ACCORD MEMBERS GET TO SEE A SLICE OF THE SAF AT VIVOCITY

Members of Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) gained better understanding of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) after a visit to SAF50@Vivo on 14 Feb.

Hosted by Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, the visit gave the ACCORD members the opportunity to tour the Landing Ship Tank (LST) RSS Endurance, ride on the Fast Craft Utility (FCU) and view the SAF50 Stories Zone.

Held from 12 to 15 Feb, SAF50@Vivo marks the start of a year-long celebration which celebrates 50 years of the SAF. This large scale tri-service event is a showcase of the SAF's hardware and capabilities, as well as a tribute to the men and women who have contributed to Singapore's defence.

ACCORD was recently expanded last year into three councils: the Educational Institutions (EI), Family and Community (F&C) and Employer and Business (E&B) councils.

F&C Council member Mr Yeong Gah Hou, who enjoyed the ship visit and FCU ride tremendously, felt that the event gave him a deeper understanding of how the SAF worked and how it interacted with the rest of the community and the public. It was especially meaningful for him as this would help him educate the importance of defence to new citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) in Singapore.

"I think this exhibition provides a very good insight to what the SAF does... and (will help) Singaporeans to better understand our obligations towards contributing to Singapore's safety and security. And for new citizens, this exhibition will also open their eyes to better understand the country which they have become part of and how defence is an integral part of us," said Mr Yeong. Part of the F&C council's focus involves engaging new citizens and PRs.

Ms Laura Hwang and Ms Joanna Portilla from the F&C council also took this opportunity to engage a group of ladies on defence matters. These ladies are either women leaders, wives of Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) or mothers whose sons are going to be enlisted. They were part of the guests who were invited to an exclusive tour of SAF50@Vivo, together with the ACCORD members.

The dialogue session was short but fruitful and Ms Portilla was heartened to find out that many women were positive about National Service (NS) and the SAF. Topics discussed included how women had a bigger role to play in supporting their husbands and sons whenever they were called up to serve and how they could do their part in the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC).

"We mooted this idea of engaging the women because it's important to create awareness and show them how they can support their husband or sons whenever they go for In-Camp Training or enlist into NS. At the same time, they also learnt about the SAFVC and how (some of them) can continue their interest in uniformed groups," explained Ms Portilla.

The director of a private school added that such engagements not only promote greater understanding of what the SAF does, but also alleviate mothers' fears of sons enlisting into NS and help them to prepare their sons both physically and mentally.

Ms Susie Wong, who was part of the Women's Group, felt that the dialogue session was a good initiative as many women still think that serving in the SAF is a man's role. The Honourary Secretary of the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations was also glad that her perspective of the Army was changed after visiting the event.

"In the past, serving in the Army to me was about going to war. But after speaking to some Army boys, I found out that it was (also) about peacekeeping, defence and protecting the country against terrorism. So it's a different concept of what I always thought about the Army."

Ms Portilla summed up their experience at SAF@Vivo: "It's important to know what the men go through. Showing women the capabilities and life in the SAF will make them appreciate and support the men more.

"We should be proud of our men."