For these three Singapore Police Force NSFs, the strength of their friendship and commitment to their work offers on-the-job fulfilment
Serving in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) gave SCCPL Wong Yi Xuan, 20, SC2 Shoban Raj S/O Rajamogn, 22, and SC2 Muhammad Raiyan Bin Abdul Rahman, 21, the opportunity to bond. Though Shoban and Raiyan first met during their basic police training, all three soon became close-knit friends at the SPF Training Command (TRACOM), where they are posted. “In our department at TRACOM, there are only a few NSFs, so we stuck together due to being in the same age group and having similar interests,” explains Shoban. “We have the same kind of humour — we tend to laugh at the same joke, for example.”
At work, all three take pride in working together to provide support for trainings, such as the scenario-based assessments (SBA). Behind the scenes, Yi Xuan and Raiyan manage the first aid certifications of SPF officers, while Shoban helps with training logistics, such as the booking of locations.
During the SBA is where the excitement really begins, according to the trio. The NSFs are often called upon to assist in the role-play of the scenarios, giving them an up-close and personal view of the challenging training sessions that turn recruits into SPF officers and leaders.
“Every action goes a long way as there are many courses that our unit runs,” emphasises Yi Xuan. “The scope of each individual course may vary, but all the courses train participants in particular aspects of policing so that they can succeed on the ground. While we may not always get the chance to interact with course participants, we take pride that our roles are integral to the functioning of the SPF, and we try to do the best we can,” Though these officers may not be on the frontline, what they do in the background, makes for the success on the frontline.
“It’s fulfilling to observe how officers grow throughout the days of the course they’re on,” adds Shoban. “You really notice how well they’ve learnt to handle the scenarios by the last day, as compared to their first.”
Outside of daily tasks, there are cohesion activities to look forward to. Raiyan, who has participated in two such activities organised by TRACOM, says that these are a great opportunity to strengthen their teamwork, as well as bond with other NSFs from various departments.
A recent cohesion event is TRACOM’s TRA-FIT Day, held once a month. “What I like about it is that it is more than just about physical strength; it’s also about teamwork,” says Raiyan. One activity that he took part with Yi Xuan was a stretcher-carrying exercise, where they had to transport a dummy mannequin on a stretcher. “To do it efficiently, we had to coordinate our movements,” he explains.
For Yi Xuan, the learning aspect of the in-service cohesion activities is what he enjoys most. These activities include sharing sessions by officers on new procedures and doctrines in the SPF. “Before NS, we were unaware of the detailed plans in place to ensure a high level of safety in Singapore,” he explains. “These sessions allow us to better appreciate the planning that goes into managing even small-scale cases. The three of us often discuss our thoughts on these procedures and consider the impact on various stakeholders.”
Apart from training recruits and serving officers, TRACOM also handles events and ceremonies, including large-scale occasions like this year’s Police Day Parade held on 3 June at the Home Team Academy.
“One misconception that people have about TRACOM is that we only handle training and nothing more. But a lot of time and effort is put into these events that people might not be aware of. Officers spend weeks — sometimes even months — preparing for these events which can extend to late evenings,” Shoban explains.
Collaborative efforts on such large-scale events also strengthen their bonds. During the organisation period for the recent Police Day Parade, Shoban and Yi Xuan were placed on the mobile column committee, which handles a segment of the parade showcasing SPF vehicles. Knowing that Yi Xuan lives far away from the Home Team Academy where TRACOM is based, Shoban saved him the additional commute by volunteering to take on tasks that involved a later departure time.
Having an up-close perspective of the Police Day Parade was also very rewarding. “Seeing how the participants trained for weeks and weeks to perfect the mobile column was truly impressive,” says Shoban. “The rehearsals were long and tiring, but overall it was an enjoyable experience and I hope that I will be able to be part of this committee again next year.”
When it comes to NS, the trio deeply value the new skills and competencies they’ve acquired. Yi Xuan, whose term of NS full-time service is ending soon, hopes to pass down his departmental role and learnings to the next NSF taking over him. “Through the time from entering my unit as a trainee till now, I’ve learnt many new hard and soft skills, and it will be meaningful to impart some of these skills to my understudy,” he says, adding that he is also hoping to complete a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) project that he is undertaking with Shoban. The two were sent for an introductory course on RPA last year, where they learnt how to use the software UiPath to develop bots. “For the remainder of my NS journey, I intend to further refine my skills in this aspect, while working on completing the project,” he concludes.
Raiyan’s goal for the remainder of his time in NS is to continue looking for ways to streamline work processes to ensure that the department can continue delivering outcomes in an effective and efficient manner. “I hope to pass on the important work that we do to a future batch of NSFs, while maintaining the same standards that we are proud to uphold.”
According to Shoban, the trio are fulfilled by how their work impacts preparing officers for their duties around Singapore. Citing a recent case in the news earlier this year where the attending officers had undergone a Division Special Task Force (DSTF) course beforehand, he says that knowing the officers’ training had helped them to save lives was a great feeling. “Sometimes we forget the significant impact we can have in preparing officers for their field duties,” he reflects. “Though the part we play may be small, seeing news like this encourages me to treat my work seriously and makes me proud to be in my department.”
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