Not quite in my dad's shoes

This isn't your typical story about a boy following in his old man's footsteps. Yes, they are father and son. Yes, they both served their National Service in 8th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (8 SIR).

However, if 1st Warrant Officer (1WO) (Ret) Oliveiro Edward were to go forward in time and join his Full-time National Serviceman (NSF) 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Ricardo Oliveiro in 8 SIR today, he wouldn't recognise the battalion at all.

"8 SIR in 1977 was a conventional infantry battalion... As infanteers, our exercises entailed kilometres of movement on foot to capture objectives," recounted the 59-year-old, who was then a signaler to his Commanding Officer.

Today, 8 SIR is part of the Island Defence specialising in the protection of key military installations and camp security. A critical role in today's security environment, where terrorism is on the rise.

"Our role is linked to the security environment. When there are more threats in the world, we are the first to be affected because we have to step up the security at the camps and bases," said 21-year-old military police 3SG Ricardo. As a platoon sergeant, he is sometimes called on to oversee the security troopers at guardhouses.

"In their patrols, security troopers look out for bomb threats, suspicious-looking personnel and other signs of danger. But when the security level is heightened, we will increase the frequency of spot-checks on people and vehicles entering the camps," he explained.

"The role of 8 SIR has changed because the threat has changed," 1WO (Ret) Oliveiro concurred. "Today the threat is nearer to home. Homeland security is equally important. The 8 SIR of today contributes to this role of maintaining security." Nonetheless, he was happy that 3SG Ricardo was part of the evolved 8 SIR.

And even though 3SG Ricardo does not carry out conventional warfare operations, he takes pride in defending the nation in his vocation. "We (at 8 SIR) feel strongly for what we do. We deal with threats that are very real and can happen on a day-to-day basis."