Anything But Regular: Head Training Plans Branch - LTC Lim En

This week, we speak to LTC Lim En to learn more about her Army career, which includes her current appointment as Head Training Plans Branch, General Staff (Training).

What is the role of the Head Training Plans Branch?

I work on the transformation masterplan to support the training of our Next-Gen Army. This ensures that training remains operational, effective, and engaging, fostering the development of cohesive units for our complex operating environment. My team also assists in reviewing our Army's training systems and structures, devising initiatives to enhance the skills of our Trainer Corps, and managing resource allocation to enhance the Army Training System.

What are the other concurrent appointments you hold in the Army?

I was also appointed as Lead Army Servicewomen Mentor in the Army Servicewomen Office. I lead in driving initiatives to establish a nurturing environment for our servicewomen to achieve their utmost potential, strengthening the Army as an organisation. Our goal is to secure fair opportunities for servicewomen through equitable policies, inclusive infrastructure, and open communication channels.

Representing the SAF at the 2nd International Session for the Indo-Pacific (2nd Session Internationale Pour L’Indopacifique) in 2022, organised by IHEDN France.

Leadership Without Gender: Acknowledging Army's Empowerment of Servicewomen

I am deeply thankful to our Army leadership for the strong support they have provided in empowering our servicewomen in becoming leaders in the Army. They consistently remind us that there is no distinction between male and female leaders, as we all lead by example. Our leadership also provides us with the space and support needed to develop our strengths, ensuring that we never have to worry about filling someone else's shoes because we are wearing our own.

How does it feel to assume two appointments at the same time (Hd Trg Plans Br and Lead Army Servicewomen Mentor)?

I feel like I have two families in the Army, one with the training community and the other with our Army servicewomen.

Training is vital to the Army, serving as its lifeblood, and we rely on the entire training community to provide optimal training for our soldiers. My team collaborates with various stakeholders, including frontline trainers, Training Institutes and Schools, and the training hub, to deliver realistic, challenging, and safe training environment for our soldiers. Together, we harness smart technologies, data analytics, and advanced battlefield instrumentation to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of training and learning. Despite our diverse job scopes and backgrounds, we are united by a common mission and purpose: to secure the best training outcomes and experiences for our soldiers.

Organising the inaugural physical Army Servicewomen Network Seminar in 2022.

The Army Servicewomen Network was established in 2020 to ensure that we can provide our servicewomen with the support they require when facing women-specific issues and needing someone to talk to. As a mother of two young children aged 6 and 7, with another baby boy on the way, I understand the challenges of balancing military life with motherhood. Therefore, we want to let them know that they are never alone and can always ask for help when needed. Additionally, female mentors are available in every formation to lend a listening ear and support our servicewomen, as we are stronger through helping one another. We even have a chat group with our servicewomen mentors to seek advice and exchange best practices as the whole community works together to help our servicewomen as much as we can.

What is one of the most interesting plans/events you did while in your current unit?

MOU Signing with Republic Polytechnic as part of my tour in G6.

As the Head of the Training Plans Branch, we closely collaborate with Institutes of Higher Learning to broaden opportunities for advancing the skills of our Trainer Corps. In September 2023, our team worked on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Republic Polytechnic and the Ministry of Defence/Armed Forces to provide our Army personnel with opportunities for advancement in the fields of Sports Science and Coaching. This initiative aims to enhance their professional development and acquaint them with the latest training methodologies and coaching techniques derived from sports science. This collaboration enables more of our Army Warrant Officers and Specialists to acquire the knowledge and expertise necessary to deliver more effective and safer training.

What challenges have you faced when taking on this role? If any, how did you overcome them?

As this is my first staff tour in training, it took me some time to grasp the intricacies of the Training Community and how its different departments collaborate to provide operational, effective, and engaging training for the Army. Nonetheless, everyone has been exceedingly helpful and devoted, constantly investing time and energy to improve training methods and devise new initiatives. Their unwavering commitment to training inspires me to do my best, ensuring that we continue achieve optimal training outcomes for our soldiers and warfighting.

LTC Lim En and servicemen from 24 SA receiving the Best Artillery Unit Award in 2021.

What other appointments did you hold in your career, and how do you feel motivated to keep going?

I have previously served as the Commanding Officer of the 24th Battalion Singapore Artillery (24 SA), leading a unit of approximately 300 soldiers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It proved to be a challenging two-year period for the battalion. However, concealed behind the masks were expressions of resilience, resolve, and camaraderie as the soldiers of 24 SA persevered through outdoor training exercises and standby operations, fostering strong and enduring friendships along the journey. I consistently reminded our soldiers that tough times are temporary, but resilient individuals endure. Throughout the pandemic, the battalion functioned as a closely-knitted family, united in the shared mission of safeguarding our homeland, Singapore, and her people.

Then-CO, LTC Lim En inspecting the 24 SA Milestone Parade.

Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 crisis, we witnessed soldiers stepping forward to pack masks for the nation, attend to workers in foreign dormitories, engage in contact tracing, and provide medical care to those recuperating from the virus. Notably, one of our Full-Time National Servicemen (NSF), with a background in nursing, voluntarily offered assistance in caring for foreign workers. His willingness to serve beyond his designated duties deeply moved me, demonstrating a commitment to contributing to the broader community. My interactions with my young NSFs have been enriching, with them imparting valuable lessons just as I have done for them. Their dedication towards our nation's defence serves as a source of inspiration for me to perform to the best of my abilities in the Army. Each soldier under my command is someone's child, and it is my duty to provide them with comprehensive training to safeguard our nation while nurturing their potential.

Following my relinquishment of command, I was assigned to the Defence Policy Office as Deputy Director for Policy-Operational Planning and assumed leadership of the MINDEF COVID-19 Secretariat Team. This role significantly broadened my perspective, as I collaborated across ministries and agencies to formulate strategic plans and coordinate national efforts in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and COVID-19 operations during the battle against the pandemic.

What makes your job #AnythingButRegular?

The myriad roles I've undertaken and continue to hold in the Army make this profession #AnythingButRegular.

Being in the Army has allowed me to refine my leadership - being a commander, planner, manager, and strategist. Over my 17 years of service, I've rotated through at many different positions. I've also had the opportunity to participate in artillery live-firing exercises in the USA, New Zealand, and Thailand and attend courses across three continents. Each assignment has exposed me to various functional areas, including policy, plans, training, operations, human resources, and NS management, enabling me to develop my leadership abilities further.

Then-CPT Lim En as an Officer Commanding (OC)  with her soldiers for Live Firing in New Zealand with Blazer Battery in 21 SA in 2016.

During my tenure as a Commanding Officer (CO), no two days were alike in the unit. I could be conducting physical training with my soldiers on Monday, out in the field training them on Tuesday, discussing safety and the purpose of defence with them on Wednesday, leading obstacle course training on Thursday, chairing meetings and formulating plans to enhance artillery capabilities on Friday. Every day presented a challenge as I juggled numerous tasks, including training our soldiers, engaging with my battalion, directing capability development efforts for our artillery radar systems, and managing projects.I have learnt and grown as a leader by stepping out of my comfort zone.

As Head of the Training Plans Branch, my activities could range from visiting an overseas exercise in Australia to engage trainers in a week, to attending whole-of-government meetings with other ministries and organisations on inter-agency collaboration related to Army training the next.

Then-MAJ Lim En was awarded the Commandant's Writing Prize at New Zealand Defence Force Command and Staff College (NZDF CSC) in 2019.

As the Lead Army Servicewomen Mentor, I may attend servicewomen conferences in the US for one week to gain insights into how other militaries support their female soldiers' careers and conduct focus group discussions to engage our Army servicewomen or enlistees on their concerns the following week.

My various SAF appointments have allowed me to view the world through multiple lenses and perspectives. Whether in staff, training, or command roles, I have honed my ability to examine issues with a telescopic outlook and understand the long-term implications of certain trends and policies to ensure the Army and nation’s progress effectively. Simultaneously, implementing policies on the ground and leading soldiers from the front has enabled me to approach challenges with a microscopic perspective, providing critical insights to ensure smooth day-to-day operations.

LTC Lim En and her family at the 24 SA Change of Command Parade in 2021.

Most importantly, being in the Army is #AnythingButRegular because it provides me with the valuable opportunity to positively impact people's lives, protect my loved ones and my country, and serve not just any organisation but also Singapore. Our small nation has come a long way. Thus, in the Army, we must defend what we cherish - our family, our loved ones, and our way of life.

✍🏻: LCP Benjamin Tan (Army News)

📷: CPL Ryan Liew (Army News) with contributions by LTC Lim En