1st NSF 2LT Gets Medal
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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/375851/1/.html
Commitment of soldiers makes the difference in the SAF
By S Ramesh/Ryan Huang, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 September 2008 2032 hrs
SINGAPORE : The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) provides its soldiers with the best equipment, and trains them well. But Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said ultimately, it is the readiness and commitment of soldiers - especially those in leadership positions - to do their duty which makes the real difference.
He was speaking at a commissioning parade for officer cadets on Sunday.
Mr Teo elaborated: "Make good soldiers out of them. Help them understand the importance of having a strong defence for Singapore, and build their belief in what they are doing. Be their guide, friend and mentor. But do not take their respect and loyalty for granted. You will have to earn it. The best way to lead is by example.
"Whatever you say to them, the men and women under you will take dressing from what you do. What you expect them to do, you yourself must first be prepared to do. Train them well and push them hard, for this is the best way to give them the confidence that they will accomplish their mission and return home safely.
"Look after them and always have their safety at heart, so that they will follow you in the face of danger, knowing that you will do your best to lead them back safely again. Your actions, more than your words, will determine whether they will trust and follow you."
Minister Teo singled out Platoon Commander Second Lieutenant Kok Khew Fai's actions on March 8 this year, as those epitomising what it meant to be an SAF Officer - someone who was well trained and prepared, quick thinking and decisive, brave and selfless.
Minister Teo presented Second Lieutenant Kok with a special state award - the SAF Medal for Distinguised Act - for shielding a recruit from a hand grenade blast during a Live Throw in Pulau Tekong.
Second Lieutenant Kok, aged 20, is the first full-time National Serviceman to get the award.
His recruit's grenade had landed behind them, just outside the ditch in their throwing bay.
Second Lieutenant Kok immediately used his body to shield his trainee, as they threw themselves down close to the wall. Both escaped unhurt.
MINDEF said this was due to the bay's design which was revamped in 2004, and the men's familiarity with the safety drills.
The grenade involved has a damage radius of up to 100 metres in the open. The safety distance, while behind cover, is recommended to be 30 metres.
The exercise was suspended for half an hour for safety checks, before it resumed.
The recruit successfully completed his throwing exercise one month later.
Meanwhile, Second Lieutenant Kok said: "I do not feel that my actions that day was extraordinary. It is part of the drills that we have been trained in. It is our responsibility, it is our role of a commander to take care of the safety of our trainees, so they are our responsibility, we take charge of them."
This is the SAF's sixth grenade exercise incident in over 40 years.
Only six others - including a New Zealander - have received the SAF Medal for Distinguished Act. - CNA/ms -
Perhaps the greatest award this brave young man got was his LIFE.Kudos to him for not panicking in this situation and even more so for getting out of it unschated.
1x Medal awarded to 2LT,??? X extras to the recruit?
I forsee that recruit becoming a potential ammo tech.
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Originally posted by sbst275:
Meanwhile, Second Lieutenant Kok said: "I do not feel that my actions that day was extraordinary. It is part of the drills that we have been trained in. It is our responsibility, it is our role of a commander to take care of the safety of our trainees, so they are our responsibility, we take charge of them."Yeah i totally agree. I thought this medal awarded only to those to perform above and beyond their duty under danger or whatever?
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Originally posted by Hellraiza:
Yeah i totally agree. I thought this medal awarded only to those to perform above and beyond their duty under danger or whatever?
Hey, we're just pawns. Can die and there's always another 18 year old to fill in
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Originally posted by Hellraiza:
Yeah i totally agree. He got a medal for doing what he was supposed to do. I wonder if the recruit had shielded the 2LT, would he have gotten a medal?
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Originally posted by Agenda:
Hey, we're just pawns. Can die and there's always another 18 year old to fill in
how true. -
well, it is an act of bravery, duty or not.
i read in the newspapers of a young 2Lt who did the same in the 1970s, except this time that young 2Lt was blown to bits, but the recruit was saved. perhaps he should have gotten a medal too. i read if the 2lt was still alive today, he would have been 60.
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Originally posted by sir sickolot II:
well, it is an act of bravery, duty or not.
i read in the newspapers of a young 2Lt who did the same in the 1970s, except this time that young 2Lt was blown to bits, but the recruit was saved. perhaps he should have gotten a medal too. i read if the 2lt was still alive today, he would have been 60.
mediacorp got delicated this 70s story into the then-SBC time right... the army series with huang wenyong as the 2LT... -
does this mean that the recurit fail BMT? or he gets to throw another round? this time everyone stand far away?
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I don't know to laugh or cry.
Pretty much means that our SFG are useless.
Then again, we were all told that the "LIVE" grenade we were throwing is only 20% charge, and contained no ball bearings. Essentially a big-bang. And dear 2LT Kok got a medal for this?
Pardon me for being cynical, but last I recalled, the PC was supposed to "throw"/ "usher" the recruit over to the OTHER side of the wall in the event that the grenade dropped inside the throwing bay.
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the grenade we throw i'm certain gt ball bearings.y?cuz i heard them landing like gravel hitting the tin roof of the waiting area.
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Its... kinda like giving an award to someone who gave up his seat to the elderly in the MRT. SG no combat exposure, so little gestures like that mean the world. Following this standard, then almost every US soldier in Iraq should be awarded a medal also?
I wonder how the other 6 ppl got their medals..... =/ -
Originally posted by Shotgun:
I don't know to laugh or cry.
Pretty much means that our SFG are useless.
Then again, we were all told that the "LIVE" grenade we were throwing is only 20% charge, and contained no ball bearings. Essentially a big-bang. And dear 2LT Kok got a medal for this?
Pardon me for being cynical, but last I recalled, the PC was supposed to "throw"/ "usher" the recruit over to the OTHER side of the wall in the event that the grenade dropped inside the throwing bay.
ya..during my time it was supposed to be the procedure...but since the article mentioned something of an improved design...I dunno if the SOPs got changed liao...but anyway...from above...some of U guys were saying that there are no ball-bearings,reduced explosive charge,the 2LT's duty,etc....but at the end of the day...would U do what the 2LT did?
I think what the 2LT did was brave...the 2LT wouldnt have been faulted if he had followed all the necessary procedures and MINDEF could have just sent a "I regret to inform..." letter.
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Originally posted by turby:
Its... kinda like giving an award to someone who gave up his seat to the elderly in the MRT. SG no combat exposure, so little gestures like that mean the world. Following this standard, then almost every US soldier in Iraq should be awarded a medal also?
I wonder how the other 6 ppl got their medals..... =/
give up seat no risk of dying.
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Malaysia-born officer who just got his citizenship last year. Well done FT.
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tink win wat award also no use... unless u gonna b a regular else ord liao go out no one gonna care even if u saved the president....
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Originally posted by BrUtUs:
tink win wat award also no use... unless u gonna b a regular else ord liao go out no one gonna care even if u saved the president....
haha...quite true also...
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its the NSF who cock up in the first place who didnt make sure the recruit throw properly in the first place. who never teach well. who never calm down the recruit in the first place.
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Not true leh...sometimes is the recruit is 1x ccb chiu cheng hand one, or 1x ccb blur cock. My PC was damn stressed when this cockster in my platoon during grenade throw keep changing the grenade from one hand to the other den back to the other hand. He attempted to continue doing so even after he's pulled the pin out. So yeah...tt's one blur cock for u.
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the officer made a split second decision, without any hint of selfishness and protected the recruit with his body... it was an instinct kind of action and this is without doubt a sign of bravery. many would have run for cover themselves.
if this doesn't warrant a medal, what will?
giving up your seat to an elderly or pregnant lady is not a split second decision, or instinctive kind of action when you are risking your life.
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-double-
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the other six who got the medal is from the Arty incident in New Zealand yrs ago right? anyone can confirm?
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Hey... this is definitely a selfless act... who would had done the same given the same situation?
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HERO!