Issue 6 - Mindef

Mission Accomplished!
“...so close to a real threat...”
Commitment to Our People
“Nurturing and engaging a whole tier of leadership that would
itself be effective in nurturing and engaging the rest of the RSN.”
Republic of Singapore Navy
As 2008 draws to a close, we can proudly reflect our achievements over the past
year. We have contributed to strong deterrence, further defence relationships with
our friends in the region and beyond, ensured that vital sea lines of communication
and Singapore waters remain safe and secure while making a difference to the
development of an integrated ONE SAF. The RSN has once again achieved excellence
in a wide spectrum of operations and exercises. From the combined missile firing
in the Bay of Bengal, to catalysing international collaboration to enhance maritime
security, to the test-firing of our Frigate’s Aster missile, to our first Ex RIMPAC, to the
multitude of maritime security operations, to impactful social-civic activities within the
region, and to our wide range of bilateral and multilateral exercises, we continue to
surpass expectations and punch well above our weight. Our people behind our force
capabilities and state-of-the-art technology are truly the key to our success.
The RSN will continue to strengthen our commitment to nurture and engage our
people. As we realise the 3rd Generation RSN by operationalising new capabilities and
organisational structures, we will continue our efforts to develop the 3rd Generation
Sailor in the coming year. We will further systemise people development that includes
coaching and mentoring our people, understanding and fulfilling our people’s
aspirations and nurturing effective and caring leaders within the Navy family.
Recently, as part of the continuous effort to promote cohesion amongst our Navy
family and promote a more judicious work-life balance amongst our servicemen, both
FLEET and COSCOM recently introduced a monthly “Down Tools” day to facilitate
consolidation, reflection and fostering of unit cohesion. Through these steps, we are
moving towards becoming a stronger and more committed Navy that is always ready
for the challenges ahead.
I would also like to congratulate the SAF Task Group onboard RSS RESOLUTION
for the successful completion of our fifth deployment to the Northern Arabian Gulf.
The Task Group, comprising personnel from all three Services for the first time, has
discharged their mission well and has made an impactful difference to international
efforts for the reconstruction of Iraq.
Let us continue to forge ahead together for the coming year as we continue to make
this Navy committed, strong and ready.
Yuletide greetings and Happy New Year ahead to one and all in the Navy Family!
Inspector General SPS Basra
YSM PTM TM Commander
Coast Guard Region (East)
Indian Coast Guard
COVER PAGE
Photo by RSS RESOLUTION
BACK PAGE
Photo by MID Kenneth Tan
Text by LTC Irvin Lim
CHAIRMAN EDITOR
MEMBERS
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Commander William
J Houston
Commander USS Hampton
United States Navy
COL Soh Cheow Guan
LTC Irvin Lim
LTC Spencer Ngui I LTC John Liow I LTC Lim Hock Chye |
LTC Serene Chua I LTC Eugene Chng I MAJ Fabian Teo I
MAJ Jan Puah | Ms Jessica Teo I MWO Lim Chock Sing
Ms Serena Lim I 1WO Neo Quee Chye I MSG James Chan I
CPL Haresh Hari Kumar | LCP Lai Jun Wei | LCP Lionel Lee
NAVY NEWS is a bi-monthly publication of the Republic of Singapore Navy. The views expressed by its writers do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Navy or the Ministry of
Defence. NAVY NEWS is not to be reproduced in whole or in parts without the written consent of the RSN. Articles of interest are invited from readers, who may send them to NAVY
NEWS, Naval Operations Department, HQ RSN, 303 Gombak Drive, #03-22, Singapore 669645. For enquiries, call 6768 3367 or email [email protected]
Ex BERSAMA LIMA 08, a Five Power Defence
Arrangement (FPDA) joint exercise, took place from
8 to 24 Oct. Aimed at enhancing interoperability
and mutual cooperation among the armed forces of
Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom
and Singapore, this year’s exercise focused on combined
and joint operations in a multi-threat environment.
RSS INTREPID, RSS VALIANT, RSS SOVEREIGNTY,
RSS KALLANG, and RSS KATONG were among the 18
ships and 61 aircrafts that participated.
Operation-level planning and table-top exercises
as well as a variety of serials such air defence, subsurface warfare and air/surface gun firings were
conducted. The exercise culminated with a simulated
war campaign at sea.
Interactions between the various navies were not limited
to just naval operations. Participating personnel also
enjoyed sports competitions and cultural exchanges.
The crew of RSS SOVEREIGNTY proudly presented a
traditional Lion Dance and wowed the crowd.
Indeed, Ex BERSAMA LIMA 2008 was a professionally
enriching experience for all involved, and the RSN
looks forward to hosting the next Exercise BERSAMA
LIMA in 2009.
Article contributed by CPT Teo Swee Pieu
Ex LEJON SINGA 13/08
The annual bilateral Mine Countermeasure (MCM) exercise
and exchange programme between the RSN and the
Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN), code-named LEJON SINGA,
was successfully conducted from 25 Nov to 5 Dec. Mines
laid along shipping routes constitute a potential maritime
security threat and MCM operations play an important role
in responding to such threats, which was the key focus of the
exercise this year.
Three RSN’s MCMVs were deployed out to search for
suspected targets in the southern islands, controlled by
a combined RSN-RSwN MCM Tasking Authority closed
up at the Information Fusion Centre at TNB. Upon target
identification, the NDU’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team
was deployed to destroy the target.
Commander COSCOM COL Tan Wee Beng and Commander
4th Naval Warfare Flotilla CAPT Jan Thörnqvist of the RSwN
had officiated the opening ceremony at Tuas Naval Base on
25 Nov. Over the exercise period, personnel from both navies
shared their experience and knowledge through presentations
and ship familiarisation visits. In addition, the RSwN’s divers also
managed to observe and participate in the NDU’s deep dive
training in the South China Sea aboard RSS ENDURANCE.
Started in 1995 with the delivery of the ‘Bedok’ Class
MCMVs, Ex LEJON SINGA 13/08 is aimed at consolidating
and sharing mutual experiences, concepts, tactics and
understanding in the areas of MCM and EOD operations.
“I am very happy that our navies, in spite of the long
distance that separates us geographically, have managed to
develop such a fruitful and rewarding relationship,” CAPT
Jan Thörnqvist said. “My personal hope is that this exercise
goes on for another 300 years!”
Article contributed by CPT Raymond Fu
3
On 23 May, the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) delivered its judgment on the Pedra
Branca case. The court decided that the
sovereignty over the island of Pedra Branca
belongs to Singapore, ending a dispute
between Malaysia and Singapore that spanned
three decades. The resolution of the dispute
was a long drawn and complicated process;
it involved the research and compilation
of evidence, bilateral consultations and
negotiations with Malaysia, the preparation
of the written and oral pleadings, and finally
the actual arguments made to the ICJ.
Recognising COSCOM’s active participation
and readiness which played an important
part over the years in the overall success
of the Pedra Branca effort by the Republic,
President S R Nathan handed out the Letter
of Commendation to Commander COSCOM
COL Tan Wee Beng at the National Day
Awards Ceremony held in the Suntec City
Ballroom on 17 Nov.
At the same ceremony, Chief of Navy RADM
Chew Men Leong was awarded the Public
Administration Medal (Military) (Gold).
Nine officers were awarded the Public
Administration Medal (Military) (Silver),
while another 19 were awarded the Public
Administration Medal (Military) (Bronze).
Separately, other RSN personnel were also
recognised at the National Day Award
Investiture held at the MINDEF auditorium
on 24 Nov. Minister of State for Defence
Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee presented
55 Commendation Medals, 123 Efficiency
Medals and 470 Long Service Medals to
MINDEF and SAF personnel in recognition
of their performance and dedication to the
call of duty.
On receiving the Efficiency Medal, 2WO Chan
Mun Hong from NDU said: “It does make
me feel that all the hard work over the years
was worthwhile.” He generously added: “My
efficiency is due to the close bonding and
team work of my fellow colleagues and team
mates.” ~ HK
4
Photo courtesy of PIONEER
Swift Rescue to our Shores!
Swift Rescue, ASEAN’s first Submarine
Support and Rescue Vessel (SSRV),
was launched on 29 Nov at Singapore
Technologies Marine Ltd (ST Marine) by
Mrs Barry Desker, wife of the Chairman
of ST Marine, who had officiated
the ceremony. Chief of Navy RADM
Chew Men Leong as well as invited
Navy personnel were also present for
the ceremony.
designed and built a SSRV. The new 85m by 18m vessel will be equipped with
a Submarine Rescue Vessel and, a helicopter deck. The highly sophisticated
Submarine Rescue Vessel, coupled with the high manoeuvrability of the SSRV,
will be able to conduct swift rescue of a distressed submarine in distress up to a
depth of 500m. ~ HK
Based on the Public-Private Partnership
agreement that had been signed on
5 Jun, ST Marine had conceptualised,
Defence Technology
for a 3rd Gen SAF
Centre, shown from 7 to 11 Nov, depicts the critical role of defence
technologies in enabling the operational capabilities for the 3rd
Generation SAF. Exhibition booths revolved around four key mission
clusters of the SAF – Urban Operations, Networked Air Defence,
Integrated Air-Land Operations and Full Spectrum Naval Operations.
A strong defence is important during the current
financial crisis as new social and political stresses
can surface. At the Defence Technology Prize
Presentation Ceremony held at the Singapore
Science Centre on 10 Nov, Minister for Defence
Mr Teo Chee Hean shared in his opening address:
“Our continued steady investment in a strong and
capable SAF allows us to face any such security
uncertainties that may arise from this crisis with
sure-footed confidence.”
The importance of technology in ensuring a strong
defence was further reinforced at the Defence
TechX 2008. Jointly organised by the Ministry of
Defence and the Defence Science and Technology
Agency, the exhibition at the Singapore Science
One
of
those
involved in one such
key project was Ms
Tessa Gan, Head
Special Craft Section
from NLD. Sharing
her experiences in the
frigate development
project, she said:
“This project gave me
a good opportunity
to
see
first-hand
and
be
involved
in the conception to ‘birth’ of a state-of-the-art platform that will
benefit the 3rd Generation SAF.” She also added: “Technology is
an enabler that will aid in the network-centric warfare of translating
information advantage into a warfighting advantage. The realm
of unmanned vehicles is promising in that it provides a multiplier
effect in the concept of lean-manning whilst giving additional
reach in information warfare, and thus, situational analysis.” ~ HK
5
Teacher Officers Get Out of the
Classroom and into the Blue
Some lucky teachers got more than an
excursion out of the classroom when they
gathered for the SAF-NCC Familiarisation
Visit at RSS PANGLIMA’s Victory Hall
on 31 Oct.
The highlight of the day’s event was when
teacher officers were invited aboard RSS
FORMIDABLE to sail out to sea. The trip
turned out to be something truly memorable
for LTA Hafiza Yahya, a teacher officer with
Raffles Instituition NCC (Land) Central District
Unit. LTA Hafiza said: “It is a privilege to sail
aboard the new frigate as not many members
of the public get to experience such an unique
opportunity.” She also added, “I am amazed
at how coordinated the team was in relaying
messages across in the Combat Information
Centre
(CIC),
which
exemplifies the important
role each individual plays
in a mission. I certainly
look forward to more
of such interesting visits
in future.”
As Minister of State
for Defence Associate
Professor Koo Tsai Kee
put it in his opening
speech: “I hope that today’s visit will allow everyone to develop a greater
awareness and understanding of the roles and capabilities of the SAF and
RSN, and be our ambassadors to explain defence issues to other students and
cadets.” Following his speech, Associate Professor Koo had a Question and
Answer session with the teacher officers to give them a better understanding
of SAF, its policies and role in defence and deterrence. ~ HK
JC students sail with NAVY
during Changi Visit
As part of the MINDEF Internship Programme
organised by MINDEF Scholarship Centre, 148 Junior
College students visited Changi Naval Base on 27 Nov
and 9 Dec. The visits provided them with an insight
into the RSN allowing them to gain an understanding
of the RSN transformational journey which were
hosted by COS-NS RADM Tan Kai Hoe and Comd 1
Flot COL Wellman Wan respectively. These students
had the rare opportunity to sail on board RSN’s ships
– RSS FORMIDABLE and RSS PERSISTENCE.
After both visits,
several students
commented
that the visits
had
definitely
enhanced
their
knowledge of the
RSN. Alfred Wan
from Hwa Chong
Institution said: “The Navy comes across as having a very warm and
family environment, seeing the Officers and the men of the ship
work and play together - this unique culture really impresses me.”
Theodore Teo from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) added:
“I was impressed with the state-of-the-art systems the ship is
equipped with, and it is really amazing how so many of the ship’s
functions can be controlled by just a few people on the bridge. It is
the first time in my life I have sailed on a Navy ship and it really is
an awesome experience.”
Article contributed by CPT Nicholas Lim
6
Fly
Navy!
CNV RADM Chew Men Leong, accompanied by
Fleet Comd RADM Ng Chee Peng and Comd 1 Flot
COL Wellman Wan, held a dialogue with the Naval
Helicopter (NH) TACCOs and SENSOs in JSOM at
Gombak Base on 26 Sep. CNV said that the TACCOs
and SENSOs were part of an important capability
development and that it is an exciting time for the
RSN as the RSN learns to operate naval helicopters;
through this process working closely with the Air Force
will help to integrate and promote interoperability.
CNV wished all them well and reminded the NH group
to ensure that training is done safely.
To qualify, the TACCOs and SENSOs had to pass
stringent medical tests, as well as the RSAF’s air crew
tests, drills and trainings. This select group of TACCOs
and SENSOs will soon be departing at different times
to embark on their training in the US. The training
will prepare the TACCOs and SENSOs to operate our
own naval helicopters, and eventually fly and conduct
missions with our RSAF NH Pilots. The S-70Bs were
acquired by the RSN as an organic helicopter capability
and will be operating with our frigates.
MSG Joseph Ng, NH SENSO, formerly from 194 SQN,
shared that he looks forward to the training in US,
where he will have “a chance to learn and contribute
to a new capability, besides the opportunity to visit
another country!”
Article contributed by MSG Beh Yong Heng
U.S. Pacific Fleet, Fleet Master Chief visit
In his recent official visit to Singapore on 29 Oct, Fleet
Master Chief Tom Howard from the US Pacific Fleet
was introduced to the RSN’s training pedagogy and
brought to the various training institutions.
During his visit to TRACOM, he called on Commander
TRACOM COL Tan Wei Ming, before being provided
with an overview of TRACOM, in particular IMOS.
He was most impressed by the open channels of
communications between the WOSR corp and the
senior commanders in the RSN, that have resulted
in the strong partnership and close rapport between
RSN’s officers and WOSRs. Fleet Master Chief Tom
Howard also received an introduction brief on the
course curriculum of the SAF’s Advanced Leadership
Programme and Senior Leadership Programme for
warrant officers.
“We should leverage some of the good practices
adopted here,” he said.
Besides touring the classrooms, Platform Systems
Emulator Centre, and the Ship Handling Simulator
at IMOS, FMC Howard also interacted with the
current batch of JWOC participants and called on
Commander SWI/CO SAFWOS LTC Ang Yau Choon.
Article contributed by 2WO Jeremy Wee
7
Fostering a Third Generation RSN
Efforts to promote work-life balance and quality
relationships at work lead COSCOM to initiate what has
come to be known as “Down Tools” day in Jun 08. Since
then, the formation has organised several events such as
out-of-base activities at West Coast Park, Labrador Park
as well as community service at the Home for Aged Sick.
“Down Tools” day is held on the last Friday of every month to
create opportunities for the various units in COSCOM to
be engaged in diverse activities and foster team building
and cohesion at Formation and Squadron levels.
The identity of the RSN has strongly revolved around the
idea of the Navy family. What then defines the Navy family
– it is about committed people, who identify with and care
for one another, working together for a common purpose.
With navy personnel coming from all walks of life, it is an
on-going process to build a strong sense of cohesiveness
amongst them. This is further complicated by the busy work
tempo in the Navy. In the transformation to become the 3rd
Generation Navy, there have been a steady increase in the
amount of taskings, despite us remaining a small Navy.
A monthly initiative, called Fleet’s People Day, has been
held alternatively at the Fleet, Squadron and Ship level
since April this year. Various SQNs in FLEET have banded
together to organise their own events such as interaction
time to give personnel the opportunity to know more
about their peers outside of work, 191 SQN’s Southern
Ridges Tree-top walks and 192/3 SQN’s mini golf event at
Big Splash.
TRACOM personnel gathered at the RSS Panglima Parade
Square on 8 Aug to observe the 43rd National Day
Observance Ceremony. This year, a National Education
show was incorporated as part of the Formation’s
effort to strengthen the trainees and instructors on the
commitment to the country and a placed importance in
Singapore’s independence and led to the need to build
up a strong SAF.
1SG Kunal Ghanisham from RSS PERSISTENCE, supports
the events: ”It has benefited the people in the FLEET to
have a better balance with work and personal life. It will
also boost up our morale in many other ways. We will also
get to meet people from other companies, make more
friends, interact with one another and learn what their
companies can and are able to offer.”
Over at the NDU, every able-bodied person took part in a
mini “Amazing Race” on 28 Aug within Sembawang Camp,
as part of a Fun Run activity to promote cohesion and
interaction amongst the different units. Having explored
most of the camp that morning, the participants had a
mixture of fun, exercise and bonding with one another.
In his workplan speech this year, CNV RADM Chew Men Leong
had listed the need to engage RSN people as one of his key
focus. He said: “The RSN will press on with critical work of
sowing the seeds to build, nurture and engage a whole tier
of leadership that would itself be effective in nurturing and
engaging the rest of
the RSN.” On top of
the technologically
advanced equipment
that
are
being
brought into service
with the 3rd Gen RSN,
our people remain
the key sustainable
advantage of our
navy. ~ LL
8
Innovation is C.O.R.E. - the theme for the 3rd MINDEF Innovation-InAction Seminar emphasised that the importance of building Capabilities for
Organisational Responsiveness and Effectiveness is to enable innovation. The
aforementioned seminar was conducted at The Chevrons on 17 Oct.
In his opening address, Chief of Navy RADM Chew Men
Leong shared: “It is imperative for the organisation to provide
innovation opportunities at different levels and recognise
brilliant ideas. We need to encourage service personnel
to possess the right attitude to innovate and understand
the value that innovation brings about to individuals and
the organisation.”
During the day’s seminar, awards were also given out to MINDEF
Innovation Facilitators and MINDEF Innovators. MAJ Chai Ek Choi,
Head Logistician of NDU, was one of the recipients of the MINDEF
Innovators Award. He was recognised for the project Enhancing the
Testing of Submersible Pressure Gauges, which helped to improve
the accuracy of the submersible pressure gauges, thus increasing the
safety of all dives in NDU and preventing dangerous dive situations
when divers dive to the wrong depths.
Beaming with joy, MAJ Chai said: “The team has embraced the
innovative framework in developing the solution. This will definitely
be useful in our daily work too.” ~ HK
Photos courtesy of PIONEER
“It is impossible for somebody to help everybody but it is
possible for everybody to help somebody. You might be
able to do that little but you make that little difference,”
said LTC Chong Han Sy, Dy CO 182/189 SQN, who received
the Distinguished Service Award at the SAF Paracounsellor
Appreciation Dinner at SAFRA Mount Faber on 27 Nov. This
highest accolade is in recognition of his earnest contributions
towards the mental well-being of his fellow servicemen.
Sharing LTC Chong’s sentiment, 2WO Cyril Alvar from FLEET
said, “It comes from the heart. A paracounsellor should listen
and react, and it goes a long way.” 2WO Cyril Alvar was
one of the 25 Navy personnel who received Certificates of
Appreciation that evening.
Chief of Navy RADM Chew Men Leong said in his keynote
address: “Every organisation has to take care of its people
and their families, especially when they are going through
hard times and battling personal adversities. You help them
transform their coping strategies where necessary to grow
their capacity to solve problems and maximise their chances
for a brighter future.
Since 1983, the SAF Paracounsellor community in SAF has
been growing with its group of dynamic servicemen and
servicewomen who come forward to lend a helping hand to
fellow servicemen and servicewomen in need. ~ HK
9
RACUs shortage solved
with 4-way replicator
“Clear communication is essential when conducting operations,” MAJ Adeline Heng, CO RSS DAUNTLESS said. Remote
Audio Control Units (RACUs) were designed as part of the ship internal communication system to facilitate communication
during operations. However, it was found that the number of RACUs within the patrol vessels were insufficient.
At times, extension cables had
to be laid across the bridge
to resolve the communication
problem. “There used to be a lot
of information exchange through
open-air or walkie talkies,
adding to the noise level on the
bridge,” added 3SG Eddie See
from the RNS department. In
addition, the untidy extension
cables laid across the bridge
also pose a safety hazard.
The Communication Department
of RSS DAUNTLESS had looked
into the problem. Rather than
proposing to install additional
RACUs,
which
will
cost
approximately $9,000 per ship,
the team designed and fabricated
a 4-way Audio Port Replicator
to resolve this problem. They
bought components off the shelf
and fabricated it along idea of
the USB Hub concept.
10
Acting like a multi-socket extension,
the replicator instantaneously
increased the RACUs’ cable
outlets by four-fold. The audio
replicator has been installed on
all the patrol vessels in 182/189
SQN since Sep 07. “The audio
replicator has proved to be a
simple and effective solution.
I’m very proud of the team,”
commented MAJ Heng. “This
audio replicator allows us to
keep the information exchange
within the internal conference
of our headsets. It just makes
things so much simpler!” added
3SG See.
The team won the COSCOM Best
WIT Team award at their COPAQ
Day in Apr 08, and their project
was also awarded the COSCOM
Best WIT Project and NIQCC
Gold Award. They were also
recognised with a SAF LEARN
Award in May 08. ~ JW
Submariners Get their ‘Sharks’
19 months ago, 30 submariners comprising of both
veterans and newly-qualifieds departed for Sweden to
train in the RSN’s first Vastergötland-class submarine.
The completion of the critical phase of their training
was a significant milestone for the submariners. The
RSN-trained crew members were awarded their RSwN
Submarine Insignia by Commander 1st Submarine
Flotilla RSwN, CAPT(N) Jonas Haggren on 13 Nov.
The one and-a-half year of training with the RSwN
was characterised by teamwork and perseverance. In
addition to fast-paced classroom lessons, they also had
to adapt to sailing in the severe weather conditions
of the frigid Baltic waters. With a strong foundation
provided by the submarine training in Singapore and
the continual emphasis on teamwork, the camaraderie
that the crew built pulled them through the day,
battered but even closer and stronger.
MSG Ho Suet Chye, one of the insignia recipients said: “I am
aware of the responsibility that comes with this insignia. I will
continue to work and strive hard to contribute to our submarine
force. I am also grateful to my wife who never failed to give her
full support and understanding during my training here”.
Indeed, the RSN’s submarine community has come a long way
in becoming a unique fighting family that forms one of the key
components of the ONE SAF.
Article contributed by 2WO Chua Chai Heng
RSwN Project manager LT CDR Peppe Nyström said:
“We are proud to present the ‘Shark’ to our brothers from
Singapore. The submarine operating experience gained by
Singapore and knowledge of each other’s culture has been
key factors to our success thus far. I’m proud to be part of
this brotherhood shared between our two countries.”
Soaring to New Creative Heights
- RSN PRIDE Camp
40 PRIDE activists from across the RSN came
together for the RSN PRIDE Camp, “Soaring
to Greater Heights with PRIDE” at the Bukit
Batok Civil Service Club on 14 Nov. Aimed at
engaging, enabling and energising participants
to inspire, motivate and re-ignite the passion of
the activists, the camp focused on enhancing
creativity amongst the participants.
1SG Justin Kwek from NDU commented: “I
found the brainstorming techniques that we
learnt creative and I will definitely apply them
to drive the PRIDE effort in my workplace. I also
realised that it is important to listen to others’
ideas as part of a personal learning process.
After all, no idea is a stupid idea!”
Participants also played a
myriad of games which aimed
to foster greater interaction and
the exchange of ideas. Mr K.
Subramaniam from HQ TRACOM
said: “The camp is very effective
in reinforcing the concepts of
communication, creativity and
team building through experiential activities.”
Commander NALCOM and RSN PRIDE Chairman COL Sng Yeow
Liang shared in his closing speech that the RSN should look forward to
more innovative projects and suggestions that would create an impact
beyond RSN.
Article contributed by Tan May Leng and Resham Kaur
11
Back from the GULF -
Another Mission Accomplished!
The crew of RSS RESOLUTION returned to the warm
embrace of their family and friends on 20 Dec, following
the successful completion of another deployment to the
Northern Arabian Gulf. The ship had left for the Northern
Arabian Gulf on 30 Aug for a three-month deployment as
part of the SAF commitment to aid in the reconstruction of
Iraq. For this mission, a truly One-SAF force was deployed,
with Army’s and Air Force’s personnel working side-byside with the Navy’s sailors.
In a continuation of the tasks that RSN had undertaken
in previous missions, RSS RESOLUTION undertook
the protection of the waters around key oil terminals,
conducted patrols and boarding operations, as well
as provided logistical support for coalition vessels
and helicopters. The RSN Task Group also acted as
the Scene-of-Action-Commander for the large part of
the deployment, taking charge of ships from the other
multinational forces, which included the Royal Australian
Navy, the Royal Navy and the United States Navy.
Although the RSN had garnered a significant amount of
experience operating in the Gulf from previous missions,
meticulous planning was still put in place; intensive
training was also conducted for several months before the
deployment to integrate the whole task group together.
Knowledge and experiences that had been accumulated
were also shared with the task group members, allowing
the task group to fine tune the entire planning process
and to build on the strengths while shoring up the few
deficiencies that had been identified.
“Internally, we had not encountered any new challenges,
largely due to the comprehensive planning and
preparations we had put ourselves through,” shared
1WO Wong Ban Choong from 191 SQN. “We do not
take anything for granted and have put the entire team
through rigorous training regimes so that the team will be
able to provide effective and efficient responses, come
what may.”
“We do not take anything for granted and
have put the entire team through rigorous
training regimes so that the team will be
able to provide effective and efficient
responses, come what may.”
- 1WO Wong Ban Choong
12
Many personnel from
across the RSN, and even
the SAF, had volunteered
for the deployment.
In the tradition of
past missions, there
were even NSFs who
had chose to extend
their full-time national
service to participate in
the mission. First-time
participant, CPT Oh
Zongbo, Communication Officer of RSS RESOLUTION,
commented: “We were able to put our skills to use in an
actual operational situation.”
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” the
phrase aptly describes MSG Wong Cheng Huat, Leading
Unmanned Surface Vessel Specialist of RSS RESOLUTION
and a veteran of two previous missions. He describes the
deployment to the North Arabian Gulf as “different from
other sailings because [he] has never been so close to a
real threat and the different climate conditions also makes
it more challenging in executing the operations.”
MSG Lui Jian Fong from the Ship Security Team, and
another mission veteran, added: “I feel good to be part
of the mission to assist Iraq in its nation building. The
security sweeps have lessen greatly over the years and
I believe that this is a good sign that the multinational
force has been successful in maintaining peace and
security of the waters.”
This satisfaction of knowing that a job well done is the
main takeaway for all involved. “I saw for myself a vigilant
force that was cohesive and committed to the mission,”
said LTC Lee Joan Hin, CO of RSS RESOLUTION, “The
Task Group conducted all assigned tasks successfully,
and we received a lot of positive feedback and warm
accolades from the other partners who worked with us
during the deployment.” ~ LL
backpaddle
The RSN’s Landing Ships Tank (LSTs) have long been
involved in supporting Humanitarian Assistance and
Disaster Relief missions, and Peace Support Operations.
The RSN ex-County Class LST, RSS EXCELLENCE was
deployed to participate in the International Force For East
Timor (INTERFET), within 48 hours activation, on 18 Sep
1999. The initial deployment saw the LSTs involved in the
provision of valuable logistical support. Over the years, the
LSTs’ role in these missions have taken on more significance;
the ambit of its operations have been increased to include
new taskings such as the conduct of security sweeps and
the assuming of the role of Scene-of-Action Commander in
subsequent missions.
The locally-designed Endurance class LSTs have been
our vessel-of-choice for peace-keeping and humanitarian
missions since the turn of the millennium. Not only are the
newer LSTs easily configurable for various operations, they
also have good sustainability and are able to operate under
sometimes unfavourable conditions. Besides their organic
logistical capabilities that make them ideal as afloat forward
staging bases, the LSTs are also equipped with Fast Craft
Utility, Fast Craft Equipment and Personnel and Unmanned
Surface Vehicles. All these have enabled the versatile
LSTs to undertake many roles beyond the transportation
and training support functions that they were originally
envisaged to perform. ~ LL
13
247 – COSCOM Swim & Run
COSCOM celebrated her 21st Anniversary at Tuas Naval Base with a
dash of splash and sweat. In line with COSCOM’s tagline ‘Frontline
247’, the entire formation swam a total of 24.7 km and ran a total of
247 km over 24 hours.
Comd COSCOM COL Tan Wei Beng and Dy Comd COSCOM COL
Harris Chan kicked off the event on 30 Oct by swimming the first
leg of the relay at the TNB pool. The discipline, fighting spirit and
teamwork that COSCOM personnel bring to their daily work at the
front-line were clearly evident. It was heartening to see members
of the COSCOM family supporting each other even during the wee
hours of the morning.
During the final lap of the relay run, COS–NS RADM Tan Kai Hoe, COL
Tan and other invited senior commanders joined in while the entire
COSCOM family cheered on. Partners from FLEET, Naval Diving Unit,
Police Coast Guard and the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority
also took part.
COL Tan said: “At first glance, we may be celebrating the 21st
anniversary of COSCOM. But our true aim is to honour the work that
has been done by our people in ensuring the maritime security and
seaward defence of Singapore. So this anniversary is to pay tribute
and to recognise what they have done all these years.”
Article contributed by CPT Raymond Fu
NDU 37th Anniversary Celebration!
Naval divers and personnel from Naval Diving Unit and
their family members marked the 37th Anniversary of the
unit with an array of activities on 12 Dec.
Comd NDU LTC Tan Tai Tiong started the day’s celebration
with the cutting of the Anniversary cake together with
NDU’s personnel whose birthday fell in Decemeber. In
keeping with the NDU’s spirit of fighting fit, everyone
gathered at the Parade Square to do Taebo aerobics led
by Mr Benny Chan from Army Fitness Centre.
“The Taebo aerobics certainly lifted the NDU spirit. When
we came together for the workout, regardless of ranks, it
showed our unity,” said LCP Ho Chia Hien.
Several vendors, such as Saucony, Mizuno, Adidas, Polar
watches, Black Hawk, and GNC, were invited to sell
sporting goods and health supplements – creating a
carnival atmosphere at NDU.
Commenting on the day’s
celebration, 2WO Chia Soo
Pheng said: “One of the
segments which many of us
enjoyed was the magic show
performed by Alexandra Yuen,
who was from the 26th Batch
and had ORD. Although our
servicemen have left service,
they still wanted to be part
of our celebrations. This
showed their strong sense of
belonging to the unit.” ~ HK
3D Sailor, Ahoy!
Sailing through all Three Dimensions of Naval Warfare
“A deskbound job would never have suited me,” says 2WO
Heng Siak Guan, a Naval Helicopter (NH) SENSO who
has been through quite a few RSN vocations on the sea,
under the sea and before long - over the sea! “The idea
of working in a disciplined organisation with a prospect
of deployment in different areas prompted me to sign up
with the RSN. This career with the SAF has provided me
with many opportunities to discover myself, lead others,
and be part of new capabilities and technologies,” 2WO
Heng readily shares.
2WO Heng (right) with his wife
2WO Heng is part of a new breed of RSN officers
and WOSRs, whom are undertaking the responsibility
to operationalise the RSN’s naval helicopters as NH
Tactical Co-ordination Officers (TACCOs) and Sensor
Operators (SENSOs).
Despite having taken on varied roles on board both the
missile corvettes and the submarines, he feels that this
new role is both demanding yet interesting. “It is always
about using your experience and I’m sure what I’ve learnt
from being in a submarine will be useful in my latest
deployment. There will be times when I will call upon my
experience and times where I have to learn new things,
but this is what makes the job so fun!”
2WO Heng has not only adapted to different environments,
cultures and practices, but has also adopted and
implemented good practice he has come across in each
domain to his new deployment. Being in the pioneer
batch of NH SENSOs and TACCOs, he also sees himself
as performing an important role in contributing to the
development of this new capability for the 3rd Gen RSN.
“I have benefited tremendously from the demands of each
posting. For example, while flying with 121 SQN, where
everything happens quickly, I learn to make accurate
and split-second decisions,” shares 2WO Heng, “While
on a submarine, I learnt the art of being meticulous and
careful, as a little mistake will compromise the vessel and
the outcome could be catastrophic. And on surface vessel,
sustainability is a focus as there is a need to maintain a
high level of concentration for a prolonged period.”
2WO Heng attributes his success in the Navy and the
ability to stay out at sea for extended periods of time
to his family’s support, “Having an independent and
supportive wife definitely helps. My wife understands my
job commitments and the need to be away from home.
She will take care of our family so that I can concentrate
fully on my work. It helps that we communicate frequently
and that my family can appreciate and supports the nature
of my work.”
2WO Heng is well aware of the key part he can play in
helping to mould and shape the future of the 3rd Gen
RSN. As he puts it: “I constantly encourage my juniors
to try new things and stay relevant so as to enhance
our deployability!” ~ LL
2WO Heng is ready for action!
15
The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. This is
the mantra for RSS ENDURANCE’s Leading Chef 1SG
Hemanathan, who is known for the “presentation, aroma
and delicacies” that he puts together for the crew of
RSS ENDURANCE.
1SG Hemanathan has been cooking with the Navy for
the past five years. He has served on board the MGBs
RSS SEA HAWK and RSS SEA LION. To him, cooking is
in his genes; his grandfather was a chef who managed
a catering business and his uncle was a chef with
the Army.
“1SG Hemanathan ensures a good variety of food is served to
us for lunch and he takes extra effort to make night snacks for
us, such as curry puffs which are not in our ration,” said SSG
Alvin Anthony, a crew member of RSS ENDURANCE.
Spicy Fish Sambal for Chilli Lovers!
(serves 4)
8 medium sized fish, either ikan cencaru
or preferably mackerel ikan kembong
10 dried chillies
1 tbsp tomato puree
2 big onions sliced
4 cloves of garlic
1 inch sliced ginger
1 stalk of lemon grass (serai)
2-3 pieces of lime leaves
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp salt
1 tomato diced into small pieces
1 tbsp of tamarind (assam jawa), mixed with 1 cup of water
1 tbsp of sugar
2 tsp of tumeric powder for cleaning of fish
10 tbsp cooking oil for frying
1. First, soak the dried chillies in warm water for at least 15
minutes.
2. Wash and clean the fish using tumeric powder, then deep fry
the fish on both sides in a small amount of hot oil.
3. Set aside the fish, and discard the oil from the pan.
4. Grind together finely the dried chillies, then followed by the
garlic and ginger.
5. Add the remainder of the cooking oil into the hot pan and
fry the ground ingredients, followed by the bruised stalk of
lemon grass and lime leaves.
6. Then, add the 1 cup of the strained tamarind juice, and the
salt and sugar according to taste, to the mixture and continue
boiling.
7. When the gravy mixture starts to boil, add the fish.
8. Finally, cook on medium heat (for another 10 to 15 minutes)
until gravy starts to thicken.
9. Garnish the fish with some fried curry leaves to add texture.
*Tomato or 1 tbsp of Lime juice can be added to the Fish Sambal
to reduce spice
16
What are your usual haunts when you’re not out at
sea cooking?
I don’t have any particular place which I go to. Being
a chef, we are blessed with a good sense of taste.
By tasting the food, we can analyse the ingredients
behind the dish. Usually when I’m hungry I will try
out new places for food.
If you were stranded on an island and left to one
choice of food for the rest of your life, what would
it be?
(Laughs) A can of baked beans. It will be one of the
dishes which does not require any cooking and can
be consumed straight after opening.
Who do you see as your source of inspiration?
My mother was certainly an inspiration to me. Before
joining the Navy, I used to observe how she cooks and
I love the nasi briyani that she makes! There are also
some naval chefs whom I look up to. 1WO Anthony,
SSG Peter Francis, SSG Anandan and SSG Jegan...
Any memorable moments for you while in service?
When we returned from an exercise recently, my Chief
Chef had an urgent call from home and he had to
leave us. I was still a Junior Chef then and I tried to
run the show despite our manpower shortage and our
Chief Chef’s absence. In appreciation of our efforts,
our then Commanding Officer LTC Richard Lim threw
the chefs a dinner.
Do you cook at home?
Yes, I cook at home too as my wife is still learning how
to cook. Sometimes, I help her to cook up some dishes.
Besides Indian dishes, I do cook other types of cuisines
such as Thai-style Chicken, Mango Salad, Prawn Mee,
Sweet Sour Pork, Char Kway Teow, Mixed Vegetables
and Sweet Sour Fish.
What do you have to say to aspiring naval chefs?
To be a naval chef, you must have a passion to cook
along with some creativity. If you love art, probably
you could blend art with the food you cook creating
a fusion of food art! In addition, you must possess
the determination to learn and work as a team in the
kitchen as the workload can be tough. ~ HK
Naval Jargon Part II: Parts of Ship, mate!
Following on from the previous issue, Navy News brings you the second part of
naval jargon to better help you orientate yourself next time you find yourself on
a warship...
Forecastle – It is derived
Head – Comes from the days of sailing ships when the
from the days of Viking
galleys during which
wooden castles were built
on the forward and after
parts of the main deck from which archers and other fighting
men could shoot arrows and throw spears and rocks.
place for the crew to relieve themselves was all the way
forward on either side of the bowspirit, the integral part
of the hull to which the figurehead was fastened. Other
colourful spin-off explanations that have been heard
include the shouting of “heads!” by the person doing his
business at the bowspirit, in case some of his mates were
caught with a splat while looking out of the port-holes
of the ship’s side below as the ship surged forward over
the waves!
Quaterdeck – The after of the upper deck of a ship,
usually reserved for official ceremonies and as the station
of the officer of the deck in port. It is so called as the area
was originally half of the length of the half deck.
Free Gangway – On land, a gangway is a term was
commonly used in Chicago to refer to a walkway between
apartment buildings or houses. On board a ship, it was
originally a walkway between the quaterdeck and the
forecastle of a sailing ship.
Starboard & Port – The Vikings called the side of the
ship its board and they placed the steering oar – the ‘star’
on the right side of the ship, therefore that side becoming
known as the ‘starboard’. And because the oar was on
the right side, the ship was tied to the dock (or port) at
the left side thus the word ‘port’ assuming the meaning
of left.
Wardroom – Originally used to house the wardrobes
of the ship’s officers. To have some privacy onboard
a crowded ship, officers would sometimes take their
meals in it, leading to its use today as a place of dining,
socialisation and relaxation.
Tiller Flat – A rear compartment that houses the rudder
system of the ship. It is the secondary position for
steering a ship with a wheel or tiller(handle of a rudder).
The primary position steering used to be called the
wheel house, these days it is synonymous with the bridge
where the ‘helm’ or control of the ship’s movements by
the ship’s Captain is executed.
Jacob’s Ladder – The name alludes to the biblical
Jacob, reputed to have dreamt that he climbed a ladder
to the sky. Some sailors agree that climbing a Jacob’s
Ladder does seem like scaling the sky, taking one into
the next world.
Contributed by CPT Kelvin Koh
Midshipmen Journey
As the gangway raised slowly, 41 young men and women
stood at attention on the flight deck of RSS PERSISTENCE,
their gaze affixed upon familiar faces in the distance. This
departure signalled the beginning of their 42-day long
Midshipman Sea Training Deployment (MSTD) 2/08.
oars and a “go-to” spirit, they rowed out to the Woodlands
Causeway and Punggol Buoy several nautical miles away
in search of clues to solve a puzzle. The two-day Sea
Expedition saw team members displaying their leadership
at various times.
First arriving at Padang, Indonesia to participate in Operation
Surya Bhaskara Jaya (SBJ) 57/08, the Midshipmen worked
alongside the crew of RSS PERSISTENCE and attached
medical personnel to support the Indonesian Navy in
providing aid and social services to the people of Padang.
Midshipman Alvin Tan said: “I am happy to be given the
opportunity to come experience something I would not
have had in Singapore. I realised how fortunate we are.
When I do my work and the people come around and smile
and joke with us, it showed me how simple acts can help
others make a better life.”
Midshipman Kenneth Tan best summed it all up: “MSTD
was really a trying time for me but I’m glad I came out all
the better.” It was evident that the 60th Midshipman batch
have indeed become more than just peers during their
Officer Cadet course, forming bonds akin to that of siblings
that will follow them into the Fleet and future endeavours.
Toast to the 60th Batch for a task well-done, and may
smooth seas await everyone of you! ~ JW
During MSTD, the midshipmen were able to gain much
shipboard knowledge such as bridge watch keeping and
astronavigation. At each port of call, the Midshipmen were
also given an opportunity to interact with foreign diplomats
and officers.
On 18 Nov, the midshipmen underwent their second Sea
Expedition at the Naval Diving Unit. This expedition was
mainly to promote cohesiveness amongst the midshipmen
through the completion of objectives in teams. Armed with
Making a Difference...
by Walking The Extra Mile Together
As the year-end festivities draw near again, the Children’s Charities Association held their annual Walkathon and
Christmas Fair at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza on 22 Nov. For the fourth consecutive year, divers from the Naval
Diving Unit turned up en masse to help with the marshalling of the 1.5 km route.
Many disabled children turned up to join in the early morning walk at 8.45 am, They showed great resilience
and perseverance as they overcame their physical disabilities and fatigue to finish the walk. One such
person was Ken Wah. Although, he was unable to keep up with the main pack during the walk, he never
gave up. He also shared with the divers that he had come to the event on his own as he wanted to be
part of of the walk!
Hearing this, 3SG Ben Kwan was deeply touched. He said: “I’m touched
because a less privileged child would think of making such a difference.
As able-bodied people, I felt we should be contributing
even more to make a difference in our society.“
We may be the elite divers, but the children
who participated in the walk are not weak;
they are Warriors in their journey as
well. Hooya to them all!
Article contributed by
3SG Vikneshvaran
18
Ken Wah and our Naval Diver 3SG Vikneshvaran
Top Gunner.. from the Navy!
Picture a man in green charging through the jungle with a General Purpose
Machine Gun (GPMG) slung across his shoulder. More often than not, the
image of an army soldier will conjure up in our minds. The 161/08 GPMG
Commander’s Course organised by the School of Infantry Weapons saw
27 trainees doing likewise. What was different was that SSG Derrick Ang,
Chief Gunner RSS Freedom (Crew 1), was one of them.
From 16 to 30 Jul, he donned the camouflage army no. 4 instead of his usual
blue NCR. Together with the rest (which included five commandos, one
PCG personnel, two Brunei-ans and other army personnel), he “chiong-sua”
and conquered the knolls and hills of Pasir Laba camp and Lim Chu Kang.
Despite the fierce competition, SSG Ang flew the Navy flag high as he
clinched the “Best Commander’s Award. He followed the footsteps of
another comrade, MSG Ricky Chew, ex-Chief Gunner RSS SOVEREIGNTY,
who also did the Navy proud in 2006.
The course taught more than the basic
technical skills in handling the GPMG. More
importantly, trainees learned how to deploy
the weapon in different tactical situations and
the relevant fire control orders. In addition,
they also became conversant with the
Training Safety Regulations (TSR).
Topping the course was not the only
memorable event etched in SSG Ang’s
mind. SSG Ang reflected on his interaction
with his Army counterparts: “I have a clearer
picture of how the Army operates. It was a
good exposure for me to know the different
tactics the Army has, and the effectiveness
of these tactics. While the Army and the
Navy have their own distinctive cultures, it is
always beneficial to learn from each other! I
made many Army friends as well.”
While pleased with the close bonds he
developed with his Army counterparts, SSG
Ang concluded with a laugh: “Being out
there in the jungle, I actually miss sailing!”
Truly the words of a sailor! We congratulate
SSG Ang on his achievement.
Article contributed by CPT Siswi Herlini
19
Sporting (G)race!
Active, sporty, an adrenaline
junkie. These are just a few words
to describe LTA Grace Chan, a
Training Officer from NDU.
Since a young age, LTA Chan
has been very active in various
sports. Along the way, she had
participated
in
windsurfing
competition with the People’s
Association Sea Sports Club and
triathlons races during her stint
in Temasek Polytechnic.
“When I came to NDU, I took my
first step into adventure racing
and ultra marathons,” said LTA
Chan candidly.
In her job as a Training Officer, she ensures that trainees
are taught the skills to become a professional naval
diver. As such, she maintains a high fitness level. But the
demands of the adventure races drive her to push herself
further to maintain her body at peak condition.
“I take time out of my working hours to train when I can.
For instance, I will take some time to go for a run in the
morning. If there is a competition, I’ll train twice a day,
inclusive of weekends. Since triathlons require us to swim,
I do interval swimming training too.” She continued: “MAJ
Esther is my mentor and coaches me along the way, making
it easier for me to achieve my goals.”
20
LTA Chan shared
that she derives a
strong satisfaction
from the strides that
she has been able to
make. Just this year
alone, she managed
to improve on two
of her personal best
timings. One was
during the Berlin
Marathon
held
on 29 Sep where
she managed an
impressive
time
of 3 hr 31 min 43
sec. The other was
during the Foster
Grant 70.3 World
Championship 2008
held in Florida on 8
Nov where she clocked a time of 5 hr 33 min. She was
also amongst the top racers at the last Aviva Ironman
70.3 competition.
Over the years, she has also teamed up with her mentor
in a number of races. In fact, both of them took part in
the North Face 100 held at MacRitchie Resevoir and Bukit
Timah Nature Reserve on 4 Oct; and LTA Chan came in sixth
in the female category.
Racing is a passion for Grace and she invites any interested
party to join her in the race of a lifetime. ~ HK
The Singapore Marathon
Running to a Healthy Lifestyle
“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys
to a healthy body. It is the basis of dynamic and creative
intellectual activity.” - John F. Kennedy. With a constant
need to maintain operational readiness, it is key that RSN
personnel maintain a high level of fitness. Over a hundred
of them from across the various formations took part in the
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008 on 7 Dec,
joining 50 000 other participants in running three different
races (full marathon, half marathon, 10km).
RSS STEADFAST, having had a strong emphasis on sports
and collective participation, rallied 47 of its crew to
participate as a ship once again to show their cohesiveness
even outside work. Regular trainings were held, and though
tight sailing schedules made this challenging, command
emphasis and the crew’s “never say die” attitude ensured
that preparation for the marathon was not compromised.
MSG Kumaravel said: “Initially, I was worried about my
performance as I was away for a period of time before the
marathon. But throughout the years of running races, the
Navy has supported me in more ways than one. The least
I could do in return was to give my all.” He had a stellar
performance, coming in as the fourth fastest local runner
in the men’s full marathon.
RSN Sports Manager 1WO Tan Hong Boon was all
praise. “I am extremely proud to have him as my Navy
colleague. He definitely done us proud with his feat.”
Running the full marathon as well, he shared: “Hearing
the word Marathon is not unfamiliar for most, but
participating in one is. The amount of time I spend on
training is minimum. What takes me through the run is
experience from other races. The no pain no gain barrier
far exceeded what others can imagine.”
There was particularly a large turnout from TRACOM and
NDU. SSG Jamie Koh from NDU said: “By the nature of
our work, we actively participate in our daily PT. When it
comes to races like this, we will rally our divers to take
up the challenge and complete the run regardless of
obstacle. A translation from the frogman song - ‘Divers
don’t quit’.”
The Navy runners constantly gave each other
encouragement as they moved along. At the finish line,
the sense of achievement could clearly be felt when they
met up. Regardless of the time they finished, completing
the run was indeed an accomplishment on its own.
CPT Augustine Lim from RSS STEADFAST shared some
advice for aspiring runners: “Have a goal in mind, commit
to it, and make sure you have friends who will walk
through tough times and celebrate the victory with you.
On board our ship, that’s our path to marathon success.
Will Above All!” ~ JW
21
NDU Retains
RSN Cross Country Trophy
Lightning and thunder could only delay but not stop
the enthusiastic runners of RSN from competing in the
annual RSN Cross Country. NDU was out in full force to
retain the challenge trophy. They swept the competition
away as the three teams they have registered came in 1st,
2nd and 3rd clinching the RSN Cross Country Challenge
trophy once again.
Held at Labrador Park on 3 Nov, the event was flagged
off by COS-NS RADM Tan Kai Hoe. Participants had to
run two circuits along the shoreline, up a gruelling
uphill, through the forest and an
arduous stretch along the road.
This was the first time the run
was held at Labrador Park, and
MSG Yap Chue Chye from TMB
said: “Though Labrador Park may
not be the most popular park for
cross-country running, the route
poses a good challenge especially
the long and steep slopes. It was
a little intimidating during the
second round.”
Many familiar faces were seen competing. SSG Lim JIan
Peng from NDU, the current champion of the SAFSA Cross
Country Men’s Open Category, did not disappoint and
finished top in the Men’s Open Category. MSG Liew Fei Lee
from FLEET and 1WO Neo Seng Gee, from NDU won the
Men’s Master and Men’s Veteran Category respectively.
Article contributed by CPT Lim Jin Teck
Navy is Runners Up in Inter-Formation
Football Championship
The RSN football team came in 1st runner-up at the Inter-formation
football championship, losing 3-1 to Guards at the finals on 13
Nov at CNB Sports Complex. The team had earlier put up a stellar
performance throughout the tournament, beating defending
champions 9 DIV in the semi-finals. During the semi-finals, they came
back from two goals down and scored four goals through captain Mr
Rajasakaren from TRACOM.
RSN scored early in the finals and with their spirits up, they pressed
hard to hold off Guards to lead at half time. But Guards rebounded
back and put in three goals to clinch the championship.
Mr Rajasakaren said: “We seldom had a chance to train because
many of us are being involved in exercises and operations. Coming
to the finals was already amazing. Striker 1SG Briane Vivaegananthan
from HQ RSN added: “The team spirit was excellent. Special mention
must be given to our defenders who have done a tremendous job.
It is disappointing to miss out on the trophy, but we will be back
next year.”
22
It has been 20 years since the RSN lifted the
trophy. With this year’s commendable results, the
team is definitely looking forward to do better
and taking the trophy back for RSN next year.
Good luck! ~ JW
HQ RSN/NDU Champs again
for RSN Track & Field!
HQ RSN/NDU once again emerged the overall champion
at the 37th RSN Track & Field Meet held at Changi Naval
Base Sports Complex on 26 Nov. They swept aside the
competition with a total score of 590 points and topped
their win off by emerging victorious in the Tug-of-War
competition against NALCOM – winning with the deciding
third pull.
NALCOM/WARCEN denied HQ RSN/NDU from making a
clean sweep as they won the Cheerleading Competition
with their Rhythmic Beats and Melodious Voices.
SSG Lim Jian Peng and MAJ Esther Tan, both from NDU,
won the Best Male and Female Athlete Titles respectively.
SSG Lim, also the current RSN Cross Country record-holder
said: “I motivate myself through competitions. Focus on
what you want to do and do it well.” MAJ Tan added: “I
have no special regime to prepare for competitions. I think
it is the lifestyle and consistent training. Also, you must
always be ready to do IPPT!”
In a separate event, NALCOM held their Track and Field
Meet at CNB Sports Complex on 23 Oct. Commander
NALCOM COL Sng Yeow Liang graced the event which
saw the athletes display their athleticism. The climax was
the closely watched Tug-of-War competition between
defending champion CMB and the unrelenting Team TMB,
a tussle which CMB eventually won. Notwithstanding the
set back, Team TMB took home the coveted Overall Track
& Field Championship Trophy. ~ JW
23
Caught at the curtain edge
Of nightfall...
Shooting stars.