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Joining volunteer corps a natural decision, says Frenchman

SINGAPORE — A “natural” conviction to “do the right thing” was what inspired Mr Nicolas Michel Mas to sign up as part of the pioneer batch of volunteer soldiers in 2015.

Newly promoted SAFVC SV2 Nicolas Michel Mas with his wife Ting Hui Shan, also an SAFVC member, before the passing out and promotion parade on Saturday. They both serve as auxiliary security troopers by guarding key installations during events. Photo: Jason Quah

Newly promoted SAFVC SV2 Nicolas Michel Mas with his wife Ting Hui Shan, also an SAFVC member, before the passing out and promotion parade on Saturday. They both serve as auxiliary security troopers by guarding key installations during events. Photo: Jason Quah

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SINGAPORE — A “natural” conviction to “do the right thing” was what inspired Mr Nicolas Michel Mas to sign up as part of the pioneer batch of volunteer soldiers in 2015.

Two years on, the 38-year-old French national had not only been promoted, but now also has his wife, a Singaporean, join him in donning green and serving as an auxiliary security trooper for Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC).

“As we say, whatever you cannot defend is not yours. So it seemed very natural to me to just step forward and join (the unit),” said Mr Mas, who works in a tech start-up.

The permanent resident was among the pioneer batch of 20 volunteer soldiers to be promoted last Saturday to SAFVC Volunteer (SV) 2, the second of four ranks which volunteers can attain.

Among the most defining moments of his time in service so far was being deployed at the National Day Parade on the Republic’s 50th birthday.

“That was my first deployment (and) it was a unique National Day for Singapore ... I appreciated that I was doing something different than what someone from the military would do. I was deployed near the Marina Bay Sands, and had very good interactions with Singaporeans and tourists,” he said.

As an auxiliary security trooper — one of 16 roles that SVs can be enlisted as — Mr Mas serves by guarding key installations. He also helps with security control at significant events, which also allows him to interact with the public, and often offer them a “helping hand”, he said.

Another “key moment” was spending two weeks of basic physical training with batch mates from different walks of life.

“(We are) very different people, yet we actually bonded as a section. I had forged strong relationships with people whom I would never have any chance to interact with otherwise,” he said.

These stories were among the reasons that inspired his wife Ting Hui Shan to join the ranks a year later.

“He told me a lot about his trainings and experiences, as well as being deployed during National Day ... On a personal level, I have always felt that I don’t know much about Singapore’s defence. I feel like it is something that civilians like me take for granted.

“So, I saw it as an opportunity to learn more, and to contribute,” said the 33-year-old, who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration.

Like her husband, Ms Ting said the unit’s diversity is its “greatest challenge and achievement”.

“The challenges (of my experience as an SV) are in multiple dimensions. Of course, there is the physical part ... (Also), we are all from different backgrounds, different age ranges, so just coming together and bonding, making it together ... It is a challenge and also an achievement once we make it,” she said.

“It is often about encouraging one another, because carrying the rifle and the whole load ... Spending three days in (Pulau) Tekong without taking any shower, in the same uniform, it gets on your nerves.

“So it’s really about encouraging each other, and keeping the spirits high,” she added.

The couple also hope that serving together will help “encourage their kids in the future to have an appreciation of what defence means to Singapore”, she said.


Clarification: An earlier version of this story gave the name of the 38-year-old French national in Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps as Mr Mas Nicolas Michel. The Defence Ministry has clarified that his name should be Mr Nicholas Michel Mas. 

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