CDF THANKS SAF UNITS ON STANDBY DUTY

What were you doing when the clock struck 12 on 1 Jan? Perhaps you were rubbing shoulders with revelers at a countdown party downtown? Or maybe you were enjoying a quiet night at home with your loved ones?

While most people were ushering in the New Year, many servicemen and women were hard at work, keeping watch over Singapore's land, seas and skies.

To thank them for their vigilance over the festive season, Chief of Defence Force (CDF) Major-General (MG) Perry Lim visited the standby units on 31 Dec 2015 and presented the troops with a festive hamper.

He also took the time to share his experience performing standby duty with his fellow soldiers, and reminded them of the purpose of their work.

"Think back about what you had been doing on New Year's Eve for many years. The reason why you were able to enjoy yourselves and relax on New Year's Eve is because soldiers like you have done (this) duty on behalf of Singapore. And now, it's your turn."

Military Expert (ME) 3 Edmund Toh, coxswain of patrol vessel (PV) RSS Gallant, understood the importance of keeping a tight watch during the year-end festivities. The ship set sail at around 10am, and kept a 24-hour watch over Singapore's sea lanes before handing over the duty the next day.

"We always maintain a higher vigilance during this time because aggressors may take advantage of the festive season, thinking that we have let down our guard," he said.

This was the second year in a row that the ship had been scheduled for duty on New Year's Eve. ME3 Toh revealed that the ship was selected after the PVs came together to draw lots.

"We have 11 PVs, so we come together, consolidate the number of holidays, and draw lots to see which ship is the 'lucky' one. We have been very 'lucky'," he said with a good-natured laugh, before adding: "It's our duty. If it comes to us, we just have to take it in good faith."

He also let on that the Commanding Officer of RSS Gallant had prepared some special food items to enable the crew to celebrate the New Year together on board.

Like the crew of RSS Gallant, Lieutenant (LTA) Jonathan Ow of 143 Squadron (SQN) had also been scheduled for duty for the second year running. As an F-16 fighter pilot, his role entails patrolling the skies for unknown aircraft entering the country.

"In modern warfare, having eyes in the sky is very important. We don't want any (hostile) airliners flying into our country and disrupting our peace. When we go out there, we are doing something to keep the people here safe, and that's what we signed up to do."

He was also heartened by MG Lim's visit to the squadron. "CDF was appreciative of what we're doing. He asked questions about our operations, and it was good to be able to share with him the various operations we undertake," he said.

As for full-time National Servicemen Lance-Corporal (LCP) Rajiv Balamurugan and LCP Hafidz Yusri of 9th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (9 SIR), this was their first time guarding key installations on Jurong Island over the festive season.

Although patrolling key installations is all in a day's work for these infantrymen, they, too, took extra care to be more vigilant during the year-end holidays.

LCP Hafidz explained: "We prepare by taking note of current affairs and the situation around the world. We need to be more aware to make sure (that things like terror attacks) don't happen to our country."

And even though they had to miss out on spending time with their family and friends, these young soldiers took it in their stride. Said LCP Rajiv: "Someone has to do it... I'm proud to do what I'm being tasked to do. We have to make sacrifices, but it feels good to know that people are celebrating out there because we are doing our job."