Aug - Oct 2015 www.republicanpost.sg
Produced by Diploma in Mass Communication students Centre for Enterprise and Communication
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SG50 SPECIAL INSIDE THIS ISSUE!
‘Some friends thought I was CRAZY’
The pioneer batch of SAF Volunteer Corps completed their basic training recently. The Republican Post’s Jacinth Toh speaks to CEC student Kimberley Winona Jeremiah who braved the outdoor elements to be a volunteer. By Jacinth Toh
W
hile most students were sleeping in the comfort of their homes during the March school holiday, one girl spent her time digging trenches in the forests of Pulau Tekong. Kimberley Winona Jeremiah, a Diploma in Mass Communication student, took the road less travelled when she traded her everyday wear for green army fatigues. She was among 1,000 people who had applied to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Volunteer Corps, a scheme set up to allow Singaporeans and Permanent Residents to contribute to national defence. Signing up as a volunteer was “the last thing” on Kimberley’s mind, but the 19-year-old was inspired to volunteer as her father, Lieutenant Colonel (NS) Jeremiah Jonathan, had stressed the importance of Singaporeans contributing to a strong defence. “I knew that I would not regret my decision because the only thing I was afraid of was just fear itself,” she said. “Most of my friends were supportive, especially those in poly. But when I told my secondary school friends they were like, ‘What on earth happened to you? Are you alright?’” Kimberley was among the pioneer batch of 226 volunteers who received their service berets in June after completing their basic training. During their two-week basic training, the volunteers were taught how to handle and fire a SAR 21 rifle and attended a two-day field camp. Kimberley said the “toughest part” of the training was not being able to bath after a long day in the mud and rain. “But I overcame it by not thinking too much,” she added. Kimberley, however, had no problems adjusting to army food and said eating combat rations was the easiest part of
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER: Now that Kimberley has joined
the SAFVC, her father hopes that her two younger sisters would follow in her footsteps as well. PHOTO: JACINTH TOH
her training. “I like eating them,” she said. “Some of my friends found it gross.” The experience of firing a SAR 21 rifle also proved memorable. Even though the volunteers had participated in a simulation exercise in preparation for the actual shoot, the actual ‘live’ firing proved a different experience. “When someone first fired the shot and I heard how loud it was, I wanted to run away,” said Kimberley. But with her instructor’s assurance, she calmed herself down and emerged as a marksman – a personal achievement she now bears with pride. Kimberley and the inaugural batch of volunteers would spend a few more weeks familiarising themselves with duties required for one of the 17 vocations they would be assigned to. Asked if she has plans to join the SAF as a regular after graduation, Kimberley replied: “I have no plans yet but if I were to, I think it’d be really cool to be sniper.”
My Kodak moment with a sprint queen An army of volunteers helped out in the recently concluded 28th South East Asian Games. RP student Davinder Singh who was a volunteer Media Relations Officer recounts how he got up close with Singapore’s sprint superstar. By Davinder Singh
SELFIE WITH SHANTI: Davinder Singh with Shanti Pereira
after her 100m bronze medal podium finish. Shanti went on to clinch the gold medal for the women’s sprint 200m sprint final the following day. PHOTO: DAVINDER SINGH
I
was assigned to the two most popular sports in the SEA Games - athletics and football. Every day was a 12-hour work day and it was nothing short of hectic. My job was to help out in the ‘mixed-zone’ for all seven days and this is the area where the athletes would walk through after their respective competitions and the media gets to interview the athletes. In other words, it was a crazy place. We were expecting a substantial amount of media channels to be present during athletics but the actual turnout was overwhelming. Regional and international media representatives were present for almost all the events. During the 200m Women’s Final, everyone’s eyes were on Shanti Pereira, who, the day before won the bronze medal for the 100m final. As the gun went off, the atmosphere at the Sports Hub was “electric”. If you had seen the TV telecast you would have seen how the crowd went wild when she clinched the gold medal. As the volunteer on the ground, the response at the mixed zone was wilder. If she was besieged, so were the volunteer media relations officers. Many media outlets shouted at me to make sure I got them an interview with Shanti. Everyone wanted a piece of Shanti. From her coach to her team members and her parents. The challenge was not so much getting her there but getting her out of the zone for the victory ceremony. In the melee, I ended up in the TV frame with her! The experience was something I am unlikely to forget. I did things I never thought I would, like translating for a Chinese-speaking Singaporean athlete and running an entire lap around the stadium just to locate an athlete for an interview. We learn interesting scenarios in class but this stint taught me more. I feel lucky for having that chance.