FOREIGN AIR CADETS IMPRESSED WITH RSAF

"Singaporeans have something for abbreviations!" said Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Michael Chan.

"We've already seen 'CTE', 'PIE' and also the 'AXS' machine!" said the officer from the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps, who was in Singapore as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange Programme (IACEP).

The IACEP is an annual programme where a country will host air cadets from all over the world, and flying experience and aviation tips are exchanged through interaction and friendships and bonds are made amongst people with a common passion.

Even though Flt Lt Chan and Officer Trainee (OT) Stanley Tso were amused with the ubiquity of acronyms in our island state, they were very impressed with what they have seen in Singapore.

"Singapore's a brilliant place. Very modernised!" praised OT Tso. "I personally like the Esplanade very much."

During their two-week stay (27 May to 10 Jun) in Singapore, Headquarters National Cadet Corps (HQ NCC) hosted 19 representatives from United States, United Kingdom, India, Canada and Hong Kong.

The cadets and their escort officers were brought on cultural tours around Singapore and were also given an insight into the working of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and in particular the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

cyberpioneer dropped by Sembawang Air Base on 5 Jun and spoke to some participants of the IACEP, who were awed by what they saw in the various RSAF airbases.

"We took a joyride on the Fokker-50. It was our first time and the captain was our guide!" said Flt Lt Chan, 33. "We didn't expect to see so much greenery from the skies since Singapore is actually very much like Hong Kong."

Agreeing with him was Canada's Lieutenant Colonel Don Doern, who said: "The simulators are very impressive and the flights allowed us to see Singapore from the skies.

"The RSAF is really very impressive. It has just been established if you compare it to the likes of the air forces in Canada, Britain or United States. But it's really great strides made in a short time!"

Not only did the IACEP allow HQ NCC's foreign counterparts to have a better understanding of the SAF, it is also beneficial to our own NCC cadets, says Commander (Air) Captain (NCC) Gary Pek.

"The IACEP is all about international friendship. This is certainly not a one-way thing as our Singaporean youths will get to benefit through the interactions and exchange of knowledge," he said.

"They get to exercise their leadership and also develop their character through this 'international experience'."

During the same period of time, HQ NCC also hosted their sea cadet counterparts from India and Hong Kong.