DISCIPLINE THROUGH LEADERSHIP

Having held several key appointments such as Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, Officer Commanding of the School of Infantry Specialists (now called Specialist Cadet School) and Brigade Sergeant Major of 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Teo See Keong is certainly no stranger to regimentation and discipline.

The veteran Guardsman feels that setting a good example and communication are key in instilling the right attitude among his men. "As warrant officers, we are often viewed as role models. Our men will look up to us in terms of our behaviour, mannerisms and the way we deal with issues. We also need to explain to our men the reasons and principles behind how we do things in the SAF.

"(All this) will determine whether the soldier is willing to follow me as a leader."

Enlisted in 1985, MWO Teo has witnessed the transformation of the Non-Commissioned Officer Corps to the WO Corps, and seen how the roles and responsibilities of the warrant officers have gradually expanded.

"This has led to greater partnership with the Officer Corps as we are now able to better understand each other's way of doing things and in turn, work towards a common goal. This also helps warrant officers to translate command decisions into actions on the ground more effectively."

Currently, MWO Teo serves as a Directing Staff in the SAF Warrant Officer School (SAFWOS), where he conducts lessons on skills such as leadership and critical thinking.

Relishing the opportunity to train the next generation of warrant officers, he said: "As warrant officers, the students are able to relate to the experiences that we share with them and empathise with us. This makes the lessons and sharing more intimate as the examples provided are very close to all of us, and allows the students to understand the theories and framework even better."

This story is the second in a six-part series showcasing the Corps of Strength - the SAF's Warrant Officer Corps. Here are the other five stories: