hydration and ration support for some of the marching contingents.

ME2 Chua is no stranger to NDP, having worked on the Chinook helicopters at previous National Day flypasts.

“Seeing the immense coordination, teamwork, and precision behind the scenes has given me a deeper appreciation of the effort required to deliver such a large-scale national event.”

Balancing household & work

With NDP rehearsals taking up their Saturdays, the couple make sure Sundays are reserved for each other and their daughter, Calyssa.

This means finding creative ways to spend time together, like turning household chores into fun activities so that Calyssa can be involved too.

They are also grateful to their families for stepping in to care for their daughter, allowing them to fulfil their NDP responsibilities with peace of mind.

Number 1 supporter

Although Calyssa, who turns three in September, is still too young to fully understand what NDP is about, she knows Papa and Mama are playing important roles in the parade.

“Every time she sees a Chinook helicopter flying overhead, she will say excitedly, ‘Papa and Mama work in that helicopter!’, which always brings a smile to our faces,” ME2 Soo said.

“We explained to her that I fold and prepare the National Flag for NDP. Sometimes, she will roll up a carpet at home and proudly say that she is helping Daddy,” he added with a smile.

Both ME2 Soo and ME2 Chua are looking forward to seeing all the months of hard work come to fruition on 9 Aug.

“Being able to witness the successful execution of the parade, knowing that we both played a part behind the scenes, will be a proud and rewarding moment.”

They also can’t wait to spend more time with Calyssa: “We hope that one day she will understand why we do this and be proud that both her parents contributed to such a meaningful national event.”