LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

The NS Command and Staff Course (NSCSC) is conducted annually by the Singapore Command and Staff College to groom promising NS officers for higher command and staff appointments. It consists of a seven-month correspondence course and a five-week residential phase at SAFTI Military Institute.

PIONEER got three recent graduates from the 6th NSCSC to share with us their tips for success in the course.

How to excel in the NS Command and Staff Course, as taught by:

MAJ (NS) Ong Chin Woo
Assistant Operations Officer, HQ Singapore Combat Engineers.
Remiser with Kim Eng Securities Pte Ltd
34, married with three children.

MAJ (NS) Lim Ee-Min
Brigade S1, HQ 6th Division
Engineer, Aovanpack Solution Pte Ltd
35, married with a son.

CPT (NS) Mohd Kahar Bin Abu Hassan
Battalion S3, HQ 2 PDF
Managing Director, Modular Exhibit System Pte Ltd
37, single, plans to get married soon.

Lesson 1: Be determined to do your best

MAJ (NS) Ong: I was a bit surprised that the SAF thought so highly of me. After the initial surprise had worn off, I decided to go for it as it was a duty and an honour.

CPT (NS) Kahar: When I first saw the letter, I asked myself, 'Did they get the correct address? Did they get the correct guy?' But I was very proud. I was very delighted at being selected for the course.

MAJ (NS) Lim: I wanted to serve my brigade better and I felt that if I had the knowledge and passion for this course, I would try to be the best at it.

Lesson 2: Surround yourself with a supportive family

MAJ (NS) Ong: I have a great wife who supported me throughout the course.

MAJ (NS) Lim: Spouses of NSmen are unsung heroes. They take care of the family and allow us to concentrate on our training.

CPT (NS) Kahar: My girlfriend was very supportive. There were times when I felt like deferring the course, but she was a push factor she kept me going and asked me to finish the course.

Lesson 3: Be prepared for a hard time

MAJ (NS) Lim: The hardest part of the course was the time spent away from my family. I have a young son who was only nine months old, and being away placed a great burden upon my wife.

CPT (NS) Kahar: I thought what was hardest was to actually complete the four assignments required before the start of the residential phase. They were written papers, just like those for any MBA course or post-graduate course.

Lesson 4: Learn the art of juggling

MAJ (NS) Lim: Certainly it was difficult to juggle between work and the course. I tried to do telecommuting; to work from home. Fortunately, my CEO was also the Commanding Officer of his NS Artillery Battalion. He accepted it as part of
National Service.

CPT (NS) Kahar: The irony is that I run my own business but it's not as simple as it sounds. After training, I had to go back to the office and finish up some paperwork. What was useful was the infrastructure of the college. It's a wireless college, so I could access my e-mail. There were many ways to get in touch with things at work. I had clients who were not aware that I was on course. They thought I was at work!

Lesson 5: Ask yourself why you want to excel

MAJ (NS) Lim: I think that in life, you should try to do the best you can in whatever opportunities that are open to you. For this course in particular, I worked very hard, knowing that, at the end of the day, I had to know my job inside-out. I wanted to ensure that NSmen under my charge train properly and safely, and hopefully, leaving a little fitter and more mature.

CPT (NS) Kahar: NSmen are effective in getting things done. And as an officer, I felt there was more I could do, in terms of commitment. So I must say what drove me on was our NSmen.

Lesson 6: Know the importance of the course

MAJ (NS) Lim: Going for the course will raise the morale of the people I work with, because they not only trust that I already know what to do; they will trust that I can do it better.

CPT (NS) Kahar: The concept of a learning organisation, where everybody is allowed to offer his input, is useful. With that, the NSmen are going to be a lot more committed. And once you have commitment, you have strength. If men are willing to commit, nothing else matters. You can make them do the most difficult things because they are committed.

MAJ (NS) Ong: The course provided me with a larger perspective, and it's only when we see the big picture that we understand why we do what we do, it's the little details that are very important.

"NS officers in leadership positions play a crucial role by shaping positive experiences during In-Camp Training and forging effective fighting teams out of NSmen.

Transformation, even with its strong technological focus, does not displace the man at the heart of warfare; hardware can never substitute for heartware. Motivating soldiers to serve and fight in the defence of our nation is always a particular leadership challenge."

Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, at the 6th NSCSC Graduation ceremony held at the Istana on 10 Nov 05. There were 29 officers who graduated from this year's NSCSC.