GOING FURTHER AS SENIOR MILITARY EXPERTS

Who teaches the teacher how to teach?

For naval instructor Leong Yew Kay, revisiting his engineering studies during the Military Domain Experts Course (MDEC) gave him new insights into his role at Headquarters Training Command with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

"Instructors of today no longer just give directions. Increasingly, we have to look into how to impart critical thinking skills to the next generation to ensure that knowledge is passed on," said Military Expert (ME) 4 Leong.

"As an instructor, being trained during MDEC was really refreshing because it gives me greater perspective (into my job). I am even more motivated to conduct my training sessions better, so that my trainees can learn well."

In fact, ME4 Leong did so well in the course, he topped the class to receive the Sword of Honour at the 3rd Senior Military Experts Appointment Ceremony held at SAFTI Military Institute on 15 Jun. The MDEC, which spans up to 49 weeks, helps military experts to develop their leadership competency, deepen their military domain knowledge and hone their specialisation skills.

The graduating cohort of 40 comprised 11 military experts from the Army, 10 from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), 10 from the RSN and 9 from Joint Service.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and National Development Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, who officiated at the ceremony, had this to say to the graduands: "Military Experts play a critical role in anchoring expertise knowledge in key domains such as Engineering, Intelligence and Military Medicine."

He also emphasised that an increasingly complex and technologically advanced Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) requires competent and experienced personnel to operate and maintain its range of equipment and systems.

Reminding the graduands of the need to continuously improve, Dr Maliki said: "Besides building a depth of competency in your niche areas, there is also a need to develop a breadth of professional military competencies that will enable you to better contribute to the mission success of the Singapore Armed Forces."

Graduand ME4 Muhammad Saleh Bin Ahmad agreed. "Learning is a life-long process and the Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) gives us the opportunity to develop deeper knowledge in our areas of specialisation."

As Base Sergeant Major at the 9th Army Maintenance Base, he is responsible for the maintenance of the Army's wheeled vehicles and training junior technicians. "The course gave me an in-depth look at technical design which will really help me to push forward better solutions in the course of my work."

When asked what he gained out of MDEC, ME4 Saleh replied: "It has taught me that there are always more things to learn. When I started out, most of our systems were manual. Now, they are sophisticated electronic systems, which require us to constantly raise our knowledge levels."

Fellow graduand ME4 Ignatius Low Chee Wai is looking to make full use of the extended years of service under MDES to build up his expertise as an aviation engineer and to train the next generation. Under the scheme, MDES personnel can retire at age 60.

"I feel that I have achieved something and that the SAF recognises my contributions with the MDES scheme," said ME4 Low, the Sword of Merit (RSAF) recipient.

Following the appointment ceremony, these senior military experts will move on to assume command or staff appointments in their professional areas.