MAINTAINING VIGILANCE AT ALL TIMES

They may not have been able to ring in the arrival of 2009 together with their loved ones, but the men from the 6th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (6 SIR), shared the last day of the year with another family - their fellow comrades in the unit.

Lance Corporal (LCP) Alan Yeh told cyberpioneer that the strong bonds of friendship within the unit helped to boost their spirits and kept them focused on carrying out their tasks diligently.

Indeed, many of the servicemen from 6 SIR were prepared to be on duty, to remain operationally-ready, even during public holidays.

Third Sergeant (3SG) Mohamad Farrhan revealed that several Malay soldiers had missed the festivities of both Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Puasa with their families last year, but they had their own "celebration" in camp as they bought food and had dinner together.

"This sense of bonding has made us more than just friends - we are a close-knit family," he said.

As a General Purpose Machine Gun Commander, 3SG Farrhan keeps a lookout for suspicious vehicles and personnel during frequent patrols around the western sector of Jurong Island, on a Light Patrol Vehicle.

Alert and on guard, dedicated soldiers like him are deployed at various key installations, such as Jurong Island and Changi Airport, to ensure an around-the-clock watch. This is a crucial responsibility because these installations are vital to the nation's security and economic prosperity.

In support of their efforts, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Desmond Kuek visited these troops manning stand-by operations at Jurong Island on 31 Dec 08.

"His visit really boosted our morale," said LCP Yeh. "It's a rare opportunity to meet him, and we really appreciated him coming down to talk to us."

3SG Farrhan agreed, adding: "The men know that it's important to be vigilant at all times, especially during this festive season."

"During this period of time, we have to heighten our vigilance because this is the time most terrorist attacks tend to occur. At the end of the day, we understand that our sacrifice is worth it."