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# National Service in Singapore: A Big Change Furthermore, life in the military was unfamiliar to the majority of Singaporeans. Before National Service (NS) was introduced, only a small number had experienced military life as regulars or as part-time volunteers with the colonial forces. Among them w...

# National Service in Singapore: A Big Change Furthermore, life in the military was unfamiliar to the majority of Singaporeans. Before National Service (NS) was introduced, only a small number had experienced military life as regulars or as part-time volunteers with the colonial forces. Among them was Winston Choo, who became Singapore's first Chief of Defence Force. For many of the conscripted men, NS was a big change and they had to adapt to the disciplined lifestyle of the military. Training was physically tough, and they had to manage their anxieties being away from their homes and families. In turn, many families were anxious about the well-being of their sons when they were conscripted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). ## Who Was Winston Choo? Winston Choo was a soldier in Singapore and became a lieutenant in the military. He fought in the Konfrontasi, which was an armed conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia. He served in the SAF and was part of the Singapore Armed Forces' history.