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.

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.

Cybersecurity matters: How DAC (NS) Ng Sy Jang keeps communities safe, through his National Service role in the Singapore Police Force and his full-time job. TEXT: KEENAN PEREIRA PHOTOS: DAC (NS) NG SY JANG Security and safety are big themes in DAC (NS) Ng Sy Jang’s life. By day, he serves as an IT Security Researcher at DSO National Laboratories (DSO), Singapore’s largest defence research and development organisation. But the 49-year-old’s efforts to keep Singapore safe don’t end there: He also does this as the NS Commander for the Singapore Police Force (SPF)’s Crime Investigation Department (CID). DAC (NS) Ng’s journey with SPF began in the late 1990s, when he signed on following his National Service (NS). It was an exciting time as technology was quickly changing the way they operated. He explains how the widespread presence of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) has been a gamechanger: “Back then, if we wanted to catch a loan shark runner, we would have to wait at the victim’s home to catch them in the act. But we don’t need to do that anymore, since we can rely on CCTV footage to help us.” A SECURITY BOOST THROUGH TECH Technology has also made it easier for the public to reach the police. For instance, the SMS 71999 Service allows members of the public who require emergency assistance to text the police when it is not safe to call ‘999’ or when they are unable to speak. Police reports can also be easily filed online. But with the advancement of technology comes the risk of cybercrime. The SPF reported 22,219 such cases in 2021, a 38 per cent increase from 16,117 cases in 2020. These cases include online scams and cyber extortion, which can affect both civilians and the SPF. “Cybersecurity is a matter of concern for everyone, both inside and outside of the Force. It’s important that we follow good tech practices, such as changing our passwords regularly, so that we do not fall prey to such crimes,” advises DAC (NS) Ng, whose full-time role in IT security gives him an edge in understanding tech issues. “At work, we have the tools and know-how to find out what different kinds of malware do and how best to detect and thwart them.” AN UNENVIABLE BUT NECESSARY TASK In his present role as NS Commander of the CID, he leads over 160 NSmen, more than half of whom are in its disaster victim identification group. “In the event of a mass casualty event, these men will assist the regulars in identifying victims using dental records and fingerprints,” explains DAC (NS) Ng. “The current NSman batch is being trained to learn how to carry out their duties and how to handle and identify bodies and body parts.” Four members of his team were involved in Exercise Mayday, which concluded in June 2022. This exercise simulated a plane crash, with dismembered “bodies” lying around. It trained DAC (NS) Ng’s men to react to such situations and taught them how to handle body parts with care, so that they could later be used in victim identification. “During a mass casualty event, families will report missing loved ones to us and provide certain identifying traits — a ring or mole, for example, which will be keyed into a system. This will then be matched against the body parts found to help us speed up the process of identifying victims,” explains DAC (NS) Ng. He admits that some might find the task challenging but says that the unit’s focus on team spirit and collaboration helps get the job done. “All the unit’s leaders try to build rapport with the team and lead by example so we can ensure mission success. It’s an unenviable but necessary task.” 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. CYBERSECURITY DOS AND DON’TS DAC (NS) Ng shares tips on maintaining good cybersecurity: Don’t share your password and ensure it’s long enough and unique. Don’t click on links from unknown sources. Don’t download apps from untrusted sources. Do be more vigilant and aware of tactics used by scammers.

LTA (NS) Khairul Asyraf Khan Surattee discovered rock climbing in his late teens but and he hasn’t looked back since. TEXT: KEENAN PEREIRA PHOTOS: LTA (NS) KHAIRUL ASYRAF KHAN SURATTEE To better understand how much stronger LTA (NS) Khairul Asyraf Khan Surattee became after he started rock climbing in junior college (JC), just look at his pull-up record. While he used to do six pull-ups, that has since swelled to 30, he says. But the 27-year-old didn’t pick up the sport to gain muscle or physical prowess. He just thought it would be an interesting sport, he recalls. “Like many other boys, I grew up crazy about football. I would play every weekend with my father and I thought I would naturally go into football during JC.” But he found out early in his time at Serangoon Junior College that he was in one of the five schools that offered rock climbing as a co-curricular activity. “I thought, why not just give it a try?” he says. That began a decade-long love affair with rock climbing that continued through his National Service stint, during which he served at Tampines Fire Station. He remains with the 2nd SCDF Division as an NSman, serving as a Deputy Company Commander in the 21 Rescue Unit. Rock climbing was also a passion when he enrolled in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to read accountancy and business – he even became the president of NTU’s mountaineering club. PEAK SATISFACTION His rock climbing adventures had been confined to man-made spaces like climbing walls and boulder parks. Having gained confidence in his abilities, LTA (NS) Khairul began venturing into rock climbing at natural areas. “Most local climbers would know about the climb at Dairy Farm,” he says, referring to a quarry in Singapore that offers climbs of up to 28 metres. He has also travelled to Southern China to climb. His most memorable climb was during his university days when he competed in the Overall National School Bouldering Championship “V Division – Boys Team” event and was crowned champion twice. THE ONLY WAY IS UP When asked about what drives his passion for the sport, LTA (NS) Khairul points to its unique blend of mental and physical effort. Contrary to popular belief, climbers don’t just climb to the top—they follow different routes and paths that can differ dramatically in difficulty. “You may have to figure out how to make it from one point to another, even on a rock wall. That’s a lot of problem-solving and split-second decision-making, which is thrilling,” explains LTA (NS) Khairul, who works in the digital content and strategy arm of a global bank. It’s no wonder then that he defines a “good climb” as one filled with challenging routes. But he adds that although it may seem like a solitary sport, rock climbers also benefit from having supportive friends. “I still meet a few friends whom I started climbing with in university every few weeks to climb for a few hours before we catch up over dinner. It is a great way of keeping our friendship going.” And it’s not just old friends who brighten LTA (NS) Khairul’s experience. “The rock-climbing gyms I go to are buzzing with positivity; people are always cheering one another on, even amongst strangers,  and this creates a really warm environment for everybody to climb in.” 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. ALL IN HIS STRIDE “I’ve had nine years of injuries because of rock climbing,” jokes LTA (NS) Khairul, who was recovering from a wrist injury when we spoke. “I’m still not fully recovered yet, so I can’t wait to heal and get back to climbing.” Here are some tips for avoiding an injury if you decide to pick up rock climbing as well: Warm up Know your level (and stick to it). Don’t be too ambitious on your first attempt. Rest sufficiently between attempts. Climbing works very specific muscles, and many common injuries are caused by muscular imbalances. Finish every session by training the opposite muscles—good exercises to consider include push ups and reverse wrist curls.