First Singaporean woman Ranger overcomes family’s worries she couldn’t tough it out
At first, Captain Yap Hui Jun’s family and friends were not entirely on board with her decision to take on the Singapore Armed Force (SAF) Ranger course, one of the toughest small unit leadership courses in the SAF.
But their eventual support “played a big part” during the course, she said in a media interview yesterday.
“They knew it was hard even for men, but they became supportive when they realised that I was serious about joining the Ranger course. When I wanted to give up, I thought of the support I received from them as well as my bosses. I didn’t want to disappoint them,” she said.
“My bosses and colleagues also needed to cover for me while I was participating in the course.”
Thinking that “it didn’t feel nice” and “feeling bad” about them having to make those sacrifices for her, Captain Yap, 27, was more than determined to complete the course the second time she joined.
Last year, she made it only until Phase Two but this year, she was back with a vengeance as part of the 50th batch.
This Ranger course isn’t your average walk in the park. It spans a whopping 65 days, divided into three gruelling phases.
Phase Two is where trainees dive headfirst into field training exercises involving back-to-back missions and daring sea insertions, all crammed into a 20-day adventure.
For those who had to pause and regroup, like Captain Yap, the good news is that they can pick up where they left off.
“Different batches have different experiences. Each experience is unique. The first one was a bit more challenging for me compared to the second one because it was filled with uncertainty,” the army intelligence officer said.
“I didn’t know what was coming.”
This preparation isn’t for the faint of heart – it includes a Preparatory Fitness Conditioning Programme, a Fitness For Instruction medical examination and a Selection Test.
Three weeks of conditioning are like a mini boot camp, involving everything from 3km and 4km runs to callisthenics and 4-6km combat marches.
It aims to hone small-unit warfighting leadership qualities and develop physical as well as mental toughness in soldiers.
Notably, despite it being a rare sight for women to join the Ranger course, this year, two women, including Captain Yap, joined.
She shared that she joined SAF in 2015 after completing junior college. There was an open house partnership programme with her school.
@tnpdigital Second time's the charm! ? Captain Yap Hui Jun, a trailblazer in the SAF Ranger course, didn't let her first setback stop her. ? #fyp #sgnews #rangercourse #saf #mindef #girlboss ♬ original sound - TNP
“I signed up with the SAF because first, my passion lies in training and development. Second, the SAF focuses on leadership and teamwork. I like the camaraderie and the sense of adventure.
“I think many people contribute differently. For me, wearing green is how I contribute to (the) society.”
When asked what was next for her, she said she’s set her sights on going overseas for courses if there’s any opportunity. She also dreams of rising through the ranks, from a Platoon Commander to a Company Commander.
Capt Yap said: “It (the Ranger course) changed my perspective of life in a certain way. I get to appreciate the simple things in life that I don’t usually appreciate in my daily life like having three meals a day.”
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