Our Singapore Army stands as a pillar of strength in the defence landscape. Through ingenuity, rigorous training, and a dedicated sense of national duty, it has evolved into a formidable force, capable of tackling diverse challenges in the modern era.

At the forefront of these are dedicated servicemen and women such as Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Lee Ying Na, Vivien, Commanding Officer of the 48th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment. Her contributions play a vital role in upholding the Army’s mission for excellence as she aspires to inspire others to join her in contributing to the defence of our country.

A Strong Desire to Serve

From the very beginning, Vivien knew that she wanted her future career to revolve around giving back to Singapore in any way possible.

“I wanted a career that was dynamic in nature and not desk-bound,” she explained. “During my time in Basic Military Training and in Officer Cadet School, I met a group of dedicated instructors, who led by example and inspired me to want to be like them.” Their commitment to guiding new leaders, and the values they imparted to Vivien ignited her passion for doing the same for future generations.

While she always had a strong desire to serve the public, it wasn’t until she stumbled upon the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) booth at a scholarship fair during her time in junior college that she discovered the SAF Merit Scholarship for Women and found her calling to join the Army.

The scholarship opened doors for her to receive the support she needed to achieve her goals. “Through the scholarship, I was given the opportunity to engage with SAF’s senior leadership to understand the challenges they faced, and their thought processes and considerations.”

“Such resources helped me to sharpen my knowledge of leadership and understand the type of leader I want to be,” she elaborated. “The scholarship also gave me opportunities to expand my touch points within the organisation and increase my breadth of knowledge.”

Through the scholarship, Vivien pursued a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biomedical Science from the University of Sheffield and a Master of Arts in Science and Security from King’s College London in England. Her academic journey perfectly merged her interests in medicine and the military. As she embarked on her career, Vivien discovered that her education had honed her communication skills, fostered teamwork, sharpened critical thinking, and equipped her with problem-solving and analytical abilities — all highly valuable in her military role.

Leading With Dedication

Today, Vivien is the Commanding Officer of a Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank Unit in the Army. She leads her team in the training of Full-Time National Servicemen, where the soldiers are trained to be competent in their roles and operationally ready to defend the nation. “Training also encompasses the management of our soldiers’ discipline, morale and welfare,” she added.

Each day, Vivien’s routine kicks off with morning physical trainings, setting the tone for the busy hours ahead. She then dives into meetings with her command team, where crucial discussions and strategic planning take place. As a leader, she not only designs future activities but also takes on theresponsibility of reviewing and approving the work produced by her dedicated staff.

Additionally, she actively conducts visits to her companies, personally assessing and evaluating the quality of their training standards. Her hands-on approach reflects her commitment to lead by example and stay connected with the ground realities of her unit.

Vivien’s work is instrumental in shaping the operations of Our Singapore Army. When asked about the most rewarding aspect of her current role, she shared, “The most meaningful part is being able to mould the National Service (NS) experience for my unit and implementing new initiatives that will enhance their overall NS journey.” Through her dedication, she strives to make a lasting impact on the experience of those serving their nation.

Besides her current role, Vivien has previously also had the opportunity to be one of the Tank Commanders in the National Day Parade Dynamic Display. “It was really an eye-opening experience to see how our Army spent so much time and effort to put up a good show for Singaporeans to commemorate our independence,” she recounted.

She is also the lead Female Mentor in her formation, an incredibly crucial role to the women within the organisation. She shared, “We form a support system to assist our younger servicewomen who may face issues adjusting to this male-dominated environment.”

A Meaningful Career

Vivien speaks warmly of Our Singapore Army and the strong sense of purpose and camaraderie that permeates through the entire Army. “We work together in teams, and collectively, we are driven to achieve common goals,” she said. “We conduct progressive training for our people across all ranks and seniority, so as to ensure that everyone is equipped with the skillset and knowledge they require for their jobs.”

Her greatest aspiration is to contribute to the ongoing betterment of the organisation in any way she can. She envisions progress that extends beyond the confines of the Army, aiming to create a stronger outward awareness among the Singaporean public on the importance of National Defence and the support needed for national service. Simultaneously, she recognises the significance of internal growth, working to attract talented individuals who can contribute their skills and passion to the organisation.

With enthusiasm, Vivien urges those seeking a dynamic and challenging career to consider joining Our Singapore Army. She quipped: “If you think you’re up for a challenge of a dynamic career, give Our Singapore Army a try!