By now, many of my Sec 3 and Sec 4 pupils will have known that I was called back for my annual In-camp Training (ICT).
On the first day of camp, when the Commanding Officer (CO) addressed all the half-awaken men, my buddy asked, "Sir, since we are back to perform some operational duties, do you think this ICT would involve us combing for Mas Selamat?"
I was shocked by the question, insofar as my unit has nothing directly involving the Mas Selamat escape. Neither were we called back to the camp because of this Mas Selamat saga.
However, it did set some thinking amongst some of my mates. Since our operations had something to do with security, maintaining the integrity and security of our unit remains by far its most urgent aim.
And so, CO continued, "We want to do our best in our security duties so that such things do not happen again. Even if this escape has got to do with one person, this person himself has a large impact to our national identity. We, as Singaporeans, should stand up against such national threats and do our security duties with fervour."
Thus, this was a great beginning to my ICT. I know that as a Singaporean, I do want to maintain my national identity and do not wish for my country to fall under the arms of invaders. I know that even though ICT can be troublesome and time-consuming, it is a necessity. With falling birth rates and increased emigration, we are simply not producing enough babies (more so, male babies) to enhance our military operations. Thus, the reservists are called back to perform this time-consuming duty, which in many cases, could be outsourced to private security companies.
As my ICT comes to an end, I am swamped with the sense of duty, albeit a different perspective. As a civilian working in an organisation, I have the duty to perform my tasks to the best of my ability. This may be seen in the one aspect of Economic Defence. By moulding the future of the nation, I see it as my utmost duty that the future of this generation can compete in the world-stage, for Singapore. Once a year, I go back for my ICT, and perform another aspect of Total Defence, namely Military Defence. This 2-week getaway reinforces the notion that we Singaporeans have a important role to play in the security of our country. Forget about the complaints of my other camp mates, who are ever so negative about reservist duties. Forget about the inconvenience of booking in camp at ungodly hours, it all seems worthwhile. For if everyone thinks that they have a role to play in Total Defence, whether civilian or military or even other ways, I believe that Singapore would continue to be a sovereign nation, and a place where many of us would continue to feel secure and safe.
On the first day of camp, when the Commanding Officer (CO) addressed all the half-awaken men, my buddy asked, "Sir, since we are back to perform some operational duties, do you think this ICT would involve us combing for Mas Selamat?"
I was shocked by the question, insofar as my unit has nothing directly involving the Mas Selamat escape. Neither were we called back to the camp because of this Mas Selamat saga.
However, it did set some thinking amongst some of my mates. Since our operations had something to do with security, maintaining the integrity and security of our unit remains by far its most urgent aim.
And so, CO continued, "We want to do our best in our security duties so that such things do not happen again. Even if this escape has got to do with one person, this person himself has a large impact to our national identity. We, as Singaporeans, should stand up against such national threats and do our security duties with fervour."
Thus, this was a great beginning to my ICT. I know that as a Singaporean, I do want to maintain my national identity and do not wish for my country to fall under the arms of invaders. I know that even though ICT can be troublesome and time-consuming, it is a necessity. With falling birth rates and increased emigration, we are simply not producing enough babies (more so, male babies) to enhance our military operations. Thus, the reservists are called back to perform this time-consuming duty, which in many cases, could be outsourced to private security companies.
As my ICT comes to an end, I am swamped with the sense of duty, albeit a different perspective. As a civilian working in an organisation, I have the duty to perform my tasks to the best of my ability. This may be seen in the one aspect of Economic Defence. By moulding the future of the nation, I see it as my utmost duty that the future of this generation can compete in the world-stage, for Singapore. Once a year, I go back for my ICT, and perform another aspect of Total Defence, namely Military Defence. This 2-week getaway reinforces the notion that we Singaporeans have a important role to play in the security of our country. Forget about the complaints of my other camp mates, who are ever so negative about reservist duties. Forget about the inconvenience of booking in camp at ungodly hours, it all seems worthwhile. For if everyone thinks that they have a role to play in Total Defence, whether civilian or military or even other ways, I believe that Singapore would continue to be a sovereign nation, and a place where many of us would continue to feel secure and safe.
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