Essay on SAF deaths

I wrote this essay for 90C more than a year ago without the support of the Singaporean Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) Public Affairs Directorate. Everything came from my notes.

I hope that elements that want to pull MINDEF back to the dark ages will mull over the following paragraph.

"The latest deaths underline the importance of transparency. In the Internet age, government agencies that keep mum will surrender the field of public opinion to Internet chatter. The accurate and timely information that Mindef provided in the recent cases was essential in ensuring confidence that there was no cover-up."

Taking stock, not letting down its guard

Straits Times, The (Singapore) - June 17, 2008
Author: David Boey , For The Straits Times

TWO military deaths in as many days saw the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) suspend training last week for three days - an extreme measure not taken since April 1997.

In the 11 years since the last training halt - also three days long - several SAF personnel have lost their lives as a result of accidents or health-related issues.

Recruit Andrew Cheah Wei Siong and Second Lieutenant Clifton Lam Jia Hao were the latest to make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. The two, both 20, died in separate incidents last week, triggering an outpouring of sympathy and a fresh debate on SAF training safety.

The halt in physical and endurance activities in all SAF units reflects the military's sensitivity to casualties. But it should not be seen as a sign of weakness. SAF units on operational alert remain ready to deploy at a moment's notice. The training halt does not mean the SAF took a three- day corporate retreat.

Singapore has endured previous incidents of SAF deaths and come out stronger. The social network that has supported the SAF over 41 years of National Service has, time and again, proven resilient and robust and an immeasurable source of solace for bereaved families.

In April 1984, three SAF soldiers died over a span of 10 days. Recruit Sim Keat Kee, 19, collapsed after a 2km run. Lieutenant Koh Meah Wan, 23, was killed during an exercise at Sungei Gedong. And Recruit Bak Yow Hock, 17, died at the School of Naval Training.

In January 2003, a navy ship, the RSS Courageous, collided with a merchant vessel, killing four women officers (Author's note: Wrongly edited as "officers". The four women were specialists.). It was the navy's worst accident in 27 years.

Despite all these tragedies, families continue to entrust their sons and daughters to the SAF.

The SAF's deadliest accident took place on Jan 24, 1987, when six lives were lost in a helicopter crash. Staff Sergeant Goh Kim Loong, Corporal Ramiya Mohan, Lieutenants Ng Soon Hup, Siow Poh Guan and Wee Tong Leong and Captain Lakbir Singh died after an air force UH-1H Huey crashed 14 nautical miles south-east of Brunei International Airport.

Yet, many Singaporean teens continue to dream of becoming air force pilots - among them, Second Lieutenant Clifton Lam.

Singapore Artillery gunners Lance Corporal Low Yin Tit, 18, and Third Sergeant Tan Han Chong, 21, died in New Zealand in March 1997 when a faulty fuze caused a 155mm shell to explode prematurely.

A month later, Private Tan Chin Seng, 21, died after the warhead of a light anti-tank weapon blew up. These deaths triggered the three-day training halt in April that year.

Apart from old soldiers with long memories, many Singaporeans would probably not have heard of most of these incidents because death was a taboo subject for Mindef. Indeed, one would be hard-pressed to find open analyses of past training deaths, especially in the early years of the SAF.

But the SAF has made immense progress since the first reported training death in October 1968. In that incident, Recruit Allen Tan Chong Huat, 19, was stung by hornets in the Chua Chu Kang forest. He was rushed to Taman Jurong Camp but there was no doctor on duty there ( military doctors then clocked an 8am to 5pm shift).

What's more, the garrison's ambulance was out on another call. So Recruit Tan's officers rushed him to the main road to flag down a passing vehicle. It took an hour to get him to hospital.

The SAF's medical coverage has improved by leaps and bounds since then. Headquarters Medical Corps is given all the support it needs to provide soldiers with top- notch medical care.

The latest deaths underline the importance of transparency. In the Internet age, government agencies that keep mum will surrender the field of public opinion to Internet chatter. The accurate and timely information that Mindef provided in the recent cases was essential in ensuring confidence that there was no cover-up.

We should remember though that the lifting of the training halt last Saturday does not mean the SAF has found a panacea to prevent future training casualties. Tough and realistic training is the hallmark of the third generation SAF. Despite the best efforts to ensure safety, military activities can result in casualties.

Come July 1, at the annual parade to mark SAF Day, military personnel will observe a minute of silence to commemorate the sacrifices of those who died serving their country. It will be a moving and symbolic salute to the fallen.

The other moving moment - and this is something one has to see to appreciate - will come when the Chief of Defence Force leads his troops in reciting the SAF Pledge.

Wait for the last line when the assembled soldiers, sailors and airmen pledge to 'preserve and protect the honour and independence of our country with our lives'.

This is the SAF spirit: Uncowed, unbowed, first and foremost in the defence of Singapore.

The writer is the former defence correspondent for this newspaper.