OF DEDICATION, LOYALTY AND FRIENDSHIP

For 13- year-old Tanmay Shankar, 10 Apr 2010 marked the start of a journey which he was eager to embark upon.

Along with 4,500 other Secondary One students, Tanmay was inducted into the National Cadet Corps (NCC) family during the 10th Affirmation Ceremony held at Singapore Expo Hall 2.

"My father was previously in the NCC during his school days and he was the one who urged me to take up NCC as a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA)," said Tanmay who started his secondary school education at Anglo Chinese School (Independent) earlier this year.

However, the desire to follow in his father's footsteps was not the sole reason why Tanmay made the decision to join the NCC.

"My seniors in NCC told me exciting things about what they got to experience as a cadet and I am eager to try these out for myself," enthused Tanmay.

NCC training activities include rappelling, water rafting, handling rifles such as the M16 and SAR 21, as well as getting a head start on military knowledge essential for National Service (NS).

Tanmay added that he was particularly interested in the International Cadet Exchange Program (ICEP) which was one of the initiatives NCC has in place as part of a greater effort to mould cadets to excel in both academic and non-academic pursuits.

Speaking at the affirmation ceremony, Guest-of-Honour, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Masagos Zulkifli BMM said that the NCC played an instrumental role in enlarging common experience as Singaporeans and forging stronger ties that bind us together as one people.

Addressing the newly inducted cadets, he said: "The four to five years you spend together in NCC will open up ample opportunities for you to interact with schoolmates of different background, race and religion. During this time, you will be able to learn and appreciate one another's cultures, establish strong friendships and get a glimpse of what it takes to defend our nation."

Indeed, one of those who identified with Mr Zulkifli's speech was NCC Cadet Officer Muhammad Ashraf from Yishun Junior College. In fact, he attributed his positive experience in NCC during his secondary school days as the primary reason as to why he is considering a career with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

"I participated in the ICEP as a participant of Exercise Wallaby 2008 in Australia. It was there that I experienced the awesome might of both the Army and the Air Force through the integrated strike exercise. I vowed then that I had to be part of something like this in the future," said Ashraf.

And it is not only the boys who benefit from the rigorous training that gives an inside peak into NS. The girls who are brave enough to take up the challenge of joining NCC are duly rewarded as well.

"Joining NCC is one of the best things I have ever done in my life. My experience in NCC has enabled me to try out new things and propelled me out of my comfort zone," said NCC Cadet Officer Liu Anqi, who is currently studying in Raffles Institution (Junior College).

The test of dexterity and endurance put forth by NCC training enabled her to push her limits both physically and mentally. This allowed her to better appreciate what her male counterparts will have to go through during NS in the future.

"I had to go through the same rigorous training that the guys went through. This consisted of learning to handle a rifle and rappelling high ropes. I now appreciate the difficulties my friends have to go through in order to defend the country," said Anqi.

Given the emphasis on leadership skills and the multi-faceted training programme bearing distinct similarities to National Service (NS), it is no surprise that one-third of SAF Senior Officers were former NCC cadets.

In fact, NCC counts Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean as well as Chief of Defence Force, Major-General Neo Kian Hong, among its ranks of distinguished alumni.