Breaking barriers, Captain Yap reflects on her challenging journey to become the first woman to graduate from Singapore’s toughest military course.
Captain Yap Hui Jun has made history by becoming the first woman to graduate from the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) Ranger Course, known as the toughest small-unit leadership course in the SAF. Despite weighing only 55kg, Captain Yap displayed immense physical and mental resilience, carrying a casualty 15kg heavier than herself during one of the course’s most challenging missions. This effort was part of her 65-day Ranger Course experience, which focuses on honing small-unit leadership and developing toughness in a simulated combat environment.
The course is notoriously grueling, requiring trainees to endure intense conditions, including limited food rations and just a few hours of sleep each day. Captain Yap, a platoon commander in the Intelligence Officer Cadet Course, initially struggled in the course’s second phase in 2022, especially with planning and tactics. However, her determination led to a successful second attempt, where she triumphed over physical and mental barriers, making history in the process.
The Ranger Course spans three phases: skills-based training, field exercises with back-to-back sea missions, and endurance-building air-based missions. Despite the physical demands, Captain Yap emphasized the mental toughness required, as one cannot simulate combat conditions outside the course.
Captain Yap now hopes to inspire more women to take on the course, stating that it’s about personal growth and self-discovery. With the Ranger tab proudly displayed on her sleeve, she looks forward to applying the lessons learned to her future leadership roles and continuing to uphold the standards of a Ranger.
