Citizen SXXXXXXXH: Son-Soldier-Worker-Father-Citizen

National Day draws near.

The country has left its indelible mark on us. We develop our personalities, our skills and abilities and our character through interactions with others who live, work and play in Singapore Inc.

The banners and flags proclaiming the glorious achievements of Singapore Inc. flutter in the air, trying to grab our attention away from the current global recession and tough economic times. I pause and reflect on the road I have travelled along Singapore Inc. And ponder about what the future brings.

A Son
I am a son of an immigrant. My father migrated from Malaysia to Singapore and took up citizenship. I remember one day looking at his birth certificate. Under nationality, he was classified as a "British Subject". My mother was born in Singapore. Both of my grandparents came from China. My father didn't have to do NS in his time as the Enlistment Act was not even in existence when he took up Singapore Citizenship.

His two sons dutifully served NS. My brother and I completed our full-time and reservist obligations fully.

A Soldier
I was trained in the art of killing other human beings to defend Singapore. I learned unarmed combat, basic individual fieldcraft, marksmanship with the M16 rifle (and subsequently SAR21 during reservist) as well as other weapons such as the Light Anti-tank Weapon (LAW) M203 grenade launcher and Ultimax 100 section assault weapon. I also learnt how to use a fragmentation and smoke grenade.

I began to understand the physical and mental limits of my body. I was amazed at what punishment I could take from physical training without collapsing. I realised the mind and not the body is the first to give up and that mental toughness translated into physical toughness as well.

My vocation was a signaller. I learnt to use military grade communications equipment that comprised of radio and line. I also picked up the way to talk over radio nets. I was posted to an armour battalion. I understood a bit more about how an armour battalion worked and what M113s and SM-1s were.

Reservist saw me promoted from Corporal to 3rd Sergeant in People's Defence Force (infantry) unit in a Signal platoon. I learnt about defence in the military, on digging shellscrapes, command posts and sandbagging. I understood how reservists worked and to work with people differently from how I was managed during full-time NS.

I learnt about bureaucracies and how huge organisations were run. Needless to say, I was not impressed with a lot of it. I met petty tyrants and the occasional sadist but most regulars were there to earn a living. I saw a microcosm of Singapore society through the platoons I was with. This was the true Singapore and not my cocooned Primary-Secondary-JC-University classmates cohorts.

A Worker
After graduation I started my career in Singapore Inc. Worked my way up and now am in middle management taking care of a small specialised team. I realised what financial freedom was about in my early 30s and decided to ditch the "Singapore Dream" of the 5Cs (cash, credit card, condo, country club membership and car). Tip: Don't keep up with your neighbours and you'll have enough to spend! I have many of the 5Cs but they are not as important as my family.

A Father
When my daughter was born, I was glad that my first child is a girl and not a boy. I did not want her to go through the wasteful years in national service and especially reservist. I love her very much and am happy to have completed reservist before she was born. Thus, she won't have to worry about daddy getting injured or killed doing the individual physical proficiency test or during field exercises.

A Citizen
I am a product of Singapore Inc. I am a warrior because of conscripted military service. I can kill someone with an M16, SAR21, bayonet, grenade or even GPMG if I was legally ordered by the State. I create value in the economy through my skills as a CPA. I can work with Signal sets Excel worksheets and Word documents and do presentations using powerpoint. I have contributed to the gene pool of Singapore by having my daughter. Some of my peers are married but childless.

I am a unique (male) citizen of Singapore Inc.

What I've done, where I've gone and who I am now were moulded through living, breathing and existing in Singapore Inc. I may not agree with the current system run by the MIW but the MIW does not represent the country.

I love this country.

I am Citizen SXXXXXXXH and I am a true-blue Singaporean.

Majullah Singapura.