Mr Cavin Song

Military defence has largely been the man's responsibility, at least from Singapore's conscription point of view. So I was initially quite surprised and a little sceptical when Jasmine mentioned she was keen to join the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC). However, her determination to play a part in the defence of Singapore soon turned my surprise into support. Having another soldier in the family can only be a good thing for the country and I was happy that she wanted to contribute to the nation in this meaningful way.

My main concern that came to mind was my wife's physical condition. Jasmine is thin and small in size, and I could hardly imagine her putting on the equipment, bearing the load that a soldier has to carry and doing all the physical training. As she had neither been involved in uniform groups nor competitive sports, these all seemed very daunting, even to me. However, none of these deterred Jasmine, as I always saw her enthusiastically preparing and looking forward to the Saturday Basic Training sessions over 10 weeks at Maju Camp. She was never late for any single one of them.

So when Jasmine completed her Basic Training, I felt nothing but pride. A stronger Jasmine had emerged in her beret, carrying her SAR21 and equipped with the basic military knowledge and skills to protect Singapore. And love, too. When a loved one declares that she will protect you (and the country) with her life, you feel proud, and you feel loved.

To other families who may have a family member who wants to volunteer, please lend them your fullest support. It is an experience and privilege no other opportunities can provide.

Background information

Mr Cavin Song
Jasmine Yeo's Husband