Tiger Hong Celebrate 40 Years Of National Service
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The Singapore Armed Forces celebrates 40 years of National Service (NS) this year.
NS is a rite of passage for many young men in Singapore.
But one family's NS experience runs deeper than any other.
Retired Captain Hong Seng Mak and his grandson share a special bond.
Their family is one of the very few in Singapore with three generations of men who have served National Service in the SAF.
Captain Hong, his three sons and grandson Edgar have all completed their National Service.
And Captain Hong himself is a legend as he was a strict disciplinarian when he was a Company Sergeant Major and a Regimental Sergeant Major at the SAFTI training grounds.
Those stints earned him the nickname that has sent shivers down many spines.
The nickname given to him by the first batch of officer-cadets was "Tiger Hong".
The retired captain said: "I was very firm because as a RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) I looked after discipline so things had to be carried out punctually and perfectly..."
"Tiger Hong" joined the military in 1957 as a company clerk and quickly moved up the ranks.
On 9 August, 1965, he was commissioned as a Warrant Officer by Singapore's first President, Yusof Ishak.
But his proudest moment in his 30-year career came when he presided as RSM during his brigade's trooping of colours at the Padang in the 1970s.
Trooping of colours is a military tradition where the unit colours or flags are shown in a parade to celebrate the unit's anniversary.
Since then, "Tiger Hong" said no other brigade or unit has done the same at the Padang.
A parade was even held to honour the man when he retired as captain.
"Tiger Hong" said NSmen these days are better educated than before, like his grandson Edgar who is a polytechnic graduate.
Edgar completed his NS about two years ago and he said it was a positive experience for him because of the friends he had made during his NS days.
But no one knew of his famous grandfather until "Tiger Hong" visited Edgar during his Basic Military Training.
"After the visit, my CSM (Company Sergeant Major) told me stories about how fierce my grandpa used to be, how respected he is and how well they needed to maintain and behave on the parade square," said Edgar.
Even today, stories about "Tiger Hong" circulate among NSmen and have become part of the NS experience.
To learn more about the man himself and about 40 years of National Service, members of public can attend an exhibition at Ngee Ann City on 12 April. -
how cum WO becum captain?
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Old system.Originally posted by Ferguson:how cum WO becum captain?
SWO can convert to officer status. -
SWO = major maOriginally posted by mhcampboy:Old system.
SWO can convert to officer status. -
last time mah...Originally posted by Ferguson:SWO = major ma
last time CO's used to be maj ranks... -
Originally posted by mhcampboy:last time mah...
last time CO's used to be maj ranks...
ok -
*salutes*
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for your reference..Originally posted by Ferguson: ok
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=201858&page=0 -
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my father remembers him!
says he's a terror last time.. -
If he's still in SAF, you're in troubleOriginally posted by stellazio:my father remembers him!
says he's a terror last time.. -
tiger hong.... wtf.. can he play golf well?
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dun fool around. respect the old man.Originally posted by Pitot:tiger hong.... wtf.. can he play golf well? -
*salutes*
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then its good that hes goneOriginally posted by stellazio:my father remembers him!
says he's a terror last time..