SAF exhibition features memorable stories, military vessels
SINGAPORE — It took five years in the navy and the guts to finally ask “the question” before she got the chance of a lifetime to become the first female diver in the country’s Naval Diving Unit.
Major Esther Tan has come a long way since. Last year, she took part in a three-month counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, which the Major described as one of the most memorable experiences she has had in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The day she worked up the courage to ask her superiors if she had what it took to become a naval diver proved to be a turning point in her career.
“So with that question, I was waiting for the answers that I wanted to hear for myself. I was actually expecting my superiors to tell me that you can’t become a naval diver because you are female, but unexpectedly, an opportunity came knocking on my door. I grabbed it, I took it and then became a naval diver by decisively taking this long and arduous journey,” said Major Tan.
Her story was one of many that was featured today (Feb 12) at the SAF50@Vivo exhibition, the first event to kick-start the SAF’s year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary and the nation’s Golden Jubilee.
The four-day event will run till Sunday at VivoCity and visitors will be able to get up close with military assets such as the Super Puma Helicopter, experience exciting simulator games and ballot for tickets to board the Landing Ship Tank, the navy’s largest vessel.
“The focus of SAF50 cannot be on specific individuals, but most importantly, what we have achieved together, the remarkable journey and accomplishments we as one people, one SAF, put our hearts and minds into this indispensable task of defending our homeland,” Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen said in his opening speech at the event.
Drawing upon the example of how the SAF first started with only two wooden hull boats, Dr Ng said that all three forces — the army, navy and the air force — have come a long way in establishing their capabilities.
“Today, no one doubts the SAF’s ability or resolve to be able to defend Singapore,” he said.
Dr Ng also highlighted the efforts of the pioneer generation that has helped establish the SAF. Describing the experience of these pioneers as invaluable, the minister thanked them for their contributions in creating the SAF of today.
Among them was retired First Warrant Officer Edwidge Desker, who said changes such as the Military Expert scheme in the SAF, which allows servicemen and women to serve longer and help train the next generation, are necessary for it to remain relevant.
“In the old days, you have officers leaving early when they are at the prime of their experience. Today, they have extended these and the SAF stands to gain from doing all this,” said Mr Desker.
