SPECIALIST LEADERS CELEBRATE GRADUATION MILESTONE

For specialist cadets (SCTs), the intense outfield navigation exercise is an important part of their course in attaining the Combat Skills Badge. The challenge lies in navigating carefully through harsh terrain that has plenty of trees and thorns.

Despite suffering from an injury when a branch scratched a blood vessel in his eye, Silver Bayonet recipient SCT Haridass s/o Arevarlagan soldiered through and managed to complete the exercise successfully.

He was determined not to let his team-mates down as they were close to the last checkpoint during the exercise. In response, they rallied behind him.

"I needed to wash my eye frequently, because it was very itchy. I had finished up my water, so (they contributed the last of the clean water in their canteens and) I actually used all of it to wash my eye. They really helped me, we did it together," said the 21-year-old.

At the 19th Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade (SCGP) held at Pasir Laba Camp on 26 Jun, SCT Haridass and his fellow cadets celebrated their graduation from the 22-week course.

In his speech, Reviewing Officer Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee Ti-Seng had some sound advice for the new specialists.

"Lead with conviction and be a good model. Always do what you expect your soldiers to do, and help them achieve the standards that you set for them."

These words ring true for Golden Bayonet recipient SCT Amos Sng Kai Xuan. His fellow cadets cited his leadership and strong sense of responsibility as reasons for nominating him to receive the award.

Noting the importance of teamwork and fighting spirit, SCT Sng said: "We just told each other, we're already here, might as well just do our best. We support each other along the way.

"At the end of the day, we all go through this together. We go in together, we come out together, we complete the whole thing together."

At home, the 21-year-old is a leader as well. The oldest of three sons, he has two younger siblings who are about to enter National Service (NS) soon. He constantly encourages them to keep fit to make their NS journey a better one.

"The second brother is actually feeling quite a bit of pressure, so he goes to the gym every week. I think, bit by bit, he's slowly improving," said SCT Sng.

The idea of brotherhood was a key reason why fellow Golden Bayonet recipient SCT Muhammad Aliff Bin Ramli signed on as a Regular. Despite feeling lost when he first enlisted, the sense of camaraderie he soon developed in Specialist Cadet School inspired him to want to continue leading future batches of cadets.

"You're not alone. You're always with your friend. That's the reason why I kept on going (even when things were tough)," said the 22-year-old, who will be heading to the Basic Warfighter - Platoon Sergeant Course as a Sergeant.

He added: "I want to become a better person - someone useful, so I thought of being useful for my country. That's why I serve."