Being a Foreigner in the Singapore Army

Meet Artem. He was born in Russia, spent 7 of his teenage years in the US, and is now living in Singapore. Shortly after moving here, he started his National Service. Artem shared his adventurous experience of getting lost in the jungles of Brunei, his unique perspective as an "ang mo" in NS, and the striking differences between life in America and Singapore. Enjoy!

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 INTRO
00:29 Foreigner in the Singapore Army
04:02 The most challenging experience
06:51 Benefits of National Service
07:27 The US vs Singapore
09:43 Comparing Russia, Singapore and the US
11:41 Artem's life principle
12:29 Blitz poll

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[MaxChernov]

What’s your best memories from the Army?

[rxotmfrxotmf]

Artem, Thank you for serving with your heart in National Service. You qualify to be a true Singaporean, regardless of your race, language, or place of birth. You can consider Singapore your home. From another NS man.

[grant-music]

Served with Artem in SCS (Specialist Cadet School) – nice to see him again in this interview! Now I'm the one living in the US, making the comparisons between the States and Singapore.

[AppleMacGeek]

It's impressive that Artem committed to serving NS for the entire full-time stint. And maybe for the next 20+ years. Since he has served NS, regardless of where he was born, what his background was, what he looks like, his skill with Singlish or even English, he is one of us and I welcome him to our shores as a citizen if he isn't already one. I say this as a male Singapore citizen who served NS 40+ years ago and old enough to have retired from even the reserves 20+ years ago. We need more people like him as Singaporeans. Again, welcome. My unit was HQ 3 SIB and 2 SIR was one of our subunits.

[arsenal_]

This is a thinking solider ! Sometimes is easier to work on each individual level strengths rather than weakness.

[liew]

Thank you for your service alongside the rest of us ! ❤️❤️❤️

[ianstreet]

I like Artem's story; I am an 'Others' Singaporean, my father is white and my mother is Indian. I went to secondary school in England and returned to SG to do BMT in 1991 (Camp 3 in ITD in Tekong). Even then, I knew an ang mo in the police and I knew of an ang mo in the navy. I went from BMT to OCS and whilst I look entirely Indian, my name and accent made me quite different from everyone else. I was treated entirely the same as everyone else in both places - when I did well, I got praised and when I fucked up I kena tekan.
Artem is right that NS is something worth taking seriously if you're going to do it. The opportunities to learn about yourself and how to work as a team are worth their weight in gold.
However, I believe NSF do not need to be patronised by ministers that what they are doing is a 'privilege'; being a politician is more of a privilege yet they insist that NSF be paid a pittance, whilst they take home golden armfuls of salary each month. Much of Singapore's international reputation as a safe place to harbour money comes from the deterrence provided by the SAF and the citizen army that is its backbone, yet there is little recognition of it apart from the odd store promotion or some token SAFRA membership.

[homr]

If you served ns, you are part of us.

[cheec]

Not easy to pull through as a Singaporean, I think much more tougher as a foreigner.. proud of you!

[tongfattho]

Wow, he could deep dive into the details on military exercises. He has become one of us.

[reddevilparatrooper]

Very outstanding experience from your perspective. I'm from the US and spent 23 years in the US Army as an Airborne Infantryman or Paratrooper, regular infantry, tank commander and back to infantry. I did serve in operational combat for the Panama Invasion of 1989-90 and Iraq in 2006-08. What I am impressed from your experience that you have assimilated well into a different culture beyond from where you were born in. I was born in the Philippines and came to the US at 3 years old and grew up American. Honestly I became more American than ever.

[kokkiongang]

Thanks for the video!
Respect your participation in national service bro..!!!! Agree that many Singaporean live in a bubble, we should go out to see the world

[Coachchuateckguan]

Thank you for serving, from a local Singaporean. Majulah singapura!

[christhong]

Our friend may be Russian and have lived in the USA for longer - but I think it's safe that there's a little part of his heart that is now Singaporean. We love you too, Bro.

[pingdragonify]

At 4:15, I am pretty sure he meant 2 SIR (2nd Singapore Infantry Regiment) not Singapore Armoured Regiment (armoured tank regiment). You might be confused coz 2 SIR is considered as a motorized infantry unit, as they ride terrex ICV to battle, but it is still under the infantry banner.

His graduation photos show that he's wearing a green beret and the infantry logo on his No.1 (parade uniform) collar seen at 0:15. If he was from the armoured regiment, he would be wearing a black beret and the armoured logo would be a gauntlet instead. Also, for overseas exercise iirc, armoured NSF regiments do not go to Brunei, they either go to Munich or Aus, but I definitely know that infantry units goes to Brunei for their summax on their end of 1st year.

I was from 5 SIR, a sister regiment to 2 SIR.

[parryyeo]

All the way!! He is definitely one of our bros ..

[eammm]

The Russian guy is really clever. Seldom one can listen to such real wisdom based on unique perceptions and life experiences. He has a balanced core and a strength that makes him the 'captain who steers the boat of life' unlike most other humans who are living a 'reactive' life, without inner strength always reacting to outer influences competing for worldly advantages.

[cylee]

You served with us… you’re my brother❤

[voolforyou]

He made an interesting point about independence and Singapore. My cousins raising kids in Singapore said they only felt like a real adult when they were in the 40s because they still depended so much on their parents for help raising their kids and with other matters.

[mikey]

i think he mentioned a very valid point.. NS really is life-changing in a sense.. it does benefit those who served.. it does makes you a better person. MR MAX, bring him back for part 2.. and talk about his life here in singapore