1 Year of National Service

The year of 2016 is going to come to an end soon ! Time flew really fast ! I just enlisted earlier this year in January. If you have read my earlier posts, i shared about my enlistment and the months following my POP. I would like to share what i have learned so far !

I am currently stationed at Civil Defence Academy located at 101 Jalan Bahar.

The entrance of Civil Defence Academy

After finishing my Basic Rescue Training of 1 month at National Service Training Institute, which is located within CDA, i got posted to CDA. Compared to my other friends, some of them became drivers, EMTs and other vocations at the various divisions and fire stations. 

The parade square of NSTI

After being posted to the Administrative Office, i got the position of handling all of the disciplinary cases within the academy. I had 2 partners with me and spent about 2 weeks learning from them, before i was assigned work. I had to make reports on various cases, depending on what the officer wants to charge his guys for. Once the report was done, i had to get it submitted and approved by a specific officer, reviewing the case. Once the case got approved, i had to escort the subject for his trial infront of a Junior Disciplinary Officer.

I did this for about 6 months before moving on to other works. Routinely , my academy was subjected to urine test, to detect abuse of drugs from the service men. It is my job to make a list and compile the names of everyone in every single unit. Based on this, i had to keep records of when each NSF or regular went for their test. Really tiring, but fun to do. 

In addition to this, NSFs or trainees would get tested positive for certain drugs. Most of them due to consumption of medication. Once in a blue moon, we would get cases where NSFs or trainees actually took drugs. It is my job to investigate each case and get the subject to produce his medication and make sure it is prescribed to him. If he cannot produce it, i will have to escort him along with an officer, to the nearby J Police Division to make a police report to refer the subject to Central Narcotics Bureau for followup. 

At Home Team Tactical Training Centre ( HTTC ) to conduct a urine test for the personnel stationed there

Doing this work, in my opinion, is something which i appreciate and find unique. Even though i did not get to be a firefighter or an EMT, i got to see the other side of working in a force like this. I get to work with many high ranking officers, ranging to captains to lieutenants to majors etc. Many of them are outgoing and easy to work with, In contrast to what you hear on the net or from others, most of them do not abuse their powers or ranks. There might be a few though.

Many of the officers who i work with were former firefighters. After years of service of being on the frontline, some of them get posted to the academy to deal with administrative matters, or become instructors. Being able to work with them and hear stories of their time as a firefighter is something which i really value.

One of my officers in charge, gave me an opportunity to participate in the yearly SCDF parade, which is held in conjunction with the Singapore Global Firefighters and Paramedics Challenge. After months of rehearsal, i had to march at the Singapore Expo somewhere around November. It was a unique experience for me which i really treasure.

Before marching off

As of now, i am appreciating my time in NS, I still have 1 more year to go before i end my service. I am looking forward to what lies ahead.