A HIGHER CALLING

Officer Cadet (OCT) Wong Zeng Yu believes in answering the "higher calling" to serve his country.

It is his dedication to making a difference that drew OCT Wong towards the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship (SAFOS).

"The SAF is a good platform for nation building because the guys who pass through will be our future leaders," he said.

The Raffles Junior College alumnus was among the officer cadets to be awarded the SAFOS this year. A prestigious scholarship considered second only to the President's Scholarship, the SAFOS has been awarded to top school-leavers since 1971.

This year, six officer cadets received the SAFOS. They were presented with their certificates and ceremonial swords by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at Temasek Club on 18 Aug.

Underlying OCT Wong's conviction is an urge to serve and help make Singapore a better place. Indeed, the 19-year-old, who will read social and political science at Cambridge University, said he "lives to make a difference to my country, to society."

OCT David Kwek, another winner of this year's SAFOS, also expressed his desire to do his best for Singapore.

"The military is a really enriching experience in the sense that it's challenging, be it mentally, physically or psychologically," he said.

"You're dealing with real problems; your men are real. You're not just dealing with money or figures or statistics but people."

The former RJC student believes that his chosen course of study Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Imperial College, UK will directly benefit the SAF when he returns.

"The SAF is progressing towards a third-generation armed forces and there's a lot of emphasis on networks and systems. I am confident that my course will be extremely relevant."

While he hopes to contribute through his technical knowledge, OCT Kwek's true driving force are his family and loved ones.

"They really motivate me and form the basis of my intentions to join the military," he said.

"My family is really important to me so I'd like to do something that can make a difference and protect what I love. This is what gets me through my toughest times."