STORY OF "JUST" A TRANSPORT OPERATOR
STORY // Benita Teo & Ong Hong Tat
PHOTO // Chai Sian Liang, Ajay Prashad & Courtesy of SAF Film Unit
(Conversation with my mom)
Mom: "Why are you crying?"
Me: "I got to be a Transport Operator."
Mom: "Isn't that good?"
Me: "What for? I already have my driving licence. It's going to waste my time and furthermore I have a Diploma. Shouldn't I be at OCS (Officer Cadet School) or SCS (Specialist Cadet School)? If not, what was the point of me going into the leadership batch?"
Mom: "Just be grateful. Everything happens for a reason."
(Conversation with my Platoon Commander)
Me: "Sir, why did I get Transport Operator? I told you that I wanted a leadership role in my two-year journey of NS, like being in OCS or SCS."
Lieutenant Hadif: "If you are born to be the best, you will be the best. And you can be the best in anything and everything you do. You can be the best Personal Assistant, you can be the best Clerk, you can be the best Transport Operator, you can even be the best Supply Assistant. Everywhere you go, no matter what vocation you go, you can still be the best of the best."
That set the positive mindset that I have carried with me since. Of course, along the way there were people who said that I was only a transport operator. "You just drive, why would you want to give your all?"
Nobody said that it would be an easy journey, but it was worth it. Two years went by and I was overwhelmed by what I achieved in just two years of NS.
I was part of the Combat Service Support Command soccer team; received the Ministry of Defence Excellence Award for 3 TPT Bn, the Most Mileage Award (17,000km) and Chief Transport Officer Coin; and was named Best Soldier of the Quarter and NSF (Full-Time National Serviceman) of the Year in 2012. I participated in National Day Parade 2012 as the only Transport Operator in the infantry contingent.
Yes, I was "just" a Transport Operator.
