Becoming an officer & following in Dad’s footsteps

When 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Timothy Ng was just six years old, his father would bring him out for breakfast or a run, fondly sharing stories of his Officer Cadet School (OCS) days in the 1990s.

“Today, we have better amenities and facilities, uniforms and weapons… I can only imagine how intense my dad’s experience must have been back then,” said 2LT Ng, 20.

“Yet whenever my dad spoke about his time in OCS, it was never about how hard it was.

“It was always about how much he learnt, how much he grew as a person and the skills and lessons that stayed with him till today.”

Whenever he was going through a tough time in the Officer Cadet Course (OCC), he often reminded himself that his dad would have pushed through without complaints and come out a stronger person.

Naturally, it became 2LT Ng’s ambition to follow in his father’s footsteps. The 20-year-old enlisted in April 2025 and successfully entered OCS in June that same year.

“(My dad’s encouragement) gave me the freedom to lean fully into learning, to give my best in everything, and to form strong and lasting friendships along the way,” said 2LT Ng.

2LT Ng also cited his family as his biggest period of support during National Service (NS). It’s not just his dad – his mum is also his “superhero”.

“My mum always volunteers to send me to and fro between camp and home, and never fails to cook my favourite food when I book out. Somehow, it’s always exactly the dish I have been thinking about on my way home!”

The most challenging time for 2LT Ng in OCC? When he was both Fire Support Officer and Cadet Battery Commander during an exercise, and was responsible for managing the exercise and his team for an entire week.

“The sheer intensity of it all was genuinely overwhelming,” he recalled.

But with the strong belief that “no one achieves anything while alone” and the guidance of his trainers, he completed the exercise successfully together with his batch mate.

His hard work during the course has paid off – he was awarded the Sword of Honour in the Officer Cadet Commissioning Parade at SAFTI Military Institute on 14 Mar.

“This award means a great deal to me as it is a meaningful recognition of my effort throughout the many months of training,” said 2LT Ng.

Among the 253 cadets who graduated that night was also 2LT Aleena Binte Aidil, 20. She was similarly inspired by her father to enter OCS.

Her father, Major (MAJ) (Ret) Aidil Bin Juma’at, served in the Army for 24 years, with his last appointment being Head Subject Matter Expert (SME) at Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC).

During his time as a Regular, he oversaw the review of training doctrine and analysed the effectiveness of training Standard Operating Procedures.

When 2LT Aleena was in Primary 3, her family moved abroad for three years when her father was posted overseas as a Liaison Officer for the Singapore Armed Forces.

During this time, she got to see firsthand how her father was deeply involved in the lives of the Army personnel based there, to build a strong community and a home away from home.

“He created deep and lasting bonds with his subordinates, who saw him not only as a trusted leader, but also a role model whom they could turn to for help,” she said with pride.

In her first year of Junior College, 2LT Aleena attended the MINDEF experiential programme and expressed her interest in joining the Army.

Thus, it was of no surprise to her family when she eventually decided to sign on, believing that the Army would give her the best opportunity to grow as a person and as a leader.

In April 2025, 2LT Aleena enlisted into Basic Military Training, and entered OCS in June that same year.

During OCC, 2LT Aleena was the only female in her platoon, which made her feel lonely.

The turning point came when she and 15 others were chosen to undergo the Motorised Support Company course for three weeks.

This experience allowed her to find her place in the platoon: “As long as I put myself out there, I will be able to achieve a sense of belonging.

“Now, I’ve found a close group of friends that I can always rely on and look forward to seeing when I book into camp every week.”

For ladies who are thinking of choosing a career in uniform?

2LT Alenna shared this advice: “Your reason (to be in the SAF) may change along the way, but as long as it is something you believe in, it will be your driving force that pushes you to keep improving!

“A military career can be demanding, but it is also meaningful and rewarding for those who are prepared to learn, adapt and grow.”