MISSION-READY MAINTENANCE BROS

What is better than doing a job you love? Doing it together with your sibling and best friend!

Brothers Military Expert (ME) 2 Muhammad Irfan Bin Koenadi and ME2 Muhammad Izdihar Bin Koenadi see the 9th Army Maintenance Base (9 AMB) as their second home, and a place that marries passion and work.

Big brother ME2 Irfan signed on during Basic Military Training (BMT) when he enlisted in 2014.

The 31-year-old Ordnance Tools In-Charge from 9 AMB joined the Army as he enjoys working with his hands and had always been interested in maintenance work.

His specialisation is in wheeled transport like the 5-tonner and Ops Utility Vehicles (OUVs). 

On the other hand, younger brother ME2 Izdihar mainly works with combat wheeled vehicles such as the Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) and Belrex Protected Combat Support Vehicle.

The 29-year-old Master Tech Trainer from the Motorised Forward Maintenance Workshop in 9 AMB signed on with the Army through the Joint Polytechnic-Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Diploma Scheme during his first year of polytechnic in 2013.

We find out what it's like for them to work together in their home away from home.

Why is 9 AMB like a second home for both of you?

ME2 Irfan: We shared a room for almost all our lives and we often played video games together after school or work. Now that we're married and don't stay together anymore, I really miss Izdihar 'cos I feel like something's missing when I get home.

ME2 Izdihar: Yeah we talk about almost anything so, now that we live apart, we try to meet up for lunch and catch up with each other if we have time to spare. Being in the same unit really helps.

That's so sweet! Apart from being in the same unit, have you gone on any military exercises together?

ME2 Irfan: No, 'cos our platforms are different. I was posted to 9 AMB in 2020 and, prior to that, I was in 3 AMB for five years before being posted overseas as an auto spec technician.

ME2 Izdihar: I've only gone to Exercise Wallaby as that's where my platforms train. We do talk about our experiences 'cos our exercises differ. I always envied him 'cos the wheeled platforms that he worked on allowed him to go to more countries whereas mine is just in Australia. (laughs)

So was there any sort of competition between you two?

ME2 Izdihar: When I was in BMT, Irfan was already going places in his career and he would often get Commanding Officer (CO) coins.

This inspired me to work harder and I got the Silver Bayonet during my maintenance and ammunitions specialist cadet course in May 2018. [The Silver Bayonet is awarded to top cadets in the Specialist Cadet Course for exemplary performance in areas such as fitness and leadership.]

During Exercise Wallaby last year, I also received a Formation Sergeant Major coin for my contributions. So now I'm thinking, "What's next?" (laughs)

ME2 Irfan: Each time I received a medal, our mother would hang it up in the house so he was always looking at them. I have about three CO coins so far.

But after Izdihar got his Silver Bayonet, I was like, "wah this guy solid!"

ME2 Izdihar, I heard that you wanted to be a Malay language teacher initially…

ME2 Izdihar: Yeah, I wanted to teach Malay in schools. But now that I'm in a trainer role, I also teach NSFs (full-time national servicemen). So in a way, I've fulfilled my ambition of being a teacher.

In 9 AMB, I currently train up to 10 NSFs per batch on how to maintain and repair the combat wheeled vehicles. I enjoy applying different teaching methods to each batch as they all have different approaches to learning.

But it's definitely not that easy and I have to rack my brains sometimes! (laughs)

How does your family feel about you two being in the Army?

ME2 Irfan: Our mother is definitely very proud as she was the one who encouraged us to sign on! She displays all our memorabilia – from the CO coins and graduation photos to memorial pictures of my overseas posting.

During the Army Open House (AOH) in 2022, I had just gotten married so I brought my wife along to show her what Izdihar and I do at work. She was very impressed!

At that time, Izdihar was also the Wheeled Recovery Vehicle ambassador and doing maintenance for the Belrex static display for AOH so I went down to show my support.

What brings you satisfaction in your jobs?

ME2 Irfan: I love that I can get things to work, especially after I finish repairing the vehicle and it's being pushed out for missions.

ME2 Izdihar: During my years in the Forward Maintenance Platoon (FMP), the pace was always intense as we were supporting the infantry brigade.

Time was always of the essence 'cos we had to diagnose faults and get the platform ready within a few hours. It's very fulfilling seeing your vehicle at the start line, all ready to be deployed. [Ed's note: He was in MFP from 2019 – 2021.]

And lastly, what is it about being in the Army that keeps you going?

ME2 Izdihar: When I first went to Exercise Wallaby last year, you see how the troops train on a much larger scale and it's really quite awe-inspiring. During those times, I bonded together really well with my fellow soldiers from other units.

ME2 Irfan: It's all about the camaraderie. During overseas exercises, you get to work with people from different units and everyone's very helpful.

ME2 Izdihar: One thing that I always tell people is that in the Army, I get to take on many roles – technician, planner, project manager, even an ambassador for AOH!

ME2 Irfan: And which organisation gets to organise National Day Parade every year? It may "burn" my weekends, but each time I see the flag fly past and the fireworks, it makes me proud that I'm serving the nation.