The Navy Next?

Having lived in Singapore for 15 years, I have learnt that most parents, youth, mainly boys, shudder at the thought of entering the inevitable, National Service. Now what is "National Service" you may ask? Well, according to the most trusted site in the world, for Wikipidiots like me, Wikipedia states that "National service is a common name for mandatory or volunteer government service programmes (usually military service, also known as conscription). In Singapore, it's at least for 2 years. For the young and virile men, their fear of entering NS, from what I gather, was of losing their nubile girlfriends to NS men who have "ROD"ed (Run Out Date aka finished with NS). For the nerdy ones, maybe the fear of missing out of 2 years of university education. Oh I can go on with the stories. The most important thing to remember is that, in Singapore, they have no choice but to be enlisted.

Derrick had to go through the same thing in the past, went through countless Army Reservist duties throughout his young adulthood.

I wasn't in the army, but I served with the Singapore Civil Defence Force. The title of "Officer", Lieutenant was given to me. For me, it was a little different: I didn't have to dig trenches, although I did have to dig through rubble during my EAS stint. I didn't have to carry a gun, but I carried syringes, needles and morphine when I was on the streets. I didn't fight crime in the street but I fought to save lives on the streets. I didn't pepper my sentences with "sentence enhancers" aka hokkien curse words ... oh wait...



And now, my daughter, my Princess, has decided, on her own free will, to join the Australian Air Force Cadet Corp.... Sigh.... I'm waiting for Bryan to join the Navy, just to complete the circle.

This is my Princess on her way to her first in-camp over the weekend

These are pictures of her, post camp, all smelly and dishevelled.

 

 

As you can see, Bryan is so proud of his big sister, Cadet Liew!