Adelia Wee

Hearing many stories about National Service from the people around me as well as the excitement from my classmates who were going to enlist soon after graduating from Junior College triggered an interest of what it was like to be in the army. Being one who is not deterred by hardships, I too wanted a piece of that experience. Committing to the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) was something I wanted to do very much so there was nothing that was holding me back. I had eight months of holiday before university started and had no problem finding time for the SAFVC training; kudos to some of my fellow volunteers who took time off from their work to play their part for our national defence.

The government has invested heavily into National Service since its establishment and there is no doubt that there have been leaps and bounds of improvement. However, coming from a family with only sisters as siblings, there was no one else who entered National Service, apart from my father. Naturally, my parents were concerned about safety and security during training and thus were opposed to the idea of me volunteering for the SAF. Going into a male-dominated field was just unimaginable for them. Furthermore, since SAFVC is a new initiative, I would likely be in the pioneer intake and there was not much information available for my parents, as everything would be new.

After much persuasion, my parents decided to head down to the SAFVC booth, as part of the SAF50 Exhibition at VivoCity, to learn and understand more about the scheme. Thankfully, after listening to the SAFVC ambassadors, they agreed to let me apply for it, albeit still shouldering many concerns.

Often envious of the camaraderie formed amongst the guys after two years of National Service, I was glad to have found my own band of sisters during the two-week Basic Training. Clichéd as it may seem, these are the buddies we go through thick and thin with, seeing one another at their worst and also at their best. Their support and encouragement gave me strength especially during difficult times.

The two most memorable segments of the Basic Training were live firing and the field camp at Pulau Tekong. Firing my very first live round was shocking, deafening and yet exhilarating, an invaluable experience that I definitely will not forget. The days before our field camp were filled with mixed feelings of trepidation and excitement. The thought of not being able to bathe and having to use field latrines instead of proper sanitation facilities were definitely one of my main concerns. However, once I decided to just go in with an open mind, it really was not that bad. Waking up early in the morning and having a short run to catch the sunrise was breathtaking. I would be lying if I were to say that field camp was not challenging but I really enjoyed the whole experience and learned many new things.

My entire journey so far would not have been so great without the valued members of the SAFVC, Colonel Mike Tan, Senior Warrant Officer Ho Kian Lee and Major Lee Peh Gee who were so accommodating to our needs, ensuring that we understood what was taught. My gratitude to my section commander, 3rd Warrant Officer (3WO) Huang Jian Ling, who guided us through every process and a special shout out to the only female commander, Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jess Ong, who had to address any issues faced in the woman company. Enlisting into the SAFVC is a commitment I definitely do not regret and I took back much more than what I had given. Yes, I do get weird stares when I share that I joined the SAFVC, however that does not stop me from doing what I enjoy and it was all worth it.

Background information

Adelia Wee
Undergraduate Student
Singapore Citizen
SAFVC role: Auxiliary Security Trooper