A COMMITMENT TO SINGAPORE

Supporting graduates turning challenge into opportunity

Before entering his National Service (NS) in Basic Military Training, Teddy Lee ’20 never imagined he’d find himself on a 24-hr training exercise, leading a platoon of cadets digging trenches in the middle of the night. Pulling up the earth in the darkness, he shouting encouragement to the soldiers around him. Despite the sleep deprivation, and the extreme physical and mental exertion, Teddy pushed on.

“This training exercise was the biggest single challenge of my two years in NS,” says Teddy. “But I was a lot better off than most because at school I’d done a lot of sport - swimming, running and rugby. And the fitness hugely helped me throughout my training. I also think being captain of the cross-country and swim teams gave me the confidence to talk to people, to motivate people to just do our best to get the job done.”

After completing two months of basic training, Teddy was posted to Officer Cadet School (OCS), and then promoted to officer. Now, after completing his service with nearly two-years of real-world leadership experience under his belt, Teddy prepared for his next challenge: university. Last year he flew to the UK to study Sport Science at Loughborough University. He is just one in a long line of UWCSEA graduates continuing the tradition of enlisting in NS before pursuing their university studies.

Leading The Community

Since its inception in 1967, more than 1 million young men have enlisted in Singapore’s National Service. UWCSEA continues its decades-long commitment to prepare students who enlist for NS after graduation. From information sessions led by alumni NSmen, to support from its University Advising team, the College recognises the value of supporting students who follow this path.

And this isn’t limited to just UWCSEA students—the College hosts Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) information sessions open to multiple foreign system schools, acting as a community leader supporting families across Singapore’s international schools as they prepare to send their sons to NS.

“We work with ACCORD to make sure that our National Service boys and parents are well aware of the process,” says Pat Desbarats, University Advisor, East Campus. “But also what basic military training will look like, the different positions that are available and then their commitment long term after they finish National Service.”

Support Before And During National Service

Reflecting on his last two years of NS, Teddy says his time at UWCSEA (K1–12), helped him prepare in many ways.

“When I entered my OCS training, I saw an opportunity to speak up about possible changes in the use of plastic, based on my experience at school,” says Teddy. “I also think the preparation I had, through Outdoor Education and Academics, made me seem like a good candidate for OCS.” But it’s not just the holistic education process that prepares students for their time in NS—there is a very real support structure in place that helps students navigate the move from school, to NS, and then onwards to university.

“With National Service, a student may sometimes worry they are going to fall behind their peers who are heading to university,” says Shruti Tewari, Interim Head of University Advising, Dover Campus. “But it’s important to note that National Servicemen are never left without a contact person at school.”

“We ensure they do everything that their peers are doing in the application process. That’s all taken care of before they leave for National Service.”

“We make sure that the National Service candidates are equipped with making decisions around future planning. And that includes college and university applications either before they go into National Service or while they’re in their National Service.” says Pat Desbarats.

Starting The Ns Journey

While Teddy Lee wrapped up his NS journey, Arun Kukreja ’22 (Dover Campus) was about to embark on his.

Arun says he planned to use the time in NS to reflect and grow, and then send out his university applications later in the year. He sees his service time as an opportunity to prepare for his future.

“I think you’re afforded some extra time to think about your future and tailor your applications more thoughtfully before applying,” he says. “This additional time, along with support from the University Advising Council, is very helpful in the application process.”

Arun says the thing that’s helped most so far has been UWCSEA’s informal information sessions with alumni NSmen, where enlistees have a chance to ask questions directly to alumni who’ve been through the process.

“I’ve gotten the chance to learn about their experiences,” he says. “This was really helpful in cultivating a relationship so that we always have someone to look up to and have a guiding light into the first few months of NS.”

Turning Challenge Into Opportunity

“National Service is a challenge, but it’s a matter of perspective - how can you turn this challenge into an opportunity?” says Shruti.

Although at opposite ends of their NS journey, this is a sentiment that both Teddy and Arun agree with.

Many of the boys who have gone through have told me it’s helped them mature, says Arun. “It’s an experience that you don’t get in university. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

When Teddy Lee came to the end of his National Service journey, he took some time to reflect, thinking about who he was at the start and who he had become. What would he say to a student like Arun who was at the start of his NS journey? “It’s like a lot of things in life—whatever you put into your National Service, you’ll get out of it,” he says.

“But in the end your story is going to be different from mine. So my advice is just to go in head on, do your best to make the most of it because if you do that,” he says, “it will be worth it in the end.”