‘I wanted to stretch my limits’: How an SAF captain became the first woman to complete the Ranger course

SINGAPORE: Back-to-back missions over multiple weeks. A 5km combat evacuation simulation. A coastal swim.

These are just some parts of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) notoriously gruelling Ranger course, where it is common for soldiers to drop out several times before passing – if they can do so at all.

It took two tries for Captain Yap Hui Jun, who made history by becoming the first woman to complete the course, which was introduced in 1978 and entered its 50th edition this year.

The 27-year-old, who is currently an Intelligence Officer Cadet Course platoon commander, told the media on Tuesday (Oct 24) that she was keen to challenge herself despite knowing it was already rare for non-Commandos to take the course, let alone women.

“I thought the Ranger course was the toughest course in the SAF, and I wanted to see how far I could go and stretch my limits,” she said.

“As the first female, it’s definitely an accomplishment as well as an achievement to many people, but it’s not the main reason why I decided to attend,” she added.

CPT Yap described it as “a good course to discover yourself” and said that she learned a lot in terms of leadership and values.

CPT Yap’s accomplishment first came to light last week when Chief of Army Major-General David Neo wrote about it in a LinkedIn post, saying he was “immensely proud” of what she had done.

The Ranger course is one of the toughest small-unit leadership courses in the SAF, requiring trainees to first undergo a three-week preparatory fitness conditioning programme and a selection test.

While all Commando regulars must go through the Ranger course, it is voluntary for anyone else in the SAF. It aims to hone small-unit warfighting leadership qualities, as well as develop physical and mental toughness in soldiers capable of leading a detachment during operations.

Trainees are placed in a physically and mentally demanding training environment – being deprived of sleep and food – in order to simulate a realistic combat environment.

Aside from CPT Yap, another female soldier had attempted to join the course this year but failed the selection test. The last woman who went through the course did so in 2019.

PREPARATORY PROGRAMME AND SELECTION TEST

During the preparatory fitness conditioning programme, prospective trainees have to complete combat marches of between 4km and 6km while carrying a 20kg field pack, among other requirements.

Then comes the selection test conducted by the Special Forces Leadership School at Pasir Ris Camp, which includes another 8km combat march to be completed within 100 minutes.

Trainees also have to pass a water confidence test comprising a 50m swim in uniform and boots, a 5m confidence jump into the water with a dummy weapon, and the quick removal of combat equipment and weapons underwater.

Pass all this, and the real hell starts.

The Ranger course spans 65 days over three phases. Between the phases, trainees get breaks of a few hours each where they can spend brief periods with their loved ones, eat what they want or stock up on supplies at the Beach Road Army Market.

In the first phase, trainees are tested on their skill-based training competencies. This includes components like boat training, a coastal swim, weapons training, demolition, rappelling and a combat march.

In the second phase, they participate in field training exercises, pulling off back-to-back missions over 20 days.

They then travel overseas to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Australia for the third phase, where they complete more field training exercises over a longer duration – 25 days – and distance.

MENTALLY TOUGH

For all the emphasis on how physically tough the Ranger course is, CPT Yap said it was the mental aspects that were difficult to prepare for.

She first learned about the Ranger course through her school sergeant major, who was from the Commandos, when she was going through the Intelligence Officer Cadet Course herself.

“He would share his experiences about (the) Ranger course and I was like, okay, something that is very tough but also interesting at the same time,” CPT Yap said.

“But it didn’t really (go through) my mind back then because I thought it’s quite rare for a female as well as an external – which is non-Commando – to join a Ranger course, so it was (at the) back of my mind.”

Later, her company sergeant major also shared more about his experience and asked her if she wanted to join. With the support of her bosses, she decided to take the leap.

Describing herself as a “very adventurous person”, she gave a few reasons why she made that decision.

One was the desire to challenge herself, which was also why she signed on as an SAF regular after completing junior college.

While her family was initially apprehensive, she said they realised how determined she was to join the Ranger course and eventually gave her their support.

CPT Yap’s first attempt at the Ranger course last year was more challenging, simply because she had no idea what was in store for her. She ended up dropping out during the second phase.

“There’s no way you can really prep for it mentally. (The) physical portion, sure, you can just ramp yourself up, but the mental portion ... I think no one will be able to simulate such conditions,” she added.

She noted how the course is meant to simulate combat where soldiers do not get to sleep or eat much. 

She pointed out: “As a normal person, if you’re able to get three meals a day, why would you shortchange yourself (by) having one meal a day? ... If you can sleep maybe seven, eight hours a day, why would you sleep three, four hours a day to torture yourself basically?”

Not wanting to disappoint her family, friends and bosses, CPT Yap decided to try again.

“They really put in a lot of effort for me to come for this course – especially my colleagues back in my camp, they are doing my job – so it’s not very nice for me to return without a (Ranger) tab,” she said.

Before her second attempt, she made more preparations in terms of planning and better familiarised herself with how small units in the SAF work.

When asked what were the biggest challenges, CPT Yap recounted how she was a machine gunner during their last mission. This meant she had to carry a 15kg machine gun on her shoulder – something that she does not do as a reconnaissance soldier.

Another mission also stood out, where they had to extract a casualty and get to a safe spot. Without much time to think or rest, the trainees organised themselves and CPT Yap had to carry someone 15kg heavier than her.

At the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, they also underwent 10 consecutive days of outfield training, which she had never experienced up to that point.

During tough moments, she thought about how much her loved ones had done for her before she went for the course. The key was also to have a positive mindset and be a team player, she said.

“Always expect the unexpected during the course. And just try your best. You look left, look right, everybody is going through the same thing as you. That’s what keeps one going throughout the course,” she added.

“HONOURED AND HUMBLED”

In terms of being the first female Ranger, CPT Yap said she “felt honoured and humbled”, but stressed that it was not the main reason why she joined the course.

“It’s not to prove that I’m the first female to pass the course, saying that females are better than males or whatever. It’s not trying to break any gender equality barriers here,” she added.

“It’s also part of why I signed on – I take it as a challenge and (experienced) self-discovery along the way – but definitely being the first female to pass the course is also something to celebrate.

“I hope this will also encourage more females to sign on or even attempt the Ranger course.”