A STEWARD IN TRAINING

A career is more often than not something one discovers along the way rather than a path that people are sure of at a young age. This was the case for Major (MAJ) Mohd Fahmi Bin Aliman, who found that he was suited to a career in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) when he entered National Service (NS) in 1992.
"After enlisting in NS, I found that I had the right discipline and aptitude for Army life," he revealed, adding that he was initially fascinated by electrical engineering, and had studied that in Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

"I received the Sword of Merit in Officer Cadet School, and underwent the Guards Conversion Course, which was a kind of litmus test for me. When I did well in that and was Best in Physical Training, I realised that this was my line.

"Joining the Army has nothing to do with the limelight or money. It s all about passion and wanting to give back to the country."

A clear and steady direction

As the Commanding Officer (CO) of 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards, an appointment which he took on in January, MAJ Fahmi sees himself as the steward of the unit. His main responsibilities include setting the direction and standards for the battalion, ensuring that the men are ready and trained to execute their operational role as Guardsmen, as well as grooming them for their next appointment.

"Every officer aspires to be a CO one day. When I was a young officer, I looked up to my CO and wanted to be like him, to lead and inspire people. So after setting myself that goal, I put my mind to it and strived for a command appointment," he said.

This strength of purpose and drive to meet new challenges are qualities that have put him in good stead during his career. In 1995, for instance, he pushed himself to step up to the plate and take the rigorous Ranger Course, otherwise known as "the toughest course in the SAF".

"Till today, I'm still encouraging others to go for this course because it really challenges your mind and builds your character," said MAJ Fahmi.

The SAF also gave him the chance two years later in 1997 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, under the Academic Training Award. MAJ Fahmi noted that studying overseas and meeting people from different cultures has honed his analytical skills as well as broadened his horizons.

Said the 37-year-old commander: "The SAF has been very generous to me opportunity-wise: in my further studies and in sending me for courses to prepare me for my appointment as CO. But of course, the bottom line is that you still have to work hard to realise your goals."

Ultimately, good leadership is all about the individual effort one puts in, as well as the exposure and training given by the organisation, shared MAJ Fahmi.

A mission to remember

One of the defining moments in his 17 years of service was in 2005, when he was chosen to be part of the first SAF team to take part in the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) to restore peace and stability to Aceh, the northern-most province of Indonesia.

A partnership between the European Union and five ASEAN countries, the AMM played an important role in monitoring the implementation of a peace agreement between the Government of Indonesia and the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM) Free Aceh Movement. Conflict between the Indonesian government and the GAM had been going on for 30 years since it flared up in 1976.

Tasked to help with the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of the GAM into Acehnese society, MAJ Fahmi spent six months as the deputy team leader of the district office of Blang Pidie, a sub-district of Aceh Barat Daya.

He shared: "In the SAF, you learn to sharpen your analytical and planning skills, and develop flexibility and adaptability in dealing with many different kinds of people. That's what helped me to deal with the complex situations I faced there."

For example, the team used different tactics in approaching the various groups to secure their trust, bring them to the negotiating table and help them come to a compromise.

"To win the trust of the GAM, we took a very neutral approach and didn t bring any weapons or escorts with us when we went to talk to them," he elaborated. "Winning the trust of the TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia) commanders was easier because we all wear green. They knew we were from the SAF, so it was easy to click because of our close bilateral relationship."

He added: "In the end, after we completed our mission successfully, I was happy to see things going back to normal. When we talked to the villagers, they told us that this was the first time in years they could come out and play, and to celebrate a Hari Raya properly. When I heard that, I really felt a sense of accomplishment."

A strong motivation

Indeed, MAJ Fahmi often derives the greatest satisfaction from the intangible things in his job.

"As a commander, you might not taste the fruits of your efforts immediately, but you taste it when you complete your tour and achieve something for the battalion. That s what I'm looking for; to see the face of a Guardsman feeling proud and having a strong bond with the unit," he said.

The father of three young boys, aged between two and 12 years old, shared that much of what spurs him on stems from his families, the one at home and the one at work.

Commented MAJ Fahmi: "In a sense, managing your time and juggling all these responsibilities is one of biggest challenges I face, but my family is always supportive of what I want to achieve in life, and understands what drives me every day.

"The quality of people around me at work also helps me stay on top of the situation. My brigade commander guides me, and I also have good officers, warrant officers and specialists who make things happen on the ground. It really makes your day knowing that you have these people who will support you when you go to work."