NS, A SHARED EXPERIENCE

Working up a sweat outdoors can be a good break from slogging on the job indoors, says Master Sergeant (MSG) (NS) Tang Kwok Hwa.

Building concertina wire fences and filling sandbags are thus familiar tasks to this NSman of the Year, one of two Air Force soldiers to receive the award from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 2007.

During In-Camp Training (ICT), he also enjoys getting to know the other Full-time and Operationally-Ready National Servicemen in 165 Squadron, where he serves as an air defence weapons specialist.

"Some of them are young enough to be my sons," said the 46-year-old. "ICT is a shared experience, and during this time we share our experiences with one another."

In sharing his experiences with his younger colleagues, the former Air Force regular encourages them to go beyond "linear thinking" to solve problems in different ways.

When difficulties get in the way, he tries to "put a positive spin" on the situation and gets them to focus their efforts on the solution.

"The Air Force has changed since the 1980s, when you had little room for discussion. It has become more consultative," noted MSG (NS) Tang, who had finished his NS training cycle in 2002 but opted to serve several more years.

He manages to balance the demands of work, family and NS, thanks to the support of his wife and petroleum firm Infineum Singapore, where he is a technical service assistant.

"My employer is very supportive of NS, so there's usually no objection when I'm called up, unless it's during peak seasons," he said.

When he is away on ICT, his wife backs him up by taking care of the children and helping them with their homework.

"Over the years, I have instilled in them the necessity of defending the country. They will be a little upset that I am not around to play with them, but they will understand," said MSG (NS) Tang.

While he admits to being an impatient person in the past, he credits NS for putting him in situations that made him "more understanding" of others.

"You build camaraderie with others after working and suffering together, and your EQ improves along the way, provided you take everything positively," he added.