NSF of the Year Awardee on The Key Lessons Learned During National Service

LTA (NS) Tran Ngoc Long Gary was elated when he was awarded the NSF of the Year 2020. The 23-year old Rota Commander at Central Fire Station has led his rota in many rescue and fire emergencies. One notable incident includes a Suicide Rescue Incident resulting in no casualty at Havelock Road.

“I remembered arriving at the scene when the person was seated outside the kitchen and the chance of her falling off the flat was very high. We knew that we did not have the time to wait for the appliances to arrive. So, immediately, we entered the unit and rescued the subject,” recalled LTA (NS) Gary Tran.

LTA (NS) Gary Tran cited this as one of his most memorable incidents because it helped him to realise the responsibility that frontliners have, and that every second of decision or action can save lives.

“As a Commander, every split-second counts. For me, I had to ensure that I make quick decisions on the spot and to stay calm in the midst of chaos,” LTA (NS) Gary Tran added.

LTA (NS) Gary Tran (seated on the second row; third from the left) with his colleagues from Central Fire Station Rota 1.

Besides having proven his leadership competency in completing the missions attended by his rota, LTA (NS) Gary Tran is also an Overall-in-Charge (OIC) for many administrative projects as well as training. He is also actively involved in events such as the Singapore Global Firefighters & Paramedics Challenge (SGFPC), where he was the main flagbearer for Central Fire Station at the 2019 SCDF Parade. In addition, he assisted as a translator for Vietnamese participants during the SGFPC and in turn, received a token of appreciation from the Vietnamese delegates.

LTA (NS) Gary Tan (in the middle) was a flagbearer representing Central Fire Station at the 2019 SCDF Parade.

LTA (NS) Gary Tran (third from the left) featured on the Home Team Festival 2019 poster.

“The key lessons I’ve learned during my days in National Service (NS) with the SCDF can be summarized into three points: Preparation, Adaptability, and People,” said LTA (NS) Gary Tran when asked about his key lessons learned during NS.

“In my line of work, both operational and administrative, things can be very dynamic and unpredictable. So, while it is good to be well prepared to handle different incidents, there will be times when we need to be adaptable to overcome unforeseen circumstances. Of course, in NS, it’s all about working as a team and dealing with people from all walks of life. And these are some key takeaways I have gained during my time in NS.”

LTA (NS) Gary Tran is currently pursuing online courses to gain newer knowledge as he prepares himself for his university education in the near future.