Some NSFs Extended Their ORD Dates to Help Fight COVID-19

Prior to COVID-19, say that you’re extending your ORD and you’ll probably get some pitiful or confused looks your way.

Wah, this siaolang so on. Must be boliao nothing to do.

I wonder if his family is struggling and can’t find outside work.

Cannot be volunteer lah. Must be some kind of punishment.

At least, that’s what goes through my head if I met anyone who extended their ORD.

But even I can’t help but salute for some who have voluntarily extended their ORD in this period. And the admiration is simple: they’re helping to fight COVID-19.

Everybody’s favourite magazine that they didn’t know they can unsubscribe from, Pioneer, posted these stories on their Facebook page.

Case 1: LTA In The Epidemiology Data Management Team

LTA Hong Wei Qin is an Air Warfare Officer (Air Defence Weapons) in the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s 163 Squadron and due to finish his full-time NS on 2 May.

He decided to show his appreciation for Singaporeans contributing to the fight against COVID-19 by joining them and applied for a two-month extension of his full-time NS.

“This COVID-19 pandemic is really spreading throughout Singapore and something has to be done,” said the 21-year-old.

His new role? Supporting contact tracing efforts in the epidemiology data management team by consolidating data.

Basically, the data that he verifies and consolidates can then be passed on to DSTA Defence Science and Technology Agency, who can then Sherlock Holmes their way to deduce where someone had actually been to.

Then, possible links and clusters are identified. Contact tracers from SAF and the Ministry of Health can contact the right people for isolation.

LTA Hong says, “I find a lot of meaning in this job. When the contact tracers contact the right people at a faster rate, they will be isolated faster. Then this virus pandemic will be shortened.”

And he’s right. Preventing the spread of the virus is the best way to fight the virus.

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Case 2: 3SG in Support Operations

In fact, this featured case isn’t just the man in the photo, 3rd Sergeant (3SG) Nicholas Khor. He extended his NS, due to complete on 5 May, by another month together with two unit mates.

(We’re guessing those two didn’t want to be featured or something, which is why they only get a mention and no photos on the post.)

The trio, all Signals specialists, had helped to set up Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) systems such as phone lines, laptops and video conferencing tools at the contact tracing centre at Mandai Hill Camp.

Must be nice to be using these tools instead of those heavy signal sets.

They would be extending and supporting in the same roles to keep crucial operations running smoothly.

Now here’s the thing: 3SG Khor was actually born in and grew up in the United States. He returned to Singapore two years ago to enlist and stayed with his grandmother in Singapore.

His reason for staying and extending? Newfound friendship and extended family in Singapore.

3SG Khor said that his unit mates went the extra mile to help him to adjust to Singapore, and brought him around during the weekends.

“I made a lot of friends (in NS), it’s been great here. I want to continue working along with my unit mates.

“Singapore is like my second home… I feel that being a part of (the operation) gives me a way to give back and protect my family.”

It’s certainly not an easy decision to extend ORD to help with COVID-19 efforts, so here’s a salute from someone who only has random words on the internet to offer.