Dasoni Hitendrasingh

Commitments along the way brought me to Singapore and I am proud to have made Singapore my home since then. After becoming a Singaporean, I learnt about the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) through my wife. Her colleague had shared with her about volunteering with the SAFVC. I recalled the excitement and eagerness when my wife told me over dinner, and I submitted my application on that night itself.

I did not expect the Basic Training to be so intensive yet well-planned as our time was fully utilised over the two weeks. We were introduced to various aspects of military training and it gave us a better understanding of NS and the training experience was above my expectations.

Personally, the toughest part was the physical and mental stretch. The endurance of our body and mind was being tested from the day-long activities. However, I believe it has raised SAFVC Volunteers’ (SVs) level of physical and mental resilience.

The Qualification Training as a C4 Expert conducted by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) commanders was also very well-organised and engaging. In brief, we were given an orientation of the RSAF, from understanding its history to its transition to the 3rd Generation RSAF. The C4 Expert SVs were also tasked with an assignment where we learnt how to relate our expertise in RSAF’s context. This helps to prepare us for future deployments, where we can get the chance to give back of what we have learnt so far.

I am thankful for my company’s support that I could make the arrangements to go for the Continuous Basic Training. It was a pleasant surprise when I found out that my line manager, Lye Yit, is coincidentally a C4 Expert SV from the previous intake. He was very encouraging and shared with me his Basic Training experience.

I owe it to the SAFVC and Singapore, as my new home, for giving me the opportunity to serve the nation. I will continue to serve wholeheartedly for the peace and security of Singapore with my life.

You would hardly bat an eyelid if you heard him ordering his favourite Teh C at the coffeeshop, but 37-year old Hitendra Singh Dasoni became a new citizen in 2015. He now serves as a Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) Expert in the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC).

2018 marks a full decade since the day he stepped foot into his apartment in Jurong. He remembers how his wife missed their previous place in Hong Kong. "Give it some time," he reassured her. In a span of 2 weeks, they were already in love with Singapore, having seen how safe and diverse the country was. "We loved the place so much, that’s why we have stayed here for over 10 years," he said.

From the very moment Hitendra Singh heard about the SAFVC through his wife, he made up his mind and wasted no time sending his application that very night.

For him, some of his most memorable experiences was the pride he felt when he put on his SAFVC uniform the first time as well as the sense of responsibility during the Weapon Presentation ceremony at Kranji War Memorial.

Thankful to his employer and colleagues who supported his decision to enlist in the SAFVC, he encourages those eligible for this scheme to play a part in national defence.

“I feel very proud to be a part of the SAFVC. In fact, I feel very fortunate to serve, because it is run in a very professional and organised way; and serving in the SAFVC has allowed me to better appreciate what our active servicemen and NSmen do to keep Singapore safe.

Background information

Dasoni Hitendrasingh
Regional Service Manager, APAC
Thomson Reuters
Singapore Citizen
SAFVC role: C4 Expert