STAND BY ME

They may not don the uniform or carry the SAR 21, but for these women, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is no less an intricate part of their lives. PIONEER celebrates the women whose unyielding support enables our soldiers to carry out their duties with peace of mind.

(from left) Ms Ang, Lieutenant Colonel (NS) Ng Chee Kin and Senior Lieutenant Colonel (NS) Guna Chellappan.

Commitment to NS

"When you go for ICT (In-Camp Training), please pay attention. If the mind is here and the body is there, it's not right," is Ms Janet Ang's candid response to her Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) employees worried about being away from work.

"This is training, no joke. It's best that they give their full attention so that the training benefits them and the SAF."

It may seem extraordinary to hear a boss tell employees to leave their work behind, but Ms Ang, who is Vice President, Systems of Engagement & Smarter Cities, IBM Asia Pacific, wants her employees to give their best during ICT.

"NS (National Service) is their commitment, and it's the company's commitment to releasing them for NS duties," said Ms Ang, adding that those without NS liabilities were all on board to assist their colleagues in their absence.

IBM Singapore also makes it a point to commemorate SAF Day every year and bring together NSmen employees to recite the SAF Pledge. This year, staff members showed their support by joining their NSmen colleagues at a combined rededication ceremony, held in SAFRA Toa Payoh, on 1 Jul, SAF Day.

Said Ms Ang: "The SAF is here for a purpose - to protect us. NS is integral to the creation of our Singaporean bond and creates a sense of equality. Because of NS, the guys also build up a very good network."

(clockwise from left) PTE Kathirselvam, Mdm Selvarani, Mr T. Chidambaram, CPL Arunraj, Udthayanithi, Theresapriya and Rosepriya.

Strong for her boys

When Mdm Selvarani R.V. Pannirselram's two sons entered NS, she was nervous, to say the least. Both her father and husband, who had come from India, had not served NS; and with only one sister, she knew almost nothing about the SAF. Furthermore, both sons were enlisting just three months apart.

"I was very worried; but, as a mother, I must give them confidence," said the 45-year-old. "I told them, 'Don't worry, every guy has to go through this. It's a golden opportunity to be able to serve.' And their enlistment was a beautiful moment."
And now, Mdm Selvarani, Managing Director of Ra Ra Logistics, couldn't be prouder of her sons. Private (PTE) Kathirselvam s/o Chidambaram, 22 and the eldest of five siblings, is an Administrative Support Assistant in Headquarters Combat Service and Support Command, while younger brother Corporal (CPL) Arunraj, 20, recently received his Commando's red beret.

With CPL Arunraj staying in camp during the weekdays, living apart is not easy for the close-knit household, so Mdm Selvarani helps the brothers to stay connected to home through simple gestures such as recording their favourite television programmes that they can watch together as a family on weekends.

"There's a saying: you are born in this country - what have you done for it? They serve NS, so they have done something. And we give them moral support and encouragement to help them get through the training," she explained.

(clockwise from left) Ms Salizawati, CPT Rudie, Ryan Syazmie Masih, Syaliz Ryanna Masih and Rhys Syazlie Masih.

Cheerleaders at home

Imagine coming home after weeks outfield to a stack of handwritten letters. That's how Ms Salizawati welcomes her husband, Captain (CPT) Rudie Imran Masih, home from long periods of training.

Coming from a military family, Ms Salizawati witnessed the sacrifices her parents (both Warrant Officers, although her father has since retired) had to make to fulfil their duties to the country while caring for the family, and joked that she wondered what she was getting herself into by marrying the Officer Commanding in Headquarters 3rd Division.

"But when I chose to marry him, I already knew he had made a commitment to the SAF to serve the country. This is his priority, so I must be supportive," said the 31-year-old teacher in Rulang Primary School, who understood the importance of service to the nation.

She added: "Our soldiers put their lives on the line for us and the country. We have to support them because, if not, who else will do the job?"

Nine years on, Ms Salizawati now has a cheerleading team in their three children. "My husband was involved in National Day Parade 2013. On weekends, when we couldn t watch the rehearsals, the kids and I would wait for him at Marina Square until the rehearsals were over," she said. "That's how we help him maintain a positive mindset at work - by supporting him in his work."

Ms Khoo, 3SG (NS) Zhuo and baby Alson.

Going the distance

To many young couples, "enduring" NS is the toughest part of a relationship. But Ms Michelle Khoo begs to differ.

"It was harder after NS!" she exclaimed. "We didn't realise that we were then at different stages in life."

Ms Khoo would know what she's talking about: she and 3rd Sergeant (3SG) (NS) Alan Zhuo, a Guardsman in the 740th Battalion, Singapore Guards, have been a couple since they were 14! Now 29, they ve been married for almost two years.

With 3SG (NS) Zhuo just starting university after completing his full-time NS, and Ms Khoo preparing to embark on her career, their varied perspectives on life sometimes resulted in arguments. But constant communication kept the relationship strong.

Having heard stories about Full-time National Servicemen losing their girlfriends, Ms Khoo, a Senior Associate with the Ministry of Finance, was determined that theirs would have a happy ending. This meant setting aside weekends for him and also being understanding when he was sometimes so exhausted from training that he would sleep through his off days.

Through their journey, she has also seen 3SG (NS) Zhuo, a Singapore Airlines pilot, grow: "After NS, he became a lot more mature."

And now with a nine-month-old son, she is even more appreciative of 3SG (NS) Zhuo's role as an NSman. "I hope he can inspire our son to do well in NS too," she said.