The sea is in their blood

There's something about military missions that is truly inspiring.

After all, that's what motivated siblings Major (MAJ) Josephine Ang and Military Expert (ME) 2 Joseph Ang to join the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

The video that changed MAJ Ang's life was seeing the Navy's response to the 2004 Tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, which she watched during a recruitment talk at Central Manpower Base in 2005.

Deeply moved by the Navy's disaster relief efforts, she knew in that instant that she wanted to join the force.

MAJ Ang enlisted for Basic Military Training (BMT) on 3 Jan 2006 and has never looked back. The 39-year-old is now Head of Manpower Branch in the Naval Diving Unit.

Similarly, her younger brother ME2 Ang, 32, was inspired to join the Navy after watching what MAJ Ang and her colleagues did as part of Operation Blue Sapphire (OBS), in a video during her homecoming ceremony from the Gulf of Aden in 2011.

The operation was part of the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) contributions to multinational counter-piracy efforts in the region.

He signed on three years later, and is now the Weapon Systems Supervisor of Littoral Mission Vessel RSS Justice.

Similarly, ME6 Phang Chun Yang was inspired by stories of what his older brother – Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Phang Chun Chieh, who signed on in 2002 – went through in the Navy.

The younger sibling wanted the same for himself and signed on with the RSN during his Officer Cadet School (OCS) days in 2006.

LTC Phang, 41, is currently the Commanding Officer (CO) of Invincible – the RSN's first Invincible-class submarine – while ME6 Phang, 37, is Head of Future Concepts and Transformation in the Naval Plans Department.

Find out how the Phangs and Angs make it work as an extended family in the RSN!

MAJ Ang and ME2 Ang, why did these RSN missions and operations inspire you both so much?

Josephine: Watching the Navy's response to the 2004 tsunami, I was deeply inspired by the Navy's rapid response, the critical assistance provided and the profound impact of their outreach.

I was also moved by the sight of sailors distributing aid, comforting the affected and restoring hope in the face of unimaginable devastation.

As I watched, a spark ignited within me. I felt an overwhelming desire to be part of this noble mission, to make a difference and serve something greater than myself.

Joseph: Watching my sister go through BMT and OCS was inspiring. Her commitment to training and excellence is something that etched deep in my mind.

When she came back from OBS, I was so proud of everything she achieved. My interest in the Navy was further piqued when I watched the video of their counter-piracy operations – the speed with which it was conducted and the assistance they rendered impressed me. So I wanted a taste of that too.

So how did MAJ Ang and LTC Phang meet? Was it love at first sight?

Chun Chieh: No it wasn't! (laughs) The first time we met was in July 2007 at the Tuas Naval Base canteen!

I was buying drinks at the fruits drink stall and she was in the canteen. We were introduced by a common friend as he knew Josephine and I were enrolled in the same Watchkeeping and Navigation Course that would take place in a month's time.

Josephine: Actually, I knew Chun Yang first 'cos we were in Midshipman Course (MIDS) around the same time – I was in the 56th batch while he was in the 57th – so we interacted quite a bit. When the friend introduced us, he said Chun Chieh was Chun Yang's brother. That was how I remembered him.

Chun Chieh: During the Watchkeeping and Navigation Course, we did several projects together. After the course, we went on a trip together with eight other course mates. I got to know her even better and we became a couple after that.

Josephine: To be honest, I think our course mates were quite taken aback by the news. 'Cos throughout the course, we were just buddies. Something changed during that trip and when we announced that we were together, most of our friends thought we were joking. (laughs)

As a Navy couple, I heard that the longest you were away from each other was three years?

Chun Chieh: When I was selected to be the CO of the second batch of crew deployed to train on the new Invincible-class submarines, we had decide whether to bring our family to Kiel, Germany, for two years or if it would just be me who goes. [Editor's note: He was in Kiel from July 2021 to June 2023.]

She understood the nature and demands of a CO's work, and supported what I was doing. That's the benefit of having your family working in the same place as you.

Josephine: On that same note, I want to say that he sacrificed also, 'cos he understood what I wanted to do in the Navy and why I didn't agree to take a break from work and bring the boys up to be with him.

Did you resent each other for this decision at any point in time during the separation?

Chun Chieh: Nope 'cos we both agreed to the decision. It was only when things were in motion that it got difficult – I missed my family when I was there and she was handling the boys all alone in Singapore.

I kept her updated of what I was doing all the time, and they flew to Germany in December 2022 to witness the launch of submarines Impeccable and Illustrious.

That was when she finally saw what we were doing. The journey may have been tough but the validation from her was very sweet.

Apart from understanding each other's sacrifices, are there other benefits from having family in the same Service?

Chun Yang: Being in the same organisation helps us to better understand the challenges at work and mutually support each other when needed.

For instance, when I was the CO of an engineering centre and my guys had some questions about their route of advancement, I was able to call Josephine as she was in Manpower and Human Resource at that time.

She was able to give me the answers I needed quickly and could also understand what my guys were facing, so her explanation (which I conveyed) greatly helped them.

Have you ever gone on any overseas exercises or deployments together?

Josephine: Back in 2010, Chun Chieh and I took part in Exercise Pacific Reach, which is a multi-national submarine rescue exercise.

It was a rare opportunity for him to be on my ship and for me to see what he was doing and understand how a submarine rescue operation is being carried out.

[Ed's note: She was the Navigating Officer of landing ship tank RSS Endeavour, while he was part of the exercise planning staff on board ship.]

It was important to me 'cos every time he sails, I tend to worry a little so it was reassuring to see what he was doing. I was also really excited and proud to be working on the exercise together with him!

Do you talk about work at home?

Chun Chieh: As a Navy couple, it's impossible to separate work from home completely. Along the way, we figured that it (doing otherwise) was going be unhealthy for the relationship.

So we made it a point to respect each other's professional boundaries, and learn to empathise but not be involved or get too affected by what goes on in each other's work.

Josephine: But I do think we do talk about work too much at home. I only realised it when our boys started to ask me what is the meaning of coxswain, vocation etc... (laughs)

Chun Chieh: That's deliberate. We're doing passive recruitment for the Navy at home! (chuckles)

Finally, what do you all like about your jobs? What is it about the Navy that keeps you going?

Chun Chieh: I love submarining! I'm proud that as submariners, we are masters of our craft, and that we accomplish things that many cannot. I also love that our Navy is about "Our People". I think our camaraderie and commitment towards each other is something unique and difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Chun Yang: The element of team spirit is very strong in the Navy – we always seek to bring everyone along to achieve success together. I've had very supportive colleagues and understanding bosses at work throughout my time in the Navy.

To me, this is what distinguishes us from a corporate company – the spirit of togetherness and working towards a mission larger than self.

Josephine: As I now focus on ensuring the well-being and success of our people, I am heartened by the knowledge that my efforts enable them to excel in their duties.

I may not be sailing the seas but I'm proud to be safeguarding the people who are and that brings me a sense of purpose and fulfilment.

Joseph: The daily challenges is something that always keeps the fire within burning. There is always something new to learn and also to teach! As military experts, other than becoming competent, we also aim to be able to guide and teach the juniors on board.

The realistic training we receive keeps us prepared for challenges, and our fellow sailors remind us that we are not facing these alone. Knowing that we always have each other's back is what keeps me going.