BONDS THAT LAST

Minister for Manpower, Brigadier-General (BG) (NS) Tan Chuan Jin fulfils a promise to his men in 662nd Battalion, Singapore Guards (662 Gds) and joins them for their final In-Camp Training (ICT).

Recently in October, I joined 662 Guards for their last ICT.

I was there when it all began. Most of the men enlisted in December 2000 and were part of the 10th Mono-Intake, 3 Gds. I remember the day they came into Bedok Camp – they were from all walks of life, only to become one when we shaved their heads to a severe, but stylish, crew cut.

Back at the start…

We took our responsibilities seriously. The mission statement we came up with for ourselves was "To build a cohesive and operationally ready elite warrior battalion with the will to fight and win in the event of war".

We volunteered for every conceivable live-firing opportunity there was. We experimented and did more urban fighting training than the syllabus required.

We were one of the first units to carry out homeland security duties in the aftermath of 9/11, working out new drills and Standard Operating Procedures.

We believed in the dictum "train as we fight, fight as we train".

We also spent much time engaging and building up the camaraderie among our Guardsmen because we knew that that would be the spirit that would hold the unit together when it came to the crunch.

The unit ORD-ed (Operationally Ready Date) at the end of 2002 and became 662 Gds as an Operationally-Ready NS Battalion. Some soldiers also joined them from other units.

Friends reunited

Over the years, I visited them during their various ICTs. I have literally seen them grow from boys to men. Some have become quite "prosperous"!

Friendships have been forged in ways only NSmen (Operationally Ready National Servicemen) can understand. Many remember the silly pranks they played, or the tekan (punishment) sessions they received when mistakes were made.

Many now remember fondly the arduous, soul-sapping training in humid jungles overseas, or the wonderful cool nights in Shoalwater Bay, Australia, gazing at shooting stars and the Southern Cross before commencing a dawn attack on some steep hill in the bush.

Many have attended one another's weddings and baby showers. And there have been a few funerals as well.

I caught up with a number of them during the few days of their ICT, during the route march, rappelling, shooting and at their last parade.

They are a veritable cross-section of our society. We have teachers, engineers, cooks, security personnel, etc. Many have their own homes and families. Some continue searching for their life partners.

What was quite clear, however, was that regardless of race, language or religion…they were a band of brothers.

A close-knit family

Over the years, they have been weaving bonds that bind. Possibly for a lifetime. And perhaps these would be the very bonds that would be the foundation upon which our nation will continue to be built.

I started this journey with many of them 14 years ago. And towards their journey's end, I wanted to march their last steps by their side.

Ultimately, our nation is really about our families, friends and loved ones. And in many ways, all of us will continue to defend those whom we love in the many years to come.

Thank you guys for serving and protecting us all.