{"id":31938,"date":"2023-12-04T14:10:49","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T06:10:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/?p=31938"},"modified":"2023-12-08T09:57:36","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T01:57:36","slug":"why-i-dont-regret-leaving-australia-to-serve-national-service-in-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/why-i-dont-regret-leaving-australia-to-serve-national-service-in-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I don\u2019t regret leaving Australia to serve National Service in Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"31938\" class=\"elementor elementor-31938\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c47f8f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"1c47f8f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a87aca\" data-id=\"2a87aca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9845baf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9845baf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: normal;\"><strong><em>SC 2 Athalla Rajendra Prayata takes pride in the country he calls home, as well as his role in ensuring Singaporeans\u2019 safety and security. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd2ff0a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"fd2ff0a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-78df16f\" data-id=\"78df16f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1a111b0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"1a111b0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c7e14c\" data-id=\"6c7e14c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d92cc35 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d92cc35\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When I received the letter informing me that I had to return to Singapore to serve my<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/5-tips-on-how-to-make-the-best-out-of-national-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> National Service (NS)<\/a>, I knew that it was time to usher in a new phase of my life as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/how-national-service-laid-a-strong-foundation-for-zheng-ge-pings-later-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more responsible adult<\/a> in the country where I spent my formative years.<\/p><p>I was born in Indonesia, but moved to Singapore when I was one, and am a Singapore Permanent Resident. My family and I lived here for 12 years before migrating to Australia, where I was exposed to a different lifestyle. There, I enjoyed outdoor activities amid natural landscapes such as mountains, beaches, and lakes. Nonetheless, I\u2019m proud to call the Lion City my home. This is where I enjoyed growing up in a safe and secure environment, as well as built a strong academic foundation.<\/p><p>Despite having previously lived in the country, I am still trying to cope with its fast-paced and highly efficient environment. One of my biggest challenges has been communicating in Malay with my NS peers, as my mother tongue is Bahasa Indonesia. Inevitably, I tend to mix up both languages, much to the amusement of my Malay friends in Singapore and Indonesian relatives. I often watch Malay shows to get better at the language, though my sentences still include English words whenever I speak \u2014 it reminds me of Singlish!<\/p><p><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bad495a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"bad495a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c82e5ba\" data-id=\"c82e5ba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4930e60 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4930e60\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"865\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/92c3b3f9-6d94-4c51-9ce3-a9fa36fbddba.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-31940\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/92c3b3f9-6d94-4c51-9ce3-a9fa36fbddba.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/92c3b3f9-6d94-4c51-9ce3-a9fa36fbddba-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/92c3b3f9-6d94-4c51-9ce3-a9fa36fbddba-1024x633.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/92c3b3f9-6d94-4c51-9ce3-a9fa36fbddba-768x475.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/92c3b3f9-6d94-4c51-9ce3-a9fa36fbddba-1200x741.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ef06d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5ef06d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca031cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ca031cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While training at the Home Team Academy upon entering the Singapore Police Force (SPF), I had a close group of batchmates with whom I would joke around with to keep our spirits high. Thanks to their support, I was able to grow accustomed to the tough training regime and graduate from the academy.<\/p><p>I am currently a Community Engagement Officer of the Community Policing Unit at Tampines Neighbourhood Police Centre. Here, I help raise awareness of the latest crime trends and crime prevention measures by conducting house visits and delivering talks to the public. This posting has been a great opportunity for self-development as it has enabled me to further fine-tune my public speaking skills, which I had honed while hosting events and delivering speeches back when I was a student counsellor in Australia.<\/p><p>One of the highlights of my role as a Community Engagement Officer is conducting talks at schools. Evidently, it\u2019s important for residents across all age groups to be aware of crime prevention tactics and the different ways they can reach out to the police when they require assistance. Being able to help prevent others from falling prey to crime gives me a true sense of accomplishment as it allows me to play my part in keeping Singapore safe and secure. \u00a0<\/p><p><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6fce89 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"e6fce89\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0b4de18 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"0b4de18\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b315e94\" data-id=\"b315e94\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d568093 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d568093\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"954\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2657334c-b8d4-479b-9785-4c746e713e28.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-31941\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2657334c-b8d4-479b-9785-4c746e713e28.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2657334c-b8d4-479b-9785-4c746e713e28-300x204.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2657334c-b8d4-479b-9785-4c746e713e28-1024x698.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2657334c-b8d4-479b-9785-4c746e713e28-768x523.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/2657334c-b8d4-479b-9785-4c746e713e28-1200x818.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6422a78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6422a78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8bafa5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8bafa5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Overall, NS has helped me to develop better social skills, understand my strengths and weaknesses, and grow out of my comfort zone. In fact, I often tell overseas relatives who are curious about NS about my eye-opening experience that has helped me to mature as an individual equipped with skills to overcome life\u2019s challenges. They always look forward to hearing stories of my time there. Serving in SPF has taught me to always remain positive even in the toughest of times. Not to mention, it has provided me with practical working experience before I embark on my tertiary education.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond serving NS, I\u2019m happy to have been able to reconnect with the culture and people of Singapore. I look forward to exploring different parts of South-east Asia to broaden my horizons and learn about different lifestyles.<\/p>\n<p><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3dbf25 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"c3dbf25\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-571680d elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"571680d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-39bcf30\" data-id=\"39bcf30\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ded50c elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0ded50c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86fcc96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"86fcc96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cf0234 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2cf0234\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">Interested in serving beyond your obligations? Consider the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ns.sg\/nsp\/portal\/site\/news-and-media\/detail\/2015-q2\/introduction-of-the-volunteer-extension-schemes-ves-ns-men\/!ut\/p\/z1\/vZJRb4IwFIX_ynzwsbmlgMAjmwaz6aZOJ_Rl6aBKNykKFXW_fkX3tETIsmRN-tDcnnPubT-gEAKVrBJrpkQu2UafI9p7fZpagWFhMnKxaWN_3p8Zg7mFg4UFL0CBxlJtVQpRKRS_iXOpuFRdLPmhREwmKOOJYJdzFxNs2GhHulhIVeTJPq6TUL5CKuWoyjd7reYF4kdtUtalMk55xktU6S1LbSbryG0sEojeHNPoeayH3IS4yGKxgTxsuci1mLOyPeIwYsKybQaqy_jK8nGz3jXwWd9gf9E3BLTqadOVcwdtM_xwwIHnYL8_m07644H94JPmiGBiQKSncK636cCyEvwAC5kXmQbn-ZefNMRw3_YQGkZSjO_Ga-3MVIqEXOUQfgMF4R-A0s7ifbejvma5xveoIPwvmLdZ5ponIdDHbPh5-4iC5WTk-53OFx1v1N4!\/\">Volunteer Extension Scheme<\/a>, which allows PNSMen who have completed their NS liability to continue serving beyond their statutory age. PNSMen (With NS liability) who have passed their statutory age of 40 years (Junior Officers) &amp; 50 years (Senior Officers) may apply.<\/em><\/p><p><!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-34a65c4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"34a65c4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a20e1b\" data-id=\"8a20e1b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a72df19 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a72df19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Like our stories? Subscribe to our Frontline Digital newsletters now! Simply download the\u00a0<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/mobile-app\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>HomeTeamNS Mobile App<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0and update your communication preference to \u2018Receive Digital Frontline Magazine\u2019, through the app settings.<\/em><\/p><p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(SC) Athalla Rajendra Prayata takes pride in the country he calls home, as well as his role in ensuring Singaporeans\u2019 safety and security.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":31942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[147,150,195,197],"class_list":["post-31938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-force"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why I don\u2019t regret leaving Australia to serve National Service in Singapore<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"(SC) Athalla Rajendra Prayata takes pride in the country he calls home, as well as his role in ensuring Singaporeans\u2019 safety and security.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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