More servicemen are helping less fortunate, from cleaning to singing
By Jermyn Chow, The Straits Times, 30 Apr 2012
THE 40 soldiers were decked out in combat fatigues and came from one of Singapore's elite infantry units.
But instead of holding rifles or lugging full packs, they were clutching brooms and bins.
The men and women from the 1st Guards Battalion were doing their bit for the community by cleaning the Surya Home for mental health patients in Buangkok. After an hour's work, they performed a medley of songs to the appreciative cheers of the 300-plus residents.
A growing number of Singapore Armed Forces servicemen are taking time off training to help the mentally disabled, the elderly and less well-off.
Their efforts to do good include adopting welfare homes and charities, or volunteering in orphanages.
Lieutenant-Colonel Low Keng Guat, who heads the regimentation and discipline branch in the SAF's Joint Manpower Department, said it is not compulsory for servicemen to do community work.
But ground units are becoming more active in performing community service in the last few years, she said.
'The efforts are ground-up as the servicemen want to do more than just their military duties, and give back to society.'
Last Friday's community service at the Surya Home complements the SAF's major fund-raising events such as the annual Army Half Marathon, the navy's Biathlon and the air force's Runway cycling event.
Major Fairoz Hassan, commanding officer of the 1st Guards, said community service exposes his men, most of whom are full-time national servicemen (NSFs) in their late teens or early 20s, to the wider community.
The 33-year-old, who has served in the SAF for 12 years, said: 'It's about opening their eyes, making them understand the plight of the less fortunate and better appreciate what they have.'
NSF Abdul Hamid said the experience has been valuable for him and his fellow Guardsmen as it is a 'reminder to us that there are people who are not as lucky... we will value what we have like our families or homes'.
The 19-year-old added: 'These residents in the homes don't get visitors often so it's good that we can do something to make them feel young and happy.'
In fact, getting the NSFs involved has also changed the ways the SAF pitches in to do community service, said Third Warrant Officer Oh Kok Peng. The 32-year-old said that in the past, community work was limited to cleaning the welfare homes with little interaction with residents. The sergeant-major, who has served in the SAF for 11 years, said: 'The younger soldiers are more creative... suggesting ideas like music performances and interacting with the residents.'
Lt-Col Low said that other creative community projects include the SAF Jazz Band and Music Ensemble's performances at the Cheshire Home and Bright Hill Evergreen Home.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force has organised visits to the Road Safety Park and last February's Singapore Airshow for intellectually disabled and chronically ill children.
Sailors from the United States Navy also carry out community service and volunteering whenever they visit Singapore while waiting for their ships to refuel and restock supplies.
Mr Wee Lin, 64, chairman of Sunlove Abode for Intellectually Infirmed, said the SAF's involvement in community service will also help build a more compassionate society. 'Schools have been getting their students to do community service so if they can carry on with the work in the SAF, we can better inculcate good values in our youths.'
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