OVERCOMING THE ODDS TO BECOME SAF OFFICERS

"People often say, 'Pick yourself up from where you fall', but that is easier said than done."

2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Desvin Sukumaran knows this well as he had to drop out of the Officer Cadet Course (OCC) after sustaining a hamstring tear during the 2.4km component of his Individual Physical Proficiency Test.

"After being put out of course, I felt very disappointed in myself for letting those who matter to me and those who supported me during my OCC journey down. It was the worst period in my life," said the 23-year-old Naval Officer.

However, 2LT Desvin did not let himself wallow in despair; instead, he bounced back even stronger and more determined to get his officer rank.

"During the 10-month wait before I got back into Officer Cadet School (OCS), I called up the Navy Recruitment Centre every week to ask when I could return to the course. The wait was tough, but everything was worth it when I got the call to re-course on 27 Jun 2016."

2LT Desvin then went on to excel, even clinching the coveted Sword of Honour and Best in Knowledge awards. The reason behind his drive to success was simple: a passion to protect Singapore.

"I want to lead my men and defend my nation. I cannot think of anything more meaningful than to protect the land that I was born in. Also, I love to sail and I love what I'm doing as a Navy military personnel. These factors drive me to give my best to the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) every day."

2LT Desvin was among 307 cadets who received their 2LT rank on 18 Mar in a commissioning parade held at SAFTI Military Institute.

Speaking at the parade was reviewing officer Minister for Education (Schools) and 2nd Minister for Transport Ng Chee Meng, who highlighted the importance of maintaining a credible SAF to deter external threats as well as to build diplomatic ties with foreign nations.

"As military leaders of the SAF, you play a significant role in this national mission. You are integral in not only leading our armed forces in the battlefield, but also shaping our nation's future through the many young men and women whom you will lead."

Graduand 2LT Siow Jing Yi agreed with Mr Ng's point, adding: "Maintaining friendly international relations is definitely important to a small country like Singapore. That's why I decided to pursue a degree in International Relations in Peking University."

"I think the course can give me a better understanding of the latest happenings in the world. Moreover, studying in a Chinese university will open my eyes to different perspectives which will allow me to bring in new ideas and views to the SAF," said the Intelligence Officer.

At first, the 20-year-old was confused when it came to choosing a specialisation, but after discussing it with her father, she decided to follow in his footsteps. He had served as a 3rd Sergeant in 23rd Battalion, Singapore Artillery when he was a Full-time National Serviceman.

"My dad told me that there were a lot of calculations in Artillery and that you have to be very precise with the numbers. He explained to me how every slight variation in weather will affect each shot fired. This got me interested and I eventually talked to the commanders in Artillery before making my decision."

However, her journey in Artillery has not been a bed of roses.

"I struggled to keep up with the physical standards in the Army. For example, during Exercise Cocoon during the Service Term, I suffered heat cramps after training under the blistering hot sun at Lorong Asrama. That incident made me doubt whether I had what it takes to lead my men in war."

Despite the physically challenging conditions, 2LT Siow did not crack. She persisted and put in double the effort. "For example, for one of the exercises, I added an extra load in my field pack during the practice runs so that I would be able to cope better with the weight during the actual exercise."

2LT Mohamed Izzmel Sufyan Bin Mohamed also faced his own set of challenges when he came back to Singapore to serve National Service (NS) after being in New Zealand for 10 years.

Initially, he had trouble getting used to Singapore's fast-paced lifestyle. "In New Zealand, I had a lot of time to myself and I could do whatever I wanted, but after I came back to Singapore to serve NS, I found that it was more regimental and I had to be a lot more disciplined."

With help from his cousins and support from his friends in NS, 2LT Izzmel adapted to life in NS. His strongest pillar of support was his late uncle, a Military Expert who served as a Regular in the SAF.

"When I was still in Basic Military Training, he would always give me advice on coping with NS through stories of him training overseas and his time in the SAF. He told me that I had great potential to be a leader, and I should give my best in NS and get into OCS," said the 19-year-old.

"This motivated me to become an Infantry officer so that I can make him and my family proud."

Holding that belief dear to his heart, 2LT Izzmel completed his OCS journey as not only an officer, but also a Sword of Merit winner.