CATCH HER IF YOU CAN

Finish the 2.4km run behind her and you can forget about getting Gold for your Individual Physical Proficiency Test. Captain (CPT) Katie Lin's personal best of 9min42s - a shade faster than the men's timing for Gold - was the standard for guys to beat during her midshipman days.

But while fitness is never a problem, she sheepishly admitted that her poor sense of direction caused her quite a few headaches when she was learning to navigate a ship. "I can even get lost driving on the roads. Imagine navigating in the open sea where there are no lanes or signs - that's hard!"

But she overcame her weakness through plenty of hard practice, and became the Assistant Navigating Officer of missile corvette RSS Valiant. Early this year, she became a New Media Engagement Officer with the Navy Information Centre. And in October, she started her new role as a staff officer in Joint Operations Department.

Wherever she goes, the sporty 25-year-old, who has a degree in psychology and a master's in counselling from the University of Pennsylvania, makes it a point to spend time interacting with her men. "When I manage to inspire them even just a little bit, it gives me a sense of satisfaction."

Find out more on CPT Lin in the iPad edition of PIONEER!