In the service of the country Five Singapore Armed Forces overseas scholars have their sights set on careers that are challenging and fulfilling By GERALDINE TAN MR WU Jianmin admits that he had applied for the Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholarship (Safos) without much knowledge of what life in the military was like. Six months in the army quickly changed that. Says Mr Wu, 20: "I developed a passion for the work we do and recognised the opportunities for self-improvement and character building." The Cornell University chemical engineering student adds: "In the end, I chose the scholarship because it was a chance to do what I like and yet make a difference." His counterpart and President's Scholar Hong Wenxian shares the same desire to do his bit for Singapore. The 20-year-old, who is studying mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, says: "I felt that I had a stake in the future of Singapore, and the scholarship was one way for me to do my part. "As an officer in the SAF, I will gain a better understanding of the entire spectrum of society. I picked the Safos because I believe I would turn out a better leader and better person." For two other Safos scholars Edwin Chua and Ren Jinfeng, both materials science students at London's Imperial College, the scholarship was their ticket to learn from the best at one of the world's top-rated engineering faculties. Says Mr Ren, 22: "I chose this course because it requires more inter-disciplinary knowledge, and the subject - about fundamental understanding of materials and the innovation of new and better ones - appeals to me." Twenty-year-old Mr Chua says the course is fuelling his fascination with biomaterials: "I am particularly interested in ideas such as how the United States military is looking to deer antlers for ideas on how to strengthen their Kevlar vests." Technical knowledge aside, the Safos scholars agree that university life now, in tandem with what they learn at the SAF, will equip them with tools for life. "Engineering exposes one to problem solving and thinking skills," says Mr Wu. Stanford University political science undergraduate Bertram Ang, another President's Scholar, adds: "Education here requires a lot of interaction with people. It also emphasises looking at things from different perspectives, which is useful when it comes to troubleshooting and problem solving. These are important skills in any organisation, especially in the SAF." As with any student living abroad, all five thrive on the rigorous academic environments and work hard at scoring top marks. At the same time they are broadening their horizons - exploring new hobbies and extra-curricular activities, bonding within the close-knit Singaporean community and with new people on campus, and travel-ling widely. Homesickness, if any, is quickly forgotten because university life has so much to offer. Mr Chua says: "I don't really feel homesick, what with there being loads of new experiences. Everything is a highlight!" And just as they chalk up distinctive experiences while at university, the varied posts the SAF has in store for them hold endless challenges and possibilities. All five are certain that the skills picked up within the unique organisation will serve them well, wherever life may take them. Mr Ren explains: "The highly volatile political and security environment requires the SAF to be sensitive and responsive towards changes. Hence, it is necessary to develop such skills as leadership, communication and management." Mr Ang adds: "We pick up important skills in the military, for example, interacting with and leading people from diverse back-grounds and organisations. Because challenges await at every turn, the armed forces produce people who are adaptable, nimble and versa-tile, the scholars concur. Mr Wu says: "Officers in the Government are well exposed to opportunities that will hone generic skills such as people management and problem solving, as well as traits like leader-ship, responsibility and adaptability." So those who have devoted their lives to serving the nation are in no way less well equipped than their private sector counterparts, they reason. Mr Ang sums it up: "While we do not get private sector exposure, we pick up skills which are highly relevant and useful, effectively giving us the best of both worlds." Eager to plunge into their careers, the five scholars are looking forward to applying the valuable lessons learnt from university, as well as learning more and passing the knowledge on to others. Says Mr Hong: "As much as the scholarship is leaving its mark on my life, I wish to make a positive difference on the lives of those I lead as well."