Raising 4 boys as an Air Force supermum

“Do we have to call your mum ‘ma’am’ or is she okay with ‘auntie’?”

This is a question 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Zechariah Lim often hears from his batchmates – all in good fun, of course.

While 3SG Lim laughs about these jokes with his friends, deep down he feels really proud that his mum is a servicewoman.

“Growing up, we don’t traditionally think of women being in the military. So seeing my mum (serve) in the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) made me think that she was really cool!”

In PIONEER’s Mother’s Day special, meet Military Expert (ME) 3 Irene Ng – the 49-year-old, who has served in the SAF for 25 years, is a mother of four boys.

Her eldest son, 20-year-old 3SG Lim, enlisted for National Service (NS) in January 2025.

Finding her purpose as an SAF medic

Back in 1997, when ME3 Ng was in polytechnic, she heard that her classmate’s friend was serving his NS as a medic.

This sparked her interest as she was doing her diploma in Nursing at the time.

“I called Central Manpower Base to find out more. After speaking to them, I felt that joining the force would give me the experience of learning operational duties while pursuing my interest in healthcare at the same time.”

Being a military mum

What is it like juggling four kids while serving in the military? It’s no easy feat, admits ME3 Ng, who now serves as the Command Chief of Airbase Medical Operations Centre.

But while she has a lot on her plate at work, she makes sure to spend quality time with her family by going on short trips, or just enjoying simple activities like going for walks or getting ice cream or bubble tea together.

“It doesn’t have to be long, but as long as I prioritise these little pockets of time, they bond us together as a family to get me through the tough times.”

Watching her boys grow up

Oftentimes, it’s the dad who talks about the nostalgia of being back at Pulau Tekong on their son’s enlistment day.

But in 3SG Lim’s case, Mum was the one feeling nostalgic when sending him off!

“When I stepped onto the SAF Ferry Terminal, it really brought me back to when I first enlisted 25 years ago,” she said.

“I thought to myself: ‘Wow, my son is growing up. He’s entering NS and starting a new milestone in his life.’ I went through it too!”

As 3SG Lim grew up, ME3 Lim watched him come out of his shell. This change was especially prominent after 3SG Lim enlisted for NS.

“I’m not someone who adapts well to change, so BMT (Basic Military Training) was a challenge for me. But my commanders and buddies were very helpful and I soon adjusted well,” said 3SG Lim as he reflected on the start of his NS experience.

“I told myself: ‘If my mum can do it, so can I’. She’s always told me that tough times will eventually be over, and I should try my best. That way, no matter the outcome, I will still feel proud of myself.”

The Full-time National Serviceman is now serving as a Military Police Specialist in 9th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, ensuring smooth operation of the guardroom at Choa Chu Kang Camp.

And while mother and son have always been tight-knit, these shared military experiences have brought them even closer.

“Before I enlisted, I didn’t fully understand why my mum’s job kept her so busy. Now that I’m more familiar with the military, I understand her better and look up to her,” said 3SG Lim.

“My youngest brother, Nathan, is also a really big fan of the show, Every Singaporean Son,” 3SG Lim added with a laugh.

“He was so fascinated during my send-off at Tekong, he went home to watch the series on YouTube!“

Whenever I book out, he’ll ask me a lot of curious questions such as how’s the food, what life in camp is like, and if I got to try out all the things that the other boys in the show did

With Mother’s Day coming up, 3SG Lim wants to tell his mum: “Thank you for being so supportive throughout all the different phases of my life. You’ve always been by my side to encourage me to pursue my dreams.”

And for other military mums, ME3 Ng wants to share a piece of advice: “It is important to communicate with your family and let them understand what they can do to support you through all your work commitments.

“Make the effort to spend time with them as much as you can!”