On the Front Line
There is an increasing number of women who are taking up the mantle of defending our nation. One of them is 19-year-old Avel Tay, who is currently an Officer Cadet in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). We got the opportunity to chat with her to find out more about her experience as a female in the army and her thoughts on the future of Singapore’s military.
Written by: Mahendra Prasad
Photos by: Avel Tay
Fearless, courageous, gung-ho. These are some of the many words that may come to mind when we see a woman in uniform. Today, women make up eight per cent of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular force, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and taking up positions as warrant officers, specialists and military experts.
Unlike men, these women are not required by law to undergo military conscription, but they do. This desire to serve, coupled with a sense of duty to protect their nation, is why they join the army.
One such person who shares this desire is Avel Tay, 19, who is undergoing training as an Officer Cadet in the Officer Cadet School (OCS). As a trainee, she has been given the opportunity to take up roles ranging from section leader to cadet wing commander, giving her a glimpse of the responsibilities she would have to take up as a future commander.
Her Calling
Avel joined the SAF in April this year because she wanted to find a job that meant more than just making money and offered her something to look forward to every day.
“I became interested in the Singapore Armed Forces because I saw the necessity of having a strong and capable defence force,” she explained. “Furthermore, it's a good balance between being deskbound and active at the same time, which suits my personality as I can't stand being stuck behind a desk the whole day.”
Standing Firm
There are moments when the going gets tough for Avel, especially during her rigorous training sessions. However, she can always look to her family and friends for support.
“Usually before I book in, my family and friends would always remind me to train safely and take care of myself,” said Avel. “They would be the ones who encourage me to keep pushing on and do better, especially during moments where I get demoralised.’’
She also expressed that there are times when female soldiers are looked down upon, be it intentionally or unintentionally.
“Being a female in a male-dominated profession does set us at a disadvantage and more often than not, we would have to work even harder than the male soldiers just to prove our capabilities,” she added.
Learning & Growing
Avel emphasised that there is so much to be gained for other young women who are considering to join the thousands of females who have served or are currently serving in the army.
‘‘Besides the unique set of skills and knowledge acquired, I believe that joining the military would eventually shape them to become more disciplined, resilient and patriotic individuals,’’ said Avel.
The Future
The push to promote women’s rights in our society has set off spirited and recurring debates in Singapore on whether National Service should be made mandatory for women as well, and if so, could they serve in areas such as healthcare and eldercare instead?
Avel thinks that females would develop a negative mindset towards National Service, much like what we see with a significant number of males, if it is made compulsory for them.
In spite of that, she believes that if there is a change in the National Service policy that required women to serve, it shouldn’t be limited to just military service.
‘‘Sectors such as healthcare and eldercare are aligned with the interests and strengths of most women,’’ she pointed out. ‘‘I believe that women would be keen on serving the nation in these aspects as long as we are able to positively contribute to society.’’
