Major Ang Tow Hai
DoB: 7 Mar 1955 Age: 62 (2017)
Zodiac: Goat, Pisces
Status: Married, two boys; Retired Mar 2017, after 18 yrs at MOE;
Background: 41 SAR, 1979: Amour Infantry Officer Adv Course; 1980: OCS PC
A D10 profile interview with Maj Ang, our PC during OCS. Interview done on 30th Nov 2017, 1600hrs JCube. This is the beginning of a series to profile everyone from D10.
1. How did you end up in OCS as PC?
I was in the Armour formation when OCS started to revamp the SMC (standard military course), revising the Junior and Senior terms, and starting BMT at ITD. It also introduced leadership selection through a series of tests to pick the cadets. Previously, there was none. The new OCS setup - the IOCC - needed many new instructors and so I was recruited.
I had just finished the Armour Infantry Officer Advanced Course at the time.
As new OCS instructors, we had to undergo a one-month orientation course. We went through all the newly planned exercises future IOCC cadets were expected to go through. That was in 1980. The defensive, offensive, special ops exercise, etc....we all went through. Including the training areas.
We also engaged in cadet character development and sportsmanship activities such as rugby and boxing; - Stuff we never tried before ourselves, haha. Boxing ourselves left right centre!
TC: At least you guys were already men!
Yes, I was 25 years old at the time. We were all young and tough. And the typical 18-year old cadets we get were garang, fit and willing to cheong.
2. Why was there a need to change the SMC?
At the time the SMC had gone through, I think, 11 batches. Importantly, they felt the need to keep the BMT separate, i.e. ITD and SBMT, to better help identify the potential OCS candidates. This was done through a series of situation or initiative tests. Previously, the cadets were selected based on their ECA, i.e. if you were a captain of a team, chairman of a club, etc. This did not prove very effective. So they decided on this three-month BMT to give every enlistee a chance to prove themselves. There were five stations of situation tests including open discussions in the field. It was then followed by an interview and a psychomotor test.
In this way, OCS managed to cut down on the Junior Term attrition rate which became very low. Fall-out was mostly due to a physical inability to cope.
So we had the IOCC and now the five-service phase and then the two-arms one.
3. Among us D10, you were famous for your "Don't make me lose face" mantra. It was pretty unusual then. I mean what were your thoughts on leadership at the time?
Leadership by example... Something I learned from being in Armour. Being able to do what you expect from your men. But leadership is more. Being able to plan, lead and come up with a logical solution. And at the same time, be flexible enough to do adjustment to the situation on hand. Also as a leader, you must have the respect and support of your men, not through rank position but by winning their hearts. When given a leadership role, lead and be decisive. You cannot be hesitant and infirm.
4. What made you let your cadets manage themselves?
The cadets are the future officers. We give them minimum guidance, the rest we leave to them. Because in the future, they have to manage their own soldiers. The nine-month course is their learning phase. Let the cadets learn amongst themselves, then analyse, see what is the problem and learn not to make the same mistakes again. Because once you become an officer, you cannot be making mistakes.
So being an officer cadet is the best time to be given ample opportunity to lead, to plan, to execute and to debrief. Know what went right or wrong, and then improve on it. At the end of the day, everybody learns and picks up something.
This helps very much when you become a platoon commander. To a certain extent, we instructors already know.
So it cannot be everything we give you command and you cadets just follow. You will learn nothing.
When you are training officer cadets it is a different story. So we want the cadet to lead.
5. But you do agree that your method was very different from the others at the time?
Yes. I wanted you cadets to lead and manage yourselves more. But we did observe and intervened when necessary especially when it came to safety. It was as important then as now. We don't want cadets injuring themselves and not complete the course.
So only when something is not right, I will intervene, discuss and carry on.
6. What did the school's Chief Instructor had to say about all that?
We of course followed what the CI wanted. This was especially so during the excise planning phase where every cadet is expected to participate, learn as a future platoon commander. So everybody plans and afterwards someone will present the plan and everybody critiques.
This is before the field appointment was given.
If someone thinks he has a better plan - one that is tactically sound - he can present his. We then select who has the best plan and then will only field appointments be given out. PC, PS and section commander.
And then come time to present the ops order which is another learning phase. Because as a platoon commander you need to let your men know the operational aspects of a mission.
7. How were exercises developed during our time?
Oh, in the OCS HQ there's the Senior Instructor who will be doing the planning. Where the offensive location is, the movement by day or night, the live firing, who is in-charge, etc. They come up with the lesson plan, exercise file, location recce, etc. We as PCs go through all the exercises during our one-month prep-course.
And during execution, the SI is on hand to give advice, provide guidance. For example, in a night attack, say, from Sembawang 4-track junction to Hill 265 objective, with Frangipani Hill as firebase. So we select the route of movement, plant the enemy simulators and encounters along the way and see how the cadet platoon commander react.
Before that, the day and night recce. And once the night attack is on, withdraw, reorg and casualty evacuation, etc.
8. During our time, we were still under the Instructor Team system.
Yes, the teams would run the exercises and specialise on them. You have the Offensive and Defensive Ops, Brunei, Tekong, Navec, Watermanship, etc.
As PCs, we also follow the exercises to make sure our cadets are properly handled, instructed, etc. So we would take a section (different sections) such as in a navec exercise. Not just sit and wait at the end point. In this way we get to know all the cadets well. Their strengths and weak points and how we can help. We don't want them to be demoralised.
I cannot just base on instructor feedback. Not accurate.
9. Were you also not very concerned about overseas training?
Yes. Overseas training are often summary exercises and are usually eye-openers. Best way to do an exercise realistically. Go the actual distance. Both Tekong and Ubin very small. For example in Brunei jungle training, when you come across an obstacle, it is real. A river that you have to actually river-cross.
Then there's the navec exercises. Real planning in the jungle day and night and accepting the weather there. So both physical and mental challenge. Also navec challenge as the terrain is new/unknown. As cadet platoon commander, it exercises your leadership, planning, and challenges your command and control. Also motivation that sort of thing. So in Sg you learn and in Brunei, a summary exercise to reinforce all that prior learning. You cannot simulate that in Mandai, which is very small by comparison. But Mandai is still a good place for training... basic training like close-terrain navec. Navec a few kilometres in which you must find the checkpoint and logpoint. You lost in Mandai we can still find you; in Brunei, still can but we will take a longer time (haha). So we are more serious about it.
10. In Taiwan wasn't there a lot of trouble with the farmers?
Actually they were very supportive. This was because the farmers in Bengtong area, Henchun (where we trained) were very supportive of their own army back in the early '80s. Their goodwill extended to us.
Although we were Starlight troop, they also considered us as "ah bing ge" (brother soldier). In fact they helped us a lot, such as refilling our water resources when needed. They were very supportive and did not give any problem. Plus our training areas were mostly out of their agricultural areas, so there wasn't any conflict.
Even our live firing at Highway 199 cher lui li or defence exercise and other SAF training areas...they were ok. We only worried that after live firing they would go there and pick up empty cartridges (as scrap).
For Armour our living firing was at Houkou in the north. In the south, armour infantry cooperation exercises. Tanks moving along the Baoli river and the Badi san doing live firing.
11. Have you ever brought a troop of Hokkien peng to Taiwan to train?
Yes, but during my Armour time. Our infantry trooper at the time was like the infantry rifleman, education level low. Primary six, or at most Sec 1 or 2. But they were good soldiers making up infantry trooper, GPMG gunner, M113 driver, etc. In fact they cooperated very well. We had battalion proficiency tests so their mustering of the weapons they had to be well learnt and be good at. They all cooperated very well.
12. Didn't our soldiers have quite a bit of trouble in Taiwan?
Mostly due to cultural differences. Those who discipline/in-charge of the soldiers did't know the foreign culture. So sometimes these chaps go there drink and create trouble. At times they go shopping and bid for items at an auction and don't buy. Or bargain, argue the price for something but in the end don't buy. You as the seller also fed up.
But we tell the guys they represent Singapore, so they have to behave. We also tell them to avoid certain areas such as seaman clubs, pubs, those sort of places. There were gangsters then also. They operate in certain areas with drugs, etc.
Then there's the famous di xia jie - underground shopping complex. They have auction sales there too. "Camera, camera, NT1000 only!". They show you the real one but after they take your money, they slip you a dummy set. So argument, fight.
13. How many times were you in Kaohsiung?
Four times as officer. Fave spot? Night market at liu he hu (Sixth Harmony Street?) A lot of good memories and good food. A fave spot with everybody including our cadets as well.
TC: A key memory for me was my brother telling me to go to a certain bookshop to shop for university texts. He said the engineering texts there were cheap. Printed on jotter and bounded in hardcover.
Ang: Yes, there were certain big bookshops that sold pirated copies of expensive texts - cheap and good, such as those for engineering, medical and architecture. Now the popular one is a 24-hr joint called chen ping.
So when you go Taiwan for training, there's some reward. You know where to go, where to shop, buy dried longans and other certain special souvenirs, etc. Good food, western meals, and of course, mu gua niu nai.
14. What impressed you most about 1/82 IOCC?
The whole platoon everybody worked hard, fight in a friendly way. All very motivated, want to commission as officer. No one sabo-ed anybody.
Yes, the most impressive thing is we made history. Platoon 10 sapu-ed all the three top prizes of Sword of Honour, Best in Knowledge and Best in PT.
Sword of honour is not easy to come by. Contenders were quite strong. Put on mission, assessed by senior instructors.
When Chan Boon Kiong won his SoH, it means he has the ability to receive that honor. There was a round of interview also.
As for Best in Knowledge and Best in PT, they personally must aim for it, be motivated for it. They have to push for it. But as an officer, all must have knowledge, good knowledge. With no knowledge, you cannot do training. Our carrot and stick is: less than 80%, confinement (haha).
So that one we little bit have to tekkan. There will be some who will never reach the mark, stay back in camp during the weekend to study.
Certainly Tan Chuan Lee (Bennett) did very well.
[Side note: Speaking with Chew Phit Seng the other day, I learned that Best Knowledge also included a range shoot. So if you had scored consistently well in all the tests but failed in that just one shoot, you can kiss your Best in Knowledge hopes bye-bye.]
15. You were well known amongst us for being glib in handing out "Take 1, take 2" (extras) whenever we cocked up, like falling asleep whilst digging trench.
Ah, yes I know OCS training can be physically and mentally tough. You mentioned defence where you travel under complete darkness and then start to dig. No matter how tired you are you have to complete by morning. A 12-hr plan.
TC: In Taiwan I remember we had a tough time digging our trenches. By morning, not even reaching the knee. We broke so many tools.
Ang: Yes, that one was tough, all rocks, roots, etc. That was Baoli San near Highway 199. We had to bring up all the tools, mark out the arc of fires, etc. It was forward defence.
The later summary exercise at Highway 200 was better. Advance, kenna engaged, hold and then dig shellscrapes. The ground was definitely friendlier there. Nowadays we leave the trench digging to special forces (e.g. PDF), be more offensive in ops. Not waste time digging deep trenches.
Over in Sg we had Ex Lion and Ex Wolf, raid missions. Not sure if your batch had a tough summary exercise that night-navec from Seletar, land at Pramatang and secure the beachhead. Then navigate to FIBUA Village, attack and then withdraw. Helivac to Pulau Ubin, regroup, plan and mission again. Two nights three days, quite tough.
TC: I think our time, we ended at FIBUA Village, withdraw and waited for LST by seaside to come bring us home.
Ang: Oh, then it was later that we expanded and developed that into an intensive exercise. Very challenging.
TC: Remember our platoon had Liaw Choon Meng the "Tekong expert?" He grew up on that island.
Ang: Oh, so we had an expert to help with night navec? Haha.
TC: I actually led that mission. Quite nervous as had to navigate at night over water and trying hard not to land the platoon in the wrong place. When we landed, we were crotch deep in mud. Whoever planned the exercise did not get the tide times right. Imagine having to trudge all that way on mission to FIBUA in all that mud. And the mud was stinky too!
Ang: Yes, it was very dark. Later we trained assault boat at Sarimbun instead of Seletar, night navec and land at where Raffles Country Club is at right now. Trudge in a swampy area, night movement, action in Area A. Quite tough.
16. Wasn't it already increasingly hard to do training in local areas?
No so bad because the schools always get priority. The battalions may have to shift a bit (make allowance) but when we call NS men back for training, schools such as OCS and SAFINCOS always are given priority. Because their period of training is fixed, they have to finish the course. It helps that we plan our exercises six months in advance.
Now because of development and land appreciation, our training areas have shrunk but is still manageable. For big exercises though, we go overseas to Australia and Thailand. Even India.
In Australia at Rockhampton in Queensland, we do tank exercises up to brigade level, salt-water based. The next phase of development will be further north at Townsville, now in discussion with the local townsfolk. It will be for an area four times that of Singapore. At Rockampton the training ground is five times the size of Singapore.
Because objectives are now three days away or so, infantry soldiers cannot walk there, they will lambek. They all use the Terrex.
TC: Yes, I remember reservist training in Taiwan where we walked or force marched for 5 km walking along dry river beds and ending up with blisters.
17. What are the most common complaints from cadets?
Well, most of the cadets are officer capable. They never complain that the training is too tough. But we know that training is intensive. Like during lecture they doze off. After night topo no rest and just carry on, attend lecture. No such thing as rest. Even when you are doing guard duty. You just finish and continue.
That is why we have compulsory 11pm night's off. But at times people carry on when there's a test coming. Understandable.
Most important attribute in an officer or cadet is their ability to plan. And command and control. Ability to stay calm and cool in a critical situation. It is sad to see a decent person fail in this. They become kancheong, karang kabut don't know what to do. As a commander you have to direct your subordinates, not say "You carry on, I don't know what to do."
You have to say, for example, "Stop. Evacuate casualty, etc." Command and control.
18. How were cadets assessed, final decision made? There was also peer-to-peer assessment.
Peer-to-peer assessment?
It is quite common. It reflects a part of the cadet we cannot see. He may appear helpful, etc., to us. But if his buddies say he is bullshitting, kwai lun, etc. this peer-to-peer assessment will reveal. We don't take it 100% but it is actually quite accurate.
The final decision depends on exercise performance, mission planning and change management, application of knowledge, whether application is sound or not, test results, etc. The Tactics Team instructors also weigh in. Because they don't know you, they give a very neutral picture.
19. So comparing both the Mentor and Tactics Team systems?
Actually both systems work. It is the quality of candidates that come to OCS. But if you ask for my personal preference, I prefer the Mentor system where every section has a dedicated instructor. As long as good instructor and all-rounder and if he's as an officer who can always improve himself.
With a mentor, there's continuation. With each exercise there's discussion about execution and assessment. There's better understanding. At least more consistent, no disruption. So I rather have mentors in each section under my control. Bonding can also develop within the platoon and cadets.
[Side note: In D10, those who were retained to be instructors in OCS were the school's first mentors in the new Mentor System in 1983, when the old Tactics Team system was abolished. Folks like Karam Singh, Gerard Lee, etc., were pioneers of this new system (joining Maj Ang's D10 platoon). I was going through the Mentor instructor prep course with them when I was yanked out mid-way to be converted to Pnr Infantry Officer (at Gillman Camp) so I could return to teach Demolition in OCS, joining the only team left in OCS: the Demo & Weapons Team. Our seniors were RODing and needed fresh blood. Only I and fellow instructor Fong Haw Tien (Foxtrot) were crazy enough to volunteer. (The refrain we often got from others was: "It's only NS. Why risk your life with explosives?" The reason was that Fong and I didn't want to babysit cadets and go through the dang 9-months all over again! ;-) We valued the autonomy a Team gave. I think Fong and I brought something different to Demo training. Because we weren't the kiasu types, the cadets we trained became savvy with explosives. Not handle all like fragile eggs!]
20. Has any platoon matched the 3-in-1 achievement of D10 so far?
As far as I know, I don't think so. Maybe a prize here or a prize there but never all three again. One award only. So we are very proud of what we have achieved.
21. In Delta we had the scholar platoons of 11 and 12? They were competitive, no?
Oh, only Platoon 11 was scholar. Platoon 12 no. They only had those foreign Bruneian cadets. Platoon 11 scholars disrupt during Senior Term in September and then become smaller.
Eric Khoo became Commando colonel.
22. So, in total, how many OCS batches did you take?
Four. '80, '81, '82, '83.
In '80 I was in Bravo company. After Junior Term I handed over to Maj Ng Heng. A bit reluctant because I've already established a kind of bonding and friendship. Then was asked to go Echo. In this way I gained experience before going to Delta. So, no problem, everything at fingertips.
I got a 1981 cadet Lim Teck Yin become a BG (brigadier general). He's CEO of Sg Sports Council now. Another BG from our time is Ishak Ismail from Platoon 12.
I still remember I organised the Cadet Commission Ball with him at the Dynasty Hotel. Do you still remember? I think you forget already!
TC: No, haha. I still recall the suit I have. A muted Royal Blue one with black threading. Made from that excellent Brazil Tailor shop in Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. He has since moved to Beauty World Plaza. Still there when I went there earlier this year to eat that excellent Thai burger from the rooftop hawker centre.
Ang: Ishak at the time was posted to 3 SIR. We couldn't get the date we want and were given a Sunday. Not so ideal as the next day is a working day. And you know, it was a D&D.
TC: Dynasty Hotel was quite new then, wasn't it?
Ang: Yes, quite new. We had Chief of Defence Force Winston Choo as guest of honor. It was funny that night because we gave the wrong signal and everybody stood up expecting him. We had to tell everybody, "Rehearsal, rehearsal...". haha.
23. What did you do after leaving OCS in 1984?
I went back to 41 SAR to become combat team OC. Stayed there for two years till 1985 and became a trainer at the Armour Reserve Training Centre. Now we call ATI or Armour Training Institute. Training NSmen, local and overseas. So I know a lot of NSmen.
One of them is famous lawyer Peter Cuthbert Low. He was recently given an award (the CC Tan Award for exemplary lawyers). We trained in Thailand. He was one of the battalion COs. 406 SAR, I still remember.
After that I worked in HQ Armour as a trainer and assistant training Ops Officer. This was up till 1990 and then went back to ATI.
In 1992 I was selected to for a UN mission to Angola. It was under the UNAVEM - United Nations Angola Verification Mission. Our role was as observer for their elections. Before going, we had prep training.
We stationed there from 8th April 1992 till 30th Nov same year - almost nine months.
At the time my eldest son was only 7 years old, his brother two and a half. It was tough on my family. Communications in Angola was not very advanced at the time, so we wrote letters. But as a regular, as a professional solider we go when we are asked. I took it as a challenge, in the right spirit. My wife was supportive also, even though she knew it was dangerous at the time in Angola. There was civil war, a temporary ceasefire to allow for UN supervised elections.
But it failed and they went back to fighting again.
It was an experience to see a war-torn country. Everything so run down, no proper schools and healthcare, weapons all over the place. It was very terrible, very unstable.
But it is now stable and advanced, thanks to Chinese investment. The Chinese government is quite influential there.
After Angola, I returned to Armour training school and later to 2 PDF as Ops Officer providing Armour support, island defence. This was from '96 to '98. So once again I trained NSmen.
End of '98, an opportunity opened in MOE as an Ops Manager, and so I applied. It was time to leave the Army. I was at age 44 then.
I served with MOE for 18 years and only retired this year in March. I was all along with Jurong Secondary School. This job was kind of the same thing between soldiers and students. We teach them, care for them, etc.
24. What made you decide to be a regular soldier?
Basically, when I was young I lived in the Lim Chu Kang/Ama Keng area. There were the British soldiers doing deployment with armour vehicles. As a small kid, we were curious how they went about their business. And they often deployed in a rubber plantation in Ama Keng.
So I found armour vehicles quite interesting. When in NS I became an officer, I decided to sign on and take up the vocation.
TC: Were there any objections from your parents?
Ang: No. But of course at the time, the career advancement path was not clear, was slow, etc.
25. I recall during our time in the early part of the 1980s, there were many changes happening in the SAF.
Yes. In terms of thinking, equipment and man-management. 1980 onwards, the SAF manpower system was revamped to attract more talent to the Forces. Changes to the non-commissioned officer ranks and career path is one example. 1981, there was a salary revision even.
26. I don't recall many incidents during my time with D10.
No, there were no major incidents with D10 apart from the usual falling sick cases, etc.
TC: There was that bee sting incident on Tekong?
Ang: Yes, that's why we emphasize on safety. But one time it was a cadet who did not know what to do. Instead of thowing smoke and covering himself with a groundsheet, he threw smoke and cover himself with the smoke grenade inside. So he suffered allergy due to smoke inhalation. But he was ok, no lasting damage.
TC: I remember we did river crossing in Brunei and then hurried at a fast pace to a harbouring site as it was getting late and really dark. However, and surprisingly, no one sprained an ankle getting there. We slept in the open, could see stars above. At night I could hear deadfall by the perimeter and was glad you and Karu brought us to the open. The falling deadfall could have injured someone badly.
Ang: Yes, we deliberately harboured on the rdige. Deadfall is serious. An officer died because of that.
TC: My girlfriends used to ask me if NS was safe. I usually tell them...because of my D10 experience... ok lah.
Ang: It's safe. It's even better now. Lightning warning, everybody go hide in a tonner or training shed. Last time mana ada. Thunderstorm is best cover for element of surprise. We still carry on and attack.
But now no choice. We don't want unnecessary injuries.
TC: Families also have only one or two precious kids.
Ang: Same thing with handling of weapons during live firing, etc. We were very strict then and now. Same thing with driving with SAF licence, etc.
27. So you grew up in Ama Keng? Which school did you go to? (Personally I have quite a few friends from this area)
Kay Wah Primary School. I really appreciate that group of farmers and businessmen who came together to start this primary school before WWII to educate the farmers' daughters sons. Kay Wah school branch in Ama Keng was a wooden building with only six to eight classrooms. They even used the wayang stage as a classroom. Even in 1962, no light no electricty.
I think if they didn't start this school, quite a few people would have remained illiterate, stayed as farmers or odd-job worker.
For secondary education, I went to Bukit Panjang Govt High.
TC: A good school as I recall. I studied in nearby Boys Town's Assumption English
Ang: During that time schools all same. I could have gone to Hwa Chong but that was too far. Any Chinese school, so no problem.
Kay Wah had a few branches. Two in Neo Tiew, a third in Ama Keng and the main one in Thong Hoe.
TC: Maj Ang, thank you kindly for speaking with me.
Ang: My pleasure. I think it is wonderful what you are doing.
Note: Our PC Maj Ang will be spending the second year of his retirement travelling. Next year, he and a gang of friends will be in the US on a road trip to cover all the national parks. Quite an undertaking, I would imagine. We wish him a safe journey and lots of precious memories to bring home.
- The End
