FITNESS SPECIALIST MAKES IT GOOD IN THE SAF

The year is 1981. Mohamed Suhaimy is a fresh 19-year-old recruit in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Having dropped out of his pre-university course just after one year, the young man's hopes for a future built upon the foundation of academic qualifications are slim.

Like many others of his age then, Mohamed Suhaimy was drawn to the SAF for its structured development scheme, regimental discipline, and most importantly, the promise of a stable and secure future.

In addition, being a keen sportsman since young and enthusiastic about physical activities such as athletics, he saw the SAF as a natural choice.

Fast forward 27 years, and First Warrant Officer (1WO) Mohamed Suhaimy is today Chief Fitness Specialist of the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) at Pulau Tekong. His role is to supervise the 19 Physical Training Instructors (PTI) in BMTC, and to oversee the syllabus and instruction of physical training to all recruits.

Always seeking to improve existing processes, 1WO Suhaimy helped to revamp the system of training recruits in the Standard Obstacle Course (SOC). By re-organising the syllabus to ensure that recruits built up the core strengths required to tackle more challenging SOC elements, the number of training injuries sustained from recruits undergoing the SOC has been reduced significantly.

For his efforts, 1WO Suhaimy received the Efficiency Medal during the National Day Awards Investiture held at the Ministry of Defence on 24 Nov. The award recognises servicemen and women who have made notable improvements to existing systems and processes.

In total, Minister of State for Defence Koo Tsai Kee presented 55 Commendation Medals, 123 Efficiency Medals and 470 Long Service Medals to MINDEF and SAF personnel in recognition of their performance and dedication.

"I'm very thankful that the SAF recognises the contributions of its people," he said to cyberpioneer.

"This award is a testament to the contributions that warrant officers can still continue to make."

1WO Suhaimy also shared his deep appreciation of the SAF for nurturing him professionally over the years. Since his enlistment, the 46-year-old has been given the opportunity to attend two overseas courses in Australia and New Zealand.

He was also awarded the Adventure Training Award to scale Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

More recently, 1WO Suhaimy was awarded a study grant to pursue a three-year sport and wellness diploma in Nanyang Polytechnic.

"The SAF has been very good to me and my family. It's given me many opportunities in many areas that I wouldn't otherwise have gotten," he said.

For all his accolades, 1WO Suhaimy still feels that the best reward is seeing the improvements that his recruits make.

"Seeing recruits who can pass their IPPT (Individual Physical Proficiency Test) at the end of their BMT, or those who from doing no pull-ups, progress to doing at least one, is really an achievement in itself," he said with pride.

At an earlier National Day Awards ceremony officiated by President S R Nathan on 17 Nov, 29 senior SAF officers received the Public Administration Medal (Military).

Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong, was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Military) (Gold). Nine officers were awarded the Public Administration Medal (Military) (Silver), while another 19 were awarded the Public Administration Medal (Military) (Bronze).