SERVING BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

In recognition of their years of dedicated service to the nation, an appreciation dinner was held for National Servicemen who are Key Appointment Holders (KAH), Reservists On Voluntary Extended Reserve Scheme (ROVERS) and volunteers at SAFRA Mount Faber on 5 Oct.

A total of 47 NSmen who have relinquished their appointments were invited to the appreciation dinner, along with their spouses and civilian employers.

Chief of Army Major-General (MG) Desmond Kuek presented the NSmen and their spouses with tokens of appreciation.

"Key Appointment Holders, ROVERS and volunteers have been outstanding role models for younger servicemen," said MG Kuek.

"Despite competing demands from their personal lives and civilian careers, they have excelled in improving their units' training, maintaining and enhancing their operational readiness, and in forging unit esprit de corps," he said.

When asked why he had extended his service, Major (MAJ) (NS) Huang Der Hang said: "It would be meaningless to leave after forging bonds with the men under me as well as with my fellow NSmen who are officers. How can I forsake them?"

MAJ (NS) Huang is thankful that his family was behind him all the way. "I am fortunate to have full support from my family," he said.

"I have three young children who know that I m doing it for the nation. They don t complain when I m away from home during In-camp Training, especially when there are exercises."

"Now that I have relinquished my NS appointment, I look forward to spending more time with my family."

Added Mrs Huang: "In fact, my two sons are very keen about the Army and they can't wait to enlist when they grow up. It's probably due to their father's influence!"

ROVERS are NSmen who serve beyond their NS training cycle but are still within their statutory age ceilings (40 years old for NS Warrant Officers and Specialists and 50 years old for NS Officers) under the Enlistment Act. Volunteers are NSmen who serve beyond their statutory age ceilings.