GRASSROOTS LEADERS GAIN INSIGHT INTO NAVY'S CAPABILITIES

There is nothing like getting up close and personal to understand and appreciate better how something works.

For some 240 grassroots leaders (GRLs), a visit to Changi Naval Base on 21 Feb gave them precisely this rare opportunity to see the capabilities and operational readiness of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

Hosted by Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, the visitors were treated to a ride on a Fast Craft Utility (FCU) before heading to a Landing Ship Tank (LST), RSS Persistence. Besides touring the LST, they also went on board stealth frigates, RSS Formidable and RSS Supreme. These advanced warships are equipped with state-of-the-art combat and sensor systems, and operate with a lean crew of just over 70 officers and specialists.

Commenting on the experience, Member of Parliament (MP) for East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC), Ms Jessica Tan, said: "The Navy is one area of the armed forces that I think many of us are not familiar with, so it was good that we got to see not just the equipment, but also how the operations are run and what actually takes place on board the ships."

Echoing the sentiment, Mr Koh Tong Seng, PBM, Chairman of Changi-Simei Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC), added that he was struck by the Navy's transformation from the "time of the missile gunboats to the frigates of today."

Apart from finding out more about the advanced defence capabilities of the RSN vessels, Mr Bokhari Bin Hj Abdul Razak, PBM, Vice Chairman of Tampines CCC, noted that he was also impressed by the professionalism and enthusiasm of the naval personnel.

"They are well-trained to man all these sophisticated systems, and I'm impressed by the way the naval personnel are running bigger ships with slim manpower. As a member of the public, I'm glad to know that our defence dollar is well-spent," he said.

In addition to viewing the sophisticated equipment and technology on board the RSN vessels, the community leaders were also briefed about the RSN's latest military developments, and engaged in a dialogue session with Assoc Prof Koo and Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral (RADM) Ng Chee Peng.

In his welcoming address, Assoc Prof Koo reiterated the importance of Total Defence, adding that "the message of defence does not originate just from the SAF", and that everyone has a part to play in "laying a strong foundation in our society."

This message was not lost on Ms Tan.

"Today's visit has given us a good perspective, but we need to continue to stay in touch to really understand and see how our armed forces improve and move with the times," she said.

"This knowledge will help in terms of giving us confidence that there is security at the national level, and at the grassroots level. It's about engaging the community and making sure that the network of trust remains strong."

21 Feb 09 - Grassroots Leaders Visit Changi Naval Base