GAME FOR A CHALLENGE

Backpage https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/_migrated_english/backpage823b1dd9-db4a-47d7-8b78-ffdb9d61fcb8.jpg?sfvrsn=aa237550_2 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/GAME-FOR-A-CHALLENGE
https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/GAME-FOR-A-CHALLENGE
GAME FOR A CHALLENGE
01 Apr 2019 | PEOPLE

GAME FOR A CHALLENGE

// STORY Francis Kan / photo Martin Tan

// Styling Shervin Tan & Le Shan

// Hair & Makeup Eric Tan & Wenny Fu from Paletteinc

3SG Ranjitha D/O Ramachandran, 21, Section Commander, 5 SIR

As a woman about to lead an Infantry section, 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Ranjitha D/O Ramachandran was apprehensive. However, her fear proved to be unfounded as she was able to bond with her men pretty quickly.

"My section is very cooperative and we work well together," said 3SG Ranjitha. "We also motivate one another and constantly try to improve as a section."

The 21-year-old signed on with the Singapore Armed Forces about a year ago during her third year at Republic Polytechnic, where she was pursuing a diploma in sports and exercise science.

Wanting a career that would challenge her physically, she decided on a combat vocation in the Infantry. She gets the most satisfaction in her job from imparting new knowledge and skills to her fellow section mates, and seeing them do well during field training.

One memorable moment happened during a five-day field camp where her men were struggling to cope with the demanding drills.

"They were getting exhausted fast. But on the last day, there was a dramatic improvement and they executed all their drills well," she said.

When she's not charging at the enemy with her section, 3SG Ranjitha is an avid runner (she has done six half-marathons) and video gamer. Unsurprisingly, her favourite games — which include Assassin's Creed, Resident Evil and Far Cry — tend to involve taking down bad guys.

Suggested Reading
CREATING BONDS THROUGH MILITARY MEMORABILIA
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

Some collectors collect stamps, others, stickers. But ME2 (NS) Lim Geng Qi boasts a unique military memorabilia collection of over 1,200 items!

Lawyer by day, military artist by night
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

Photograph or painting? At this year’s Military Hobby Fest, we met 1SG (NS) Samuel Ling Ying Hong, a self-taught aviation oil painter who spends up to 50 hours on each realistic artwork.

Cover story
AIRBORNE!
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

Marking 10 years this December: The Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) one-of-a-kind training facility prepares trainees to become competent and confident airborne troopers.

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

The fourth child in Singapore’s first set of quintuplets, LTA Annabelle Chin Li En made a mid-career switch to follow in her parents’ footsteps and serve the country.

Flying High with Defence Innovation
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

A hybrid UAV with enhanced flight capabilities and software systems that analyse data from the Internet to detect online terrorism threats – these were some of the projects featured at this year’s Defence Technology Prize award ceremony. 

Cover story
NAVY RETIRES LAST OF ITS CHALLENGER-CLASS SUBMARINES
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

RSS Conqueror and RSS Chieftain were decommissioned today at Changi Naval Base, closing the chapter on more than two decades of service of Singapore’s first submarines.

OVERCOMING LOSS TO SERVE STRONG
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

The memory of her late mother became 3SG Reshma d/o Pulanthiradas’ greatest source of strength as she overcame challenges to graduate as a Logistics Specialist in the SAF.

SUITED UP FOR SUBMARINE ESCAPE TRAINING
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

Get an inside look at how the Navy drills its submariners on escape survival techniques, to prepare them for an emergency.

CYBER DEFENDERS TAKE ON NEW THREATS IN CLOUD AND AI IN NATIONAL EXERCISE
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

The third Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise (CIDeX) brings together cyber defenders from across Singapore to face the ever-evolving challenges of digital threats. 

Cover story
WELCOME TO CAMP TILPAL
PEOPLE
01 Apr 2019

How do you house some 6,000 people and feed them for three months? You build a pop-up “city” – complete with accommodations and the basic comforts of home – for the thousands of SAF soldiers who train annually in Queensland, Australia.