Our Trainers, Our Pride: Driven to Deliver Value

Our Trainers, Our Pride profiles outstanding Home Team trainers, a key force behind our ability to keep Singapore safe and secure.

PHOTO: Joash Tan

“It does not matter if you’re introverted. What matters is your drive and the value you add to your trainees,” said Chief Warder (CW) Wai Fook Choy, Senior Trainer, Singapore Prisons Emergency Action Response (SPEAR) Force, Singapore Prison Service (SPS), recipient of the HT Trainer of the Year (Special Commendation) award.

Having been a Senior Trainer for only two years, winning this award was an affirmation for CW Wai – not just professionally but more importantly, it marked a triumphant journey of personal-mastery.  

Mind Over Matter
The self-proclaimed introvert was initially plagued with doubts about his ability to speak in front of an audience, and train a team of individuals who already possessed tactical skills. This, despite having a wealth of experience from serving in SPS for 20 years, over half of which was spent in the elite SPEAR force.

“I couldn’t have imagined myself as a trainer; I was quite reserved. I was asked by different head trainers a few times to take on this training role over the years. But I felt that I was not ready until recently. I decided that if I didn’t try now, I would never know,” CW Wai shared.

It was a decision that paid off. CW Wai transcended his fear of public speaking by keeping the needs of his trainees at the forefront of his priorities. 

He also credits the Home Team Academy (HTA)’s UP-SCALE course for introducing different advanced tools and instructional methods that help trainers conduct training.

Brains and Brawns
Driven by his determination to “add more value” to enhance trainees’ knowledge, CW Wai crafts training packages that anticipate novel threats, taking into consideration the possible scenarios faced, size of the force, equipment, weapons and terrain.

Fook Choy inspecting his FN303 Less Lethal Launcher. PHOTO: Joash Tan

“A trainer needs to be one step ahead of the possible scenarios,” he explained. “We need to make use of our skills to navigate future potential threats.”

This is where experience and domain knowledge play important roles in designing the training packages – CW Wai dug deep into his own past experience in various roles in SPEAR Force.

His secret to being an effective trainer?

“It is good to be able to look ahead and break down complicated issues in simple ways when we deliver our training,” said CW Wai humbly.

Home Team Training Excellence (TRaX) Awards
The Home Team TRaX Awards are given out annually by the Home Team Academy (HTA) and recognise outstanding Trainers and Training Units in the Home Team’s Training and Learning Community. Follow HTA’s LinkedIn page for the latest Home Team Training and Learning updates!