Stepping up for the place he calls home

He may not have been born in Singapore, but he’s never known any other place as home.

After becoming a Singapore Citizen and clinching an NSF (Full-time National Serviceman) of the Year 2026 award, Officer Cadet Trainee (OCT) Bandaru Yashwanth Naga Sai is going one step further to defend his homeland by signing on with the Singapore Army.

True-blue Singaporean

His inspirational story of integration and commitment to the nation received special mention in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech on 23 Aug.

Born in India, OCT Naga Sai relocated to Singapore with his family when he was young.

The 21-year-old has shared many of the same experiences as most Singaporean students – from navigating national examinations to playing basketball with friends in his free time.

An Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) alumnus, he found his talent in programming and even won the OneArena Robotics Challenge with his school’s team in 2022.

And so, when it came time to make a decision on his citizenship, there was no question – he applied for and received his Singapore citizenship in early 2024, just before his enlistment for National Service (NS).

"I grew up here,” OCT Naga Sai said resolutely.

“So, when (my citizenship) was approved, I felt proud, knowing that Singapore is my home now."

Finding identity & purpose in green

With pink IC in hand, OCT Naga Sai began his Basic Military Training journey in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on 1 Apr 2024.

Like all new recruits, he felt the apprehension of transitioning from civilian to military life, and questioned whether he could persevere through the physical and mental rigors of training.

Yet, OCT Naga Sai never lost sight of his purpose, and soon found a deeper sense of identity.

"Stepping into NS strengthened my sense of belonging, and reinforced my belief that Singapore is my home (and that) I have a responsibility to defend it," he explained.

He worked hard and was selected for Specialist Cadet School, where he eventually graduated as a Silver Bayonet recipient in recognition of his outstanding performance and leadership.

Leading on the ground

He then became a combat engineer in 39th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (39 SCE), a high-readiness unit handling chemical, biological, and radiological defence operations.

As a Platoon Sergeant (PS), he saw to his men’s training, conducted national security operations, and managed the discipline and welfare of his platoon.

The role sharpened his interpersonal skills in ways a classroom environment could not: "Being a PS meant that I had to keep an eye out for my men. It (developed) my empathy, listening skills, and ability to care for others."

OCT Naga Sai also spearheaded a trial using robotic vacuum cleaners to automate labour-intensive decontamination tasks and streamline operations.

Working on the project gave him a sense of pride and satisfaction as he was able to utilise his passion and skills in robotics to innovate and solve real-world challenges, he explained.

Going the extra mile for his men

Even when OCT Naga Sai’s full-time NS was due to end in January this year, his sense of duty towards his unit never wavered.

He volunteered to extend his service by six months so that he could join his platoon for their second summary exercise and fight alongside them in their final evaluation.

“I had been with the platoon since their first day in the unit, and I wanted to fight all the way to the end and finish the journey strong with them. So, extending my service was kind of a no-brainer!”

His decision bore fruit when the unit achieved REDCON 1 (Readiness Condition 1, the highest grade of operational readiness classification).

Recalling the memory of his men celebrating the good results, OCT Naga Sai said: "I was definitely elated. (Achieving REDCON 1) was the result of all the blood, sweat, and tears that they put in over a year and a half of continuous training."

OCT Naga Sai’s mindset of relentless growth and dedication earned him recognition as an NSF of the Year award recipient for 2026.

Passing on positive NS experiences

OCT Naga Sai is now in Officer Cadet School and on his way to becoming an officer.

While there wasn’t a specific incident that motivated him to sign on, he noted that his positive experiences in NS had inspired him to go all in to pursue a military career.

The cadet was in the middle of an outfield exercise overseas when Mr Wong made his National Day Rally speech.

He recalled the moment when he finally returned to his bunk and turned on his phone to a flood of messages from friends and family.

"Seeing the messages from all those who had supported me throughout NS was a reminder of how this journey was not just (about) me... It's a combination of everyone's efforts."

For new enlistees, particularly new citizens and Permanent Residents who may feel uncertain about NS, OCT Naga Sai hopes they approach the two years with an open mind and make the most of every opportunity.

"Put your heart into it, try to take as much from it as possible, and experience as much you can.

“This way, in the future, when someone else asks you (about your time in NS), you will have good experiences to share with them so that they too can look forward to NS."