Counter-terrorism training to go on
Defence Minister assures parents such tough training not for normal full-time national service
The regular serviceman who drowned last June was being trained to stop terrorists at sea - the most demanding job in the Special Operations Forces.
His training was not for any ordinary soldier, and had to be tough and realistic as he could be called upon to re-take a passenger liner with thousands of people on board or a chemical tanker heading for the port, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean told reporters yesterday at a community event in Pasir Ris.
Second Sergeant Ong Jia Hui, 24, drowned while learning to board a ship using a pole and a ladder in waters off Changi Naval Base, with about 10kg of equipment strapped to his body.
Mr Teo assured parents this sort of training was "not what we expect people to do in normal, full-time national service training."
"Even well-trained soldiers are not able to do the things we expect these special force people to do."
He paid tribute to 2nd Sgt Ong - and men like him - who volunteer for the SOF. “They are prepared to put their lives on the line to protect our lives, and they know that at any time they can be called upon to do that.”
The minister made it clear the system of safety precautions was "adequate", but one thing to do is "reinforce" the message that people must carry out their duties properly.
Those who fail in their duties will have to answer for it, he said.
State Coroner Tan Boon Heng's verdict last week blasted four instructors for their lack of vigilance and found them responsible for negligence.
Master Sergeants Julian Tan, 32, and Tan Kang Choon, 33, First Warrant Officer Ho Yin Choy, 43, and Staff Sergeant Alex Chan, 28, face possible criminal charges.
They were less than 10m away from 2nd Sgt Ong during the incident, but failed to notice that he had disappeared under the waves until a headcount later. He was found lying 9m underwater on the seabed.
The coroner's report revealed other shortcomings: His recently serviced list vest was damaged, although it had not been activated and "did not contribute to his drowning."
No medical officer was on standby because no one had informed the base medical centre of the training.
2nd Sgt Ong was rushed to Changi General Hospital about 15 minutes away. He died less than an hour later.
Giving his comments after the coroner's verdict, Mr Teo said the tough training will continue. This includes carrying the weapons and equipment which some lifeguards say are too heavy for even the best swimmers, but which Mr Teo said was "not unusual" for counter-terrorism missions.
2nd Sgt Ong was wearing a bulletproof vest, a diving mask, diving boots and flippers, and carrying a pistol, an MP-5 submachine gun and a foldable ladder.
Mr Teo said the SAF has a stringent process to pick the toughest people for the course. The trainees also prepare themselves first by swimming long distances and practising in the pool before trying to board a ship at sea.
But injuries and deaths can still happen "even with the best of precautions," he said.
He acknowledged the incident was "bound to affect" the troops' morale.
He added: "It is important for the people in the team to know that they continue to have public support for the very important work that they do."
Source: THE STRAITS TIMES TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2005
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