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SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC)
From SAFVC volunteers

Aqilah Juma'in

As an educator, I also wanted to become a better guide and prepare my students in undertaking their responsibility in defending our homeland.

Aqilah with short black hair, wearing a patterned orange top, sitting indoors near plants, with a brightly lit background.

I joined the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) largely to experience the National Service and realise my greater objective of being able to give back to my country. As an educator, I also wanted to become a better guide and prepare my students in undertaking their responsibility in defending our homeland. As a woman, I believe my understanding of the military defence in Singapore is incomplete and this experience has given me a clearer understanding of the role of the Singapore Armed Forces in the Total Defence of Singapore.

Joining the SAFVC is something that I have long been interested in as I am greatly inspired by my brother, who has been proudly donning the military uniform to work every morning for many years before this. As a daughter, it was surprising for my family as I broke the news of my application in 2014. To add on, my elder sister, Juliana Juma'in, also applied after I did, and we both progressed through the interviews and medical check-ups without any hiccups. Despite the initial doubt, our family eventually witnessed the passion and commitment we had on our graduation day. From then on, there was no turning back. We are a family of soldiers, and we are all proud of it.

The SAFVC Volunteer (SV) experience was invigorating for both the body and mind. Training with fellow volunteers who were from varied military backgrounds and physical strengths, the challenge was to ensure that no man (and woman) was left behind. We might not have completed a two-year training like our NSmen, but it was definitely challenging to complete the different aspects of basic soldiering such as 'basic military skills' that included Individual Field Craft, SAR21 Technical Handling, Basic Trainfire Package, Battle Inoculation Course, and fitness components, which included a familiarisation of the Standard Obstacle Course (SOC), and the route march. Of course, the highlight of the training was the field camp, which tested us in more ways than we could ever imagine.

I am proud to say that I have obtained a bag full of memories and a newly minted me from the SAFVC experience. Not only did I pick up wonderful physical artefacts like muscles, but it further instilled my sense of confidence, resilience and leadership. I am proud to be a defender of my homeland and look forward to the rest of my journey in the SAFVC.


Background information

Aqilah Juma'in
Teacher
Ministry of Education
Singapore Citizen
SAFVC role: Auxiliary Security Trooper

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