FROM DROPOUT TO VALEDICTORIAN

He dropped out of secondary school almost 40 years ago. Today, however, 2nd Warrant Officer (2WO) Ng Chin Kiang is a valedictorian.

The 53-year-old commando emerged among the top of his cohort in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)-National Institute of Education (NIE) Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programme.

2WO Ng was among 92 graduands who received their certificates in a graduation ceremony held in NIE on 30 Jun. He obtained an Advanced Diploma in Learning and Instruction.

A long journey

His learning journey was long and arduous. He enrolled in the SAF Boys' School when he was 14 years old, but cut short his academic pursuit after struggling in Secondary Two.

But 2WO Ng found his groove in the military. At the age of 16 -- a time when most of his peers were still studying -- he had already completed the Rangers Course, often known as the toughest in the SAF.

He went on to become a sniper and reconnaissance patrol sergeant major. But after 18 years in the SAF, the then-staff sergeant felt the need to have a change and do something new to broaden his horizon.

At the age of 32, without any formal academic qualification, he took a leap of faith, leaving the military to pursue his interest in Information Technology (IT) in the private sector.

Despite having no background in this area, he excelled in his IT sales role, and was even head-hunted by five companies.

His passion for soldiering never wavered all this while. He excelled during In-Camp Training sessions, and was promoted to the rank of master sergeant.

In 2002, he decided to return to the SAF, first as a parachuting instructor, and later a ranger training cadre.

This time round, he made it a point to upgrade himself. The seven-year stint in the private sector had made him realise the importance of academic qualifications.

"I saw difficult how it was to find a job and rise up without qualifications in the outside world," said 2WO Ng, who previously managed a team of IT sales associates in the private sector.

"But I was lucky as my bosses recognised my leadership and presentation skills which I developed during my time in the SAF."

Back to school

The thought of going back to school after so many decades was frightening. He credited his long-time commando and ranger buddy MWO Koh Liang Chye for pushing him on.

"I did not believe I could manage it," said 2WO Ng in his valedictory speech. "I was a hard nut to crack but my mentor persisted, encouraging me and insisting that I embark on my CPE journey.

"Master Warrant Koh even accompanied me for my first class together to help me start my learning journey."

For someone who had been away from school for so long, it was an uphill challenge. 2WO Ng took it step by step. Under the Learning & Instruction course in the SAF-NIE CPE programme, he first obtained a certificate in 2011, and later a specialist diploma in 2013.

During the 18-month advanced diploma course which he started in 2014, a typical week would see him heading to NIE for three days.

"I had to finish my work in two days, and make sure all loose ends were tied up before I head for school," recalled the father of four.

Paying it forward

Now an IT project warrant officer managing the combat communication network in Headquarters Commando, 2WO Ng hopes to contribute back to the SAF he had learnt in NIE.

"I have learnt to teach better. So when I conduct training in the SAF, whether (it be for) IT, parachuting or weapons, I can apply my new knowledge to make the lessons more experiential and effective," said 2WO Ng.

At the graduation ceremony, Rear Admiral (RADM) Giam Hock Koon, Commandant SAFTI Military Institute, and Professor Lee Sing Kong, Managing Director of NIE International, gave out the certificates for seven different courses under the SAF-NIE CPE programme.

The graduands were officers, military experts, warrant officers and defence executive officers from across the SAF, with 73 from the Army, two from the Navy, 13 from the Air Force, and four from Joint.

In his address to the graduands, RADM Giam commended their efforts, and urged them to keep upgrading and become better trainers.

"You have indeed made a wise decision to pursue learning," he said. "Continue this learning journey, and seek the satisfaction (of) being able to touch people, to influence them and change them for the better."