She’s a sharp shooter

On the outside, Master Sergeant (MSG) Chin Shi Lee looks like your regular buddy at the gym, lifting weights and running on the treadmill.

Underneath the ghillie suit, however, is the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) first female sniper.

Taking aim at a new challenge

Becoming a sniper wasn’t always MSG Chin’s target.

Her sharpshooting skills and interest deepened over time as a part of the SAF Shooting Contingent, competing in the Pistol Ladies category at the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet.

“It wasn’t something I discovered overnight. My interest in shooting developed gradually and, with regular training, I began to see improvements in my skills,” the 27-year-old infanteer explained.

She developed a fascination with precision long-range weapons, and was eager to understand the operational tradecraft of a sniper.

“When it came time for my next posting, I wanted to return to my infantry roots while building on my marksmanship foundation,” she recounted.

MSG Chin expressed her interest in joining the Sniper Wing, and received the support of her commanders and peers.

Tough training, even tougher psyche

After applying, MSG Chin had to go through an extremely rigorous and multi-faceted selection process.

Sniper candidates must undergo intense physical and mental evaluations to assess their marksmanship precision, stress resilience, cognitive sharpness, and field survival capabilities.

Making the cut as a sniper proved even tougher. In particular, stalking training pushed her physical endurance and mental resilience to the limit.

Stalking training is a fundamental phase of sniper training that focuses on fieldcraft, concealment, and stealth.

Trainees are taught to navigate diverse terrain undetected, observe high-value targets over extended distances, and execute their mission without compromising their position.

“We had to operate under demanding field conditions while remaining focused, disciplined and patient,” recalled MSG Chin, who earned her sniper qualification in July this year.

“What made it challenging was having to maintain that concentration even when physically exhausted.”

The experience taught her that being a sniper was more than just marksmanship: “It also requires perseverance, sound judgment and strong teamwork.”

Adapting to the military lifestyle

It’s no surprise that MSG Chin chose a career in the military.

The fitness enthusiast enjoys outdoor adventures, and used to do sports like parkour and Brazilian jiu-jitsu!

After attending an Army recruitment event during her final year of polytechnic, she became certain of her decision to join the SAF, and enlisted in July 2019.

The initial transition from civilian to soldier was not easy, and MSG Chin noted how she needed an immediate shift in mindset to adapt to how the military worked.

“One of the biggest adjustments was understanding how much we depend on one another in the military. In civilian life, many decisions are made individually. But in the SAF, our actions can affect the people around us.”

Growing as a soldier

At Specialist Cadet School, MSG Chin continued to hone her soldiering skills.

It was here that she experienced one of her fondest memories.

As part of an overseas exercise, she and her fellow cadets had to complete a gruelling long-distance navigation exercise in demanding and unfamiliar terrain.

She recalled how her section overcame those challenges: “We were operating on pure grit and mutual encouragement. Despite our physical and mental exhaustion, we managed to complete the navigation exercise and secure second place.”

To top it off, her section was also awarded the Best Section award at the end of the course, which remains an immense point of pride for her.

Training her men to be better

As a commander, MSG Chin believes in developing her soldiers to perform as well as, or even better, than herself.

One of her greatest achievements to date is witnessing her men in 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR) – where she was a section commander – successfully complete a mission independently.

“Seeing them apply what they had learned, and perform confidently as a team, was extremely meaningful.

“To me, one of the greatest achievements of a leader is knowing that you have developed people who can succeed independently.”

From trainee to trainer

MSG Chin is now a Senior Sniper Trainer in the Infantry Vocational Training School’s Sniper Wing, training new generations of sharpshooters.

According to her, a good sniper needs the three Ps: Patience, Precision and Perseverance.

“Patience is important because we must remain focused even during prolonged and demanding training. Precision reflects the high standards we maintain in everything we do, while perseverance helps us push through physical and mental challenges.”

She and her trainees are currently deployed at Exercise Wallaby in Queensland, Australia.

The large training areas and varying weather conditions there have allowed them to put their skills to the test.

“It also strengthens the teamwork and communication between sniper team members, particularly when operating under demanding conditions,” MSG Chin explained.

“As a trainer, there is great satisfaction in watching my soldiers become more confident, capable and effective as a team."

Reflecting on her trailblazing role as the SAF’s first female sniper, she said: “Being the first female sniper is something I am proud of, but what matters most to me is earning the trust and respect of my teammates through my performance.

“I hope my journey encourages other women to pursue challenging roles in the SAF and believe in what they can achieve.”