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Active HomeTeamNS volunteers and active fathers

For HomeTeamNS volunteers Mr Kamlesh Ramchand and Dr Lim Kai Toh, the blend of work, helping others and family commitments is occasionally chaotic, often fun, and always fulfilling. TEXT: MELODY TAN PHOTOS: MR KAMLESH RAMCHAND, DR LIM KAI TOH When Dr Lim Kai Toh’s youngest son, Henry, was in kindergarten, he eagerly raised his hand when a teacher asked his class if anyone wanted to volunteer to build a dancing dragon. “He’s very generous in terms of volunteering,” Dr Lim laughed, adding that the project quickly became a whole-of-family affair: “We got a box and made it a 3D dragon, which turned out to be quite a nice model – with a winking eye, and things like that. That’s one of the little memories that have really stayed with me.” DADS WHO VOLUNTEER Dr Lim (right) and his family celebrating son Sean’s (second from right) team’s victory in the 2023 Singapore Young Physicist’s Tournament. Photo: Dr Lim Kai Toh Like father, like son: Dr Lim is also a long-running HomeTeamNS volunteer. He is a member of the HomeTeamNS Audit Committee, where he reviews internal and external audit findings with other members twice a year to ensure good governance, and the REAL Run Organising Committee, which meets once a month planning and preparing for the race leading up to the annual REAL Run in October. “As a committee, we try to engage our member base in terms of coming up with a few engagements, pre-runs and trainings,” he said. “I’m a medical doctor, so I provide a little bit of expertise and consultancy with regards to medical coverage.” In addition to Henry, now eight, Dr Lim and his wife have Sean, 16, Howard, 14 and Jaden, aged 10. Weekdays and weekends are often spent taking turns chauffeuring the boys to school and enrichment activities – Howard and Jaden are both competitive swimmers – and ensuring that Howard, who has mild autism, gets the support he needs to keep on top of his studies at the School of Science and Technology, Singapore. Similarly, Mr Kamlesh Ramchand, an Executive Committee member at the HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir clubhouse and an active reservist troop commander at Bedok Police Division, rotates the child chauffeuring duties with his wife. They take turns waking up early to send his two eldest, Tanya, 11, and Pia, 10, to school, while the other parent takes Divina, aged 5, to kindergarten. His girls are also busy with enrichment activities. Besides academic classes, there are Sunday morning Jiu Jitsu classes for Tanya and Pia, who also bowls for her school team and attends regular training sessions. “I’m the logistics guy at home,” said Mr Kamlesh, who also wears strategic management and decision-making hats in his Executive Committee role at HomeTeamNS Bedok Reservoir. He added: “I believe in being of service to the kids so that they are enabled to pursue their dreams. I demand effort over results, and I do my best to ferry them around and expose them to opportunities and new experiences.” BEING THE BEST ROLE MODELS THEY CAN BE Both HomeTeamNS volunteers admit that their careers are no longer the main priorities in their lives. Instead, their families come first. “Fatherhood has made me stay at home a lot more,” reflected Mr Kamlesh. “By nature, I’m a nomad, I like to go out. I’ve become more homely over the years – because I have more reason to stay at home. In addition, my very colourful language has started rubbing off on my kids, so I have been reprimanded on several occasions by my wife to watch my ‘French’!” Dr Lim says that being a parent has made him less selfish and more patient. Formerly a corporate-level officer who travelled 40 per cent of the time for business, he changed his career path to be more present for his children. “I do see a lot of resemblance between my boys and myself, and it makes me cognisant that you cannot do what you like – sometimes you have to be a good role model. But overall, it’s worth it to see your child progressing, growing and maturing – and hopefully, they will be successful in time to come.” Agreed Mr Kamlesh: “It’s very important to be a positive role model for your children. Kids relate to the world through the examples we set. How we relate to our parents, how we spend our free time, our commitment to family and work – they are always watching.” To model his daughters how to juggle work and volunteering commitments while still making time for family, he does his best to join them in picking up new skills that they’re interested in: “It’s things like abacus, or the Rubik’s cube, or coding. I may not be as good as them – no time! – but they truly respect the effort and initiative.” FINDING FUN IN BONDING Despite their busy schedules, Dr Lim makes it a point to connect with his sons by getting them to accompany him on weekly runs, swimming together, and making paper crafts with Henry. “I would say hey, it’s boring for me to be running alone, so come and help Daddy,” he said. “From my volunteering with HomeTeamNS, I know they also have a lot of activities over the years – not just for NSmen, but also our family members. For example, I brought the boys along to the opening of Adventure HQ at HomeTeamNS Khatib so they could try rock climbing. Two of them were a bit afraid of heights, but everyone had fun during the rappelling part.” On Mr Kamlesh’s part, he often lets his children take the lead in deciding what daddy-daughter activity they want to do, such as playing chess or trying out new foods such as frogs’ legs. He also enjoys bringing his girls out on one-to-one bonding trips to nearby destinations. Recently, he brought Divina to Langkawi. Besides giving his children a chance to enjoy sightseeing and other touristy activities, he says

The Singapore Police Force: Transforming through the generations

The ‘A’ Division NS Commander of the Singapore Police Force, DAC (NS) Patrick Fung, has witnessed a lifetime’s worth of changes during his 40 years in service. TEXT: KEENAN PEREIRA PHOTOS: DAC (NS) PATRICK FUNG For a sense of how the Singapore Police Force (SPF) has evolved, look no further than senior officers like DAC (NS) Patrick Fung, 56, who enlisted in the mid-1980s. This transformation is even evident in the way National Service officers are selected to join the SPF. “It was a different path to the Force back then,” he recalls. “We all did our Basic Military Training on Pulau Tekong and a handful of us were selected for training at the Police Academy from there, unlike today, when most start with police training.” DAC (NS) Fung was first posted to Police HQ, within its Strategic Planning Department. He only began serving in a land division – in his case, the ‘A’ Division – during his subsequent in-camp training cycles, whenever he returned on holiday from law school in the United Kingdom. Patrolling the streets of Singapore in the early 1990s was an “eye-opening” experience. “I got to see a very different side of Singapore,” he reminisces. “On the surface, everything is very nice and polished. But when you start walking the streets, you’re exposed to another side of life: Suicide, domestic disputes.” Like many of his counterparts, DAC (NS) Fung acknowledges that he himself had lived quite a sheltered life. “But being in the Force was a privilege as I got to see and understand these social issues first-hand and not take our own luck for granted.” He remembers the first suicide he was dispatched to assist with. “I think it was in Toa Payoh. Back then, we didn’t have those blue tents to cover the bodies. We had to use newspapers, or whatever we could find to clean up the area.” How would today’s officers fare in that world? “It was a different time,” he stresses. “There was no channel for us to talk about how we felt or to prepare us for what we were going to do. Of course, that’s not the case anymore. Now, the wellbeing of our officers is something we are very concerned about — and with good reason, I think.” CHANGES FOR THE BETTER As the NS Commander of the Singapore Police Force’s ‘A’ Division, DAC (NS) Fung is tasked to look after the welfare and wellbeing of his NSMen. Structural changes have made this easier, as there are policies to support SPF officers, both NS and regular. “These extend to mental wellbeing and care, which is very encouraging,” he explains. He sheds light on progressive changes within the organization as well. “Most admirably, we’ve moved away from being a ‘boys’ club’ — women now have a place in every part of the SPF, which was very different from the past, when they were restricted to operating our phone lines or manning our stations. As a father of three daughters, I can confidently encourage any of them to take up a career in the SPF today.” DAC (NS) Fung also oversees the deployment of NSmen to support key events in the ‘A’ Division, which covers central Singapore. Given this area, this means that he and his team are responsible for supporting the security operations for major events like the F1 Grand Prix, New Year’s countdown parties and the Shangri La Dialogue. But the event that stands out the most to him is the annual National Day Parade, which comes under the ‘A’ Division’s purview, whether it is held at the Padang or the Marina Bay Floating Platform. “I think the only time we didn’t support it was during the first year of COVID-19, when it was held at the STAR Arts Performing Theatre.” NDP holds a special significance to the servicemen of ‘A’ Division shares DAC (NS) Fung. “And because we do so many events a year, our people are quite up to date on what needs to be done. Doing it once gives our men a good idea of what is expected of them. Through regular deployments like these, our NSmen can build closer working relationships with their regular counterparts and learn more about current policing procedures.” It is usually at events like these that many of his men interact with members of the public as well. Just as the SPF has evolved to meet with the times, it has also had to rethink the way it interacts with the public. “In the old days, you could easily get compliance from the public. But as our population has become more educated and discerning, we have had to change our tack,” he explains. “There may be questions about our procedures and instructions, so our officers need to be trained to answer those sensitively and yet, firmly.” In this area, NS officers have an advantage over their regular counterparts. “They spend most of the year as civilians, so they definitely have a good grasp of public sentiment.” Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings. 

Meet the NSman of the Year 2022

Having patiently led a nursing home through an anxiety-fraught pandemic, LTC (NS) Marcus Lee proves that serving the nation is a life-long affair.

A baptism of fire for this Home Team NSF, literally

SCDF NSF SGT1 Jovian Ng has always held an affinity the Home Team, from his stint in the NPCC to his current role fighting fires with the SCDF. TEXT: KEENAN PEREIRA PHOTOS: SGT1 JOVIAN NG SGT1 Jovian Ng isn’t likely to forget the incident on 6 December 2022, anytime soon. After their morning drills at the Brani Marine Fire Station, his unit was called to put out an engine fire on a vessel in Singapore’s southern waters. It was a staggering mission that took the team two-and-a-half hours to complete. “It was the first time I had helped to put out a fire,” says SGT1 Ng, who supported the operations as a member of the feeding team that provided hoses to a unit manoeuvring the nozzle. Days like this are strenuous to say the least – their shift doesn’t end immediately after a blaze is contained. In fact, it continues until the end of the 24-hour shift. Not that he’s one to grouse. “It’s something we do to keep our country safe and I’m glad I have the chance to help.” AN AFFINITY FOR THE HOME TEAM SGT1 Ng, who enlisted in July 2021, has always held an affinity for his current role in the Home Team. He had joined the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) as a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) in secondary school, and had initially hoped for a posting at the Singapore Police Force (SPF) during his National Service (NS) days. But he was equally pleased to be accepted by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) instead. “Either way, we’re making a difference to the country,” he says. The born leader credits his time at NPCC and later, his polytechnic student group, for shaping his career path. These experiences led him to SCDF, where he is an NSF Section Commander and a Navigation Specialist. In the latter role, he is responsible for assisting and operating the navigational equipment aboard firefighting vessels. Because of his natural leadership abilities, SGT1 Ng was selected as part of the first batch of NSFs who attended the Port Limit Steersman Course. The course equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills to steer marine vessels through various ports. With this certification, SGT1 Ng can go on to work in the marine sector, although he tells Frontline that he has no current plans to pursue this option. “After I (reach my) ORD (Operationally Ready Date), I’ll be heading to Canada to study finance and economics,” he shares. PEOPLE SKILLS MATTER TOO SGT1 Ng is an avid runner who used to compete in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m events as a student. But it’s not just marine and firefighting skills that SGT1 Ng will take away from his NS stint. He believes that his time in service has also honed his people skills, specifically through his appointment as an NSF peer support leader who oversaw the wellbeing of his peers. Furthermore, the 22-year-old has grasped several important principles related to leadership. For example, he says he understands that different personality types are partial to varied leadership styles. “So it’s important to learn how each person works instead of just commanding them straight away,” he adds. Such lessons were gleaned through spending time with his charges, from physical fitness activities to more social interactions. An avid runner, SGT1 Ng particularly enjoys opportunities to bond with his men through fitness activities. “There’s something about a run that builds a bond with a leader and his men, as you feel like you’re all doing something together as equals,” explains the former track and field school team member. “My events were the 400m, 800m and 1,500m races,” he recounts, adding that he continues to run leisurely every week. Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the HomeTeamNS Mobile App, and update your communication preference to ‘Receive Digital Frontline Magazine’, through the App Settings. FIGHTING FIRES AT SEA It has been 10 years since SCDF assumed marine firefighting duties from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. The Force has led numerous enhancements since then, including the introduction of state-of-the-art fireboats and the construction of new marine fire stations. The fire SGT1 Ng and his teammates fought is by no means the first time the SCDF has been called to fight maritime fires. Looking back on 30 May 2022, the SCDF was called into action when a boat that was docked at Marina at Keppel Bay caught fire. The fire was extinguished after about one hour with assistance from a water monitor from the Maritime Port Authority.

Complex problems don’t faze this HomeTeamNS Children’s Education Award recipient

Math whiz and HomeTeamNS Children’s Education Award recipient Mohamad ‘Afif Bin Mohamad Satari overcame personal challenges during the pandemic and still found time to serve the community. TEXT: NUR ADLINA BINTE ADAM PHOTOS: MOHAMAD ‘AFIF BIN MOHAMAD SATARI On 8 December 2022, HomeTeamNS commemorated the achievements of its members’ children at the HomeTeamNS Children’s Education Award (CEA) ceremony held at Cathay Cineplex Cineleisure. The CEA recognises the efforts of primary- to tertiary-level students and aims to motivate them in their educational journey through bursaries. Among this year’s 80 recipients is Mohamad ‘Afif Bin Mohamad Satari. The 20-year-old is the only son of Mr Mohamad Satari Bin Sumar, a Home Team NSman who served his National Service (NS) with the Singapore Police Force in 1980. ‘Afif performed outstandingly in his General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-Level Examinations in 2021, despite setbacks experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. His first year in Raffles Junior College was marked by Home-Based Learning, which entailed late-night discussions with peers and a lack of physical interaction with his tutors. As a result, time management was crucial for ‘Afif, who had to juggle lessons, homework, discussions and revisions, while getting ample rest. Thankfully, he overcame those hurdles. “Of course, I could not have done it alone. This was only possible through the support of my family and peers, as well as the guidance of my tutors, which I am forever grateful for,” he said. Academics aside, ‘Afif has proven to be an all-rounded student with a heart of gold. As a member of his school’s guitar ensemble, he and his teammates participated in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation, where they earned the Certificate of Distinction. On top of his achievements, ‘Afif also devotes time to giving back to the community. In total, he’s spent 43 hours volunteering as an orientation group leader as well as participating in community club programmes. “I was taught from a young age to always give back to the community, especially the less fortunate. It feels good when I can make someone’s day better and put a smile on their faces. The little things I do could be of great help to others,” he shared. AN ODE TO FAMILY Mohamad ‘Afif Bin Mohamad Satari (centre) has received tremendous support from his parents, Mdm Sarimah Ali (left) and Mr Mohamad Satari Bin Sumar (right), in his academic pursuits. ‘Afif’s outlook in life is inspired by his parents, Mr Satari and Mdm Sarimah Ali. “We’ve always advised ‘Afif to respect others, regardless of age. Even now, we remind him to stay humble and reflect on his roots. He should remember all the support he has received and pay it forward,” shared Mr Satari. The family comes from a humble background. Tutored by his mother, ‘Afif received financial support for his education through scholarships and bursaries, including HomeTeamNS’ CEA. “The CEA has definitely been a great help especially during COVID-19, and we appreciate the book vouchers and monetary award that we’ve saved for his tertiary education,” said Mr Satari. With the support of his nurturing parents, it’s perhaps unsurprising that ‘Afif would excel in his studies. The couple encouraged his interest in science and mathematics, the latter for which he grew a fascination as a toddler. From playing with clothes pegs, blocks and an abacus, the young boy progressed to learning simple addition, subtraction and multiplication from Mdm Sarimah. “Mathematics is a very wide-ranging subject. It can involve an abstract concept like pure mathematics, or be applied to other disciplines such as physics and engineering. I love to slowly unravel the answer to difficult questions and puzzles. The process is very satisfying and at times mind-boggling,” explained ‘Afif. As soon as he reaches his Operationally Ready Date (ORD) as a platoon medic for the 8th Battalion in the Singapore Infantry Regiment (8SIR), the scholarly adolescent will be furthering his studies at the National University of Singapore’s College of Humanities & Sciences. As he looks towards a new phase in his educational journey, he advises his peers to always believe in themselves, against the odds. “Never let failure be a setback to future success. Always remind yourself that it is just another challenge. Look back on a seemingly impossible hurdle that you once overcame and tell yourself that you can do it again. It is important to realise that you are not alone in your journey. Your family and friends will be there for you in your time of need, and you can rely on them for anything.” Mohamad ‘Afif Bin Mohamad Satari Top awardee for Junior College (Tertiary Level), HomeTeamNS Children’s Education Awards More than 2,600 children of HomeTeamNS Ordinary Members have benefitted from the CEA since its inception in 2004. With CEA, we hope to reward and celebrate families, and encourage students to excel academically. For the latest updates on the applications, visit our website or Facebook page.

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