2007/09/25

NPCC Alumni Annual Dinner

Year-end BBQ party

7pm, Saturday 24 Nov 2007

@ Cheng San Zone "E" BBQ pit,
Ang Mo Kio Ave 3 (near Ang Mo Kio MRT and AMK Hub (Bus interchange)
outside Blk 430/429/426)

Member - $20, Non-Member - $22 (Children 3 to 12 years old - $10)

[click here to register] or email to @pacific.net.sg to submit your name and tel no.

map

Participants can bring photo of their NPCC day to win for the top three best chosen photo prizes

Lucky Draw - 10 lucky draw prizes to be won

Magic Show

Roller blading, and more… …

[click here to see the street directory]

updated after the event:
[click here to see photos taken during the event]
(password to view photo album: "NPCCAlumni")

2007/09/09

Kalaiarasan

Another ex-NPCC member, First Warrant Officer Kalaiarasan, who is a volunteer National Serviceman in Army and honoured with the title of "NSman of the Year 2002", is being featured in the "Army Museum of Singapore - Personal Stories" posted on 03 Nov 2006 as follows:

"NS does change people for the better": 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan

"It's really going to take you a lot of effort to get through this"

In his pre-enlistment days, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan was a student of Temasek Junior College and a member of the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC), where he became acquainted with the rigour and discipline of marching.

Having a brother who had already served National Service (NS), 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan's family was supportive of him going through NS, though in his words, "mothers being mothers", there was still an understandable element of anxiety.

To prepare for his Army life, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan took up swimming upon the advice of his elder brother. According to him, because he was already actively involved in other sports, he was physically fit enough when it came time for his enlistment.

Still, the initial impression and thoughts he held about his transition into Army life revealed a mixture of uncertainty and fear:

"My thoughts were that this [NS] is going to be tough, [there is] going to be vigorous training. It's really going to take you a lot of effort to get through this"

The tale of two Chandras and one Ang

While undergoing Basic Military Training (BMT) at the Infantry Training Depot (ITD) in Sembawang Naval Base, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan came to be acquainted with two 'Chandras' – one was his bunk mate, whom he still keeps in contact with till this day, and the other was Sergeant Chandra, the "toughest one among the lot [of instructors]". According to 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan, Sergeant Chandra was "the one who is rushing us, got us moving, who expected a lot of discipline".

The joy of passing out of BMT was dampened by the fact that 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan was to undergo his next phase of training as a Specialist at the School of Infantry Specialists (SISL) in the same camp again! Though faced with the prospect of bring reacquainted with Sergeant Chandra, fortunately this time round, the Sergeant was attached to another platoon.

Training at SISL was memorable, and 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan remembers one particular four day training exercise carried out at Mandai reservoir. Because it was a patrolling field camp, water was rationed out, so the thirsty trainees had to "sneak out at night and go to the reservoir and get water to drink." Training was "very tough", but the trainees bonded well together through shared suffering:

"Within the section, we suffered together. When there’s water, we share... when there's food, we share among everybody. Even if someone has a little bit of water, he actually shares the cup. You know those water bottles with screw caps? We would pour the water into the screw cap and share it. So we were very close... it [the field camp experience] built up unity within everybody."

Upon graduating from SISL, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan was posted to Nee Soon Camp as an instructor. It was there that 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan modelled the leadership style of Corporal Ang, a caring and respected Section Commander he met while in his trainee days at ITD:

"This guy was probably the one who kept the morale of the team up... we would have a tough day in the day, and in the night he would actually come into our bunks and have a nice friendly chat with us. He’s a guy who actually pats you on your back and asked you to keep going... for those who were weak in IPPT, he would take time out and he would train us through the night."

Handling 'Hokkien pengs', soldiers who were primarily proficient in the Hokkien language and who were known to be notoriously difficult to handle, was a task in which 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan gained invaluable experience:

"I learnt a lot of things like how to communicate with them, how to get them to do whatever you want them to do because they have their own way of doing things. But you got to turn them around and make them do what you want them to do. It was a good experience."

Uniform changes and protecting Changi Airport

Though there are plenty of memorable moments in 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan’s service in the Army, there are two events of significance captured in this story. The first has to do with the change in Army uniform. During his BMT, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan wore the old Temasek green uniforms, but when he was posted to Nee Soon Camp, the uniform underwent a change into camouflage ones. Because the new uniforms were "a lot more comfortable", it was a clearly preferred over the Temasek Green ones worn previously.

"We were really thankful that the camouflage green camouflages, [so] we don’t have to stick ourselves with camouflage. So in training, we don’t have to cover ourselves with bushes, the uniform does the job. And of course the new uniform, you don’t have to polish your boots to shine. The old one, you have to make it shine everyday."

Secondly, fast forwarding in time to his reservist days, one exercise that stands out was 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan’s participation in the protection of installations in 2001, when the Army was called upon to protect and patrol Changi Airport to deter any potential terrorist threat.

As a Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of a National Service battalion, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan made sure his men knew the seriousness and gravity of the duty they were to undertake:

"When I had my prep talk before they [the men] left for duty, I told them this is no ‘masah masah’ training. This is for real; these are live rounds you are bringing. If it comes [to the point] that you have to load and shoot, there is no two ways about it."

1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan also knew that the morale of the men had to be looked after if they were to perform their duties efficiently and with motivation.

"I always insist... instructors, sergeants, all the way up to OC to go down and talk to the people while they are doing their duties because nothing is stopping you from moving about. So [the men] will feel good, there's somebody coming down there to look after them. Of course, we're also checking on them to make sure that they are not sleeping but the most important thing is to talk to them, show that we are also out there for them... you just have to make sure that they are properly taken care of."

At the graduation ceremony for Warrant Officers
At the graduation ceremony for Warrant Officers

NSman of the Year 2002

1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan's positive contributions to the NS experience for his men meant that his NSman of the Year 2002 was a deserving honour indeed. Reflecting upon the role of NS in Singapore, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan recalls with conviction of the fact that NS does change people for the better:

"I would simply say for hardcore gangsters, none of them are gangsters today and none of them have gone to prison. NS does change people for the better. In the old days, there were many stories that said NS makes you [pick up] smoking, NS makes you [pick up] drinking. NS does not do that, it's the people that do it. It does change people for the better, makes them become more mature. In that sense it is really beneficial, besides building a sense of nationality and loyalty to [Singapore]."

Today a Regional Warehousing and Distribution Manager with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, 1WO (Vol) Kalaiarasan credits the Army for having instilled in him leadership and organizational skills that have stood him in good stead in the workplace.

"As an RSM in the Army, I have learned to think on my feet and have a 'helicopter view' while not losing focus on the details. [I have learnt to] effectively manage people and delegate work to empower, developing their growth; to be able to communicate effectively with all levels of the management with ease, to speak publicly with confidence. [There is] self motivation and the discipline to expect only the best. All these qualities have helped me grow in my career and is still helping me grow even more."

2007/09/08

Police K-9 Unit Visit on 6 Sept 2007


The NPCC Alumni organised a visit to the Police K-9 Unit at Mowbray Road on Wednesday, 6 Sep 2007, which was a school holiday.

This visit was part of a community service project where 14 children from the Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home were invited together with 9 other children from the alumni's members.

10 alumni members were also present to accompany the children; making a total of 33 participants.

The visit commenced with a briefing by our guide, Mr Ram, who introduced us to the K-9 unit and the purpose of the dogs, their duties and capabilities. After the performance by the dogs on obedience and other skills, we toured the premises; visiting the training stations and kennels. The children had the opportunity to mingle with some of the dogs and also taking pictures with them. They are all very thrilled by the experience.

Finally the participants were treated to a full lunch sponsored by Dr Georgia Lee, a friend of Winnie Woon.

We would like to thank Siew Lea for arranging such a sumptuous spread of food for us.

The children were also given goodie-bags prepared by the alumni. Some of the items are sponsored by our members.

Also would like to thank Teo Chun Liang who had bought souvenir key chains for the children from Chen Su Lan Home.

The weather was really kind to us on that day. All of us had a whale of time and we are sure the children will remember this trip for a long time to come.

We appreciate Winnie's effort in co-ordinating with the Chen Su Lan Home pertaining to this visit and also in getting the sponsorship of $400 from Dr Georgia Lee for the lunch.

We would also like to thank Chua Siew Lea and Kester Tan for buying, arranging, packing and delivering the goodie-bags and also the NPCC Alumni for paying for the bus transport, and all other incidental and miscellaneous expenses.

Last but not least to all participants, helpers, and especially those who took leave from work for making this such as successful and enjoyable trip.

Kindest regards,
OSS
[click here to see more photos]
(password to view photo album: "NPCCAlumni")

Golf Funds Raising Event concluded

The recent concluded Golf Funds Raising Event for the NPCC OEP on 31 August 2007 was a great success! Mayor Teo Ho Pin (our Ex-CI) was the Guest-of-Honour. It ended with a sumptious 8-course dinner with everyone having a good time. Almost everyone returned home with a lucky draw prize. This event managed to raise an amount of about $15,000 which will definietly be a boost to the NPCC OEP community service project. Thanks to the generous sponsorships.

Andrew Tan (President, NPCC Alumni), presented the $15,000 fund raised to Mr Tan Puay Kern (Deputy Chairman, NPCC Council) for the NPCC OEP community service project, and witnessed by the Guest-of-Honour, Mayor Teo Ho Pin (Member of Parliament).

Also a big thank you to the working committee and volunteers who had put in lots of effort in planning and organising this event leaving no stone unturn - Gn Chiang Huat (chairman), Tan Gwee Khiang, Cindy Lim, Kester Tan (Secretary-the most hard working), Chua Siew Lea, Wendy Ong and Winnie Woon.

Looking forward to more supports from the members and well wishers in coming activities.

Anyone with ideas of funds raising for NPCC as well as for the alumni is most welcome.

CHEERS to the NPCC Alumni!
OSS

The purpose of holding the NPCC Alumni Golf Event is to raise funds for National Police Cadet Corps Overseas Expedition Project (NPCC-OEP), an overseas youth exchange project which NPCC Cadets get to lead and organize expeditions to any ASEAN country, China, or India, to provide voluntary services for the needy communities there example by teaching their children in schools and helping them build or renovate schools and homes.

In 2004, NPCC collaborated with the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) to inaugurate the 1st NPCC-Overseas Expedition Project (OEP) to Yunnan, Peoples' Republic of China. This Service Learning OEP saw 20 youths involved themselves in community based project with the local villagers for 21 days under harsh living environment. [click here to see previous OEP report].


[click here to see more photos of the golf and dinner event]
(password to view photo album: "NPCCAlumni")