By Philip Wu, via Medium.com, 7 March 2016
Hi Jonathan,
I’m pretty troubled by the recent court case of the soldier who died of an allergic reaction to zinc chloride from smoke grenades. The soldier’s family did not win the case. His grieving mum regretted on-line that she had taught her son to have faith in the very people who have now defeated her in court and apologised to her dead son.. that she had “taught him wrong”. It was heartrending.
Before you enlist for NS …
Jon, you are going to enlist for National Service one day soon. I have been teaching you to love your country and to be prepared to defend it. We both hope that you will be able to serve your 2 years in a capacity that you are keen on.. Unarmed Combat Training Instructor perhaps?
But in the light of what had happened, am I doing the right thing? Am I “teaching you wrong?”
Dad served out my 2.5 years back in 1987. I was an enthusiastic recruit on Pulau Tekong at Kilo company. I fought hard to get into OCS, and I was privileged to be part of 2/87, Infantry Officer Cadet Course. I was thrilled to be selected for conversion to the Guards and ended up a Platoon commander at Alpha company, 2nd Battalion, Singapore Guards. I jumped out of helicopters, ran around in jungles and cheong sua.
During these training, there were many risks. My batch of officer cadet trainees witnessed our own tragedy. One of our own was shot and killed during a night live firing exercise in 1987. I was barely 200m away and heard him shout “I’m shot”. I was selected to be part of his honour guard at the funeral, and tears streamed freely as we sent off an excellent friend and solider.
Do I still want you to enlist with a positive attitude?
We all know you have to enlist. But do I want you to feel positive about it? The Singapore system had not been entirely good to you. You didn’t benefit from the education system here, and you did not meet a teacher who cared for and inspired you. Things had not been easy for us as a family over these last years. You had received so much more care, consideration and nurturing from outside of Singapore. So how do I advice you?
My answer, Jon, is Yes, I still want you to enlist with a positive attitude. Because only then will you be able to make the most of these 2 years. I also want you to learn to look after yourself, and not just depend on the system to protect you. And if you ever get into a position of authority, contribute to the system to continue to protect and love the soldiers who are training to defend our country.
The SAF seems impersonal, cold and uncaring, but I don’t think that’s the reality. My peers at 2/87 IOCC, who are now colonels and generals in the Army — are people of integrity and character. Their good character cannot be hidden over 9 months during gruelling training at Officer Cadet School. They tell me that every single safety incident, heat exhaustion, accident etc are reported to the highest level and stern action taken — to the point of being demoralising sometimes. They love Singapore, they love their soldiers. They are also fathers with children who will serve in the SAF. It somehow doesn’t quite fit the public image of the SAF, but there it is.
That aside, some Singaporeans argue that “We have no enemies, NS is an unnecessary risk and a waste of time.” Is that true? Or have they forgotten the past?
It is my personal view that the ideas that made Singapore what it is, is worth defending. Not many countries in the world are founded on the concept of “regardless of race, language or religion.” Fewer still have meritocracy or incorruptibility in their DNA. The SG system is far from perfect, but the foundational ideals are precious. And not everyone around us agrees with these ideas.
Is the need to defend SG still relevant?
On 10 March 1965, the MacDonald House along Orchard Road was bombed by Indonesian Marines, Harun and Osman. Elizabeth Suzie Choo, 36, Juliet Goh, 23, and Mohammed Yasin Kesit, 45, a driver, died. 33 others were injured.
These innocents were caught up in “A year of living dangerously” — a phrase coined by then Indonesian President Sukarno. The period marked a season of instability and insurgent terror in the region. Did you know that Indonesian fighters were parachuted into Johor? Somehow, things evolved and the threat passed — our fledgling country survived.
The lesson learnt then is still relevant today. Singapore’s existence as a sovereign nation is not a fact that everyone accepts. Extremists groups with a different view of the future have and do continue to see the existence of our Country as a mere road bump in history.
Fast forward to 2015. Some 500 Indonesian and Malaysian nationals had gone to fight alongside the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
They have formed a Unit — “Katibah Nusantara” (Malay Archipelago Combat Unit). 17 of them have been killed, 6 carrying out suicide bombing attacks which killed 30 people in Syria and Iraq[1]. ISIS had expressed clear intent of setting up a Caliphate in South East Asia, and by violent means. A caliphate that would adopt Sharia Law, swear allegience to its Emir. Such a Caliphate would not recognise Singapore’s status as an independent nation, and they are ready to shed blood, theirs and ours, to prove their point.
“Never Again — What you cannot defend, is not yours..”
In my mind, never again should this country be vulnerable as it was during WW2. The fate of its inhabitants in the hands of 1 set of foreigners, and handed over to another set of foreigners — powerless to resist, without dignity. Grandad’s generation could not defend their homes. We can.
It is our duty, Jon, as Singaporeans to know the threats facing our country and it is actually quite meaningful to be part of a force of arms equipped and disciplined to defend a country. It’s not just about ISIS — it’s about having the military power when all else fails, to stand-up against those who may wish to destroy what we know to be true, good and valuable.
If there should ever be a real conflict, your primary role is NOT to die for your country. Your primary role is to help the aggressor die for their mistaken beliefs that they can take away ours.
In war, as in training, your role is to accomplish your mission. And then, it is to bring your fellow soldiers or your men — and yourself back home safely, and in that order of priority.
All said, when you start enduring mosquito bites, mud and lack of sleep, all these ideals will evaporate. Nobody will enjoy sitting out in the rain for the whole night, not bathing for days or eat food out of a tin can or foil. In the end, you will just be shouldering the load for your buddy beside you. You will be digging the shell scrape because you are instructed to do so, and you will be cussing under your breadth at the seeming futility of what you will be doing, and the wasted waiting time. That’s real life buddy. But that will pass. The difference between a pessimist and optimist in life is that both go through the same laughter and pain in life — but the optimist have a better experience of life and more opportunities will open up because you have a higher threshold of endurance and a more positive attitude.
To sum up, we have our individual responsibility to be part of one united Singapore in peacetime. In our own small ways to build a democratic society, based on justice and equality. So that we can contribute to a country where our fellow citizens can be happy, can prosper and can progress as a nation.
I hope I am teaching you right Jon. At the end of the day, you should know the past, understand the present and choose to shape your future.
Train Hard, Be Strong, Be Safe.
DAD
[1] http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/malaysian-islamic-state-suicide-bombers-kill-more-than-30-in-middle-east/
First posted here: https://medium.com/@philipwu/my-son-is-going-to-enlist-for-ns-soon-726e38705542#.i57i1g6tb
