young talent — sCDF
life on the line
LTA Mohammad Sayraz Khan has a burning passion for saving lives
This is a true story of how an obese recruit overcame the odds to become a top firefighter. LTA Mohammad Sayraz Khan tells Frontline why he puts his life on the line to keep us safe. What do you do in the SCDF? I’m currently a Rota Commander at the Fire and Rescue Training Centre, Civil Defence Academy. Here I train a platoon of around 30 recruits to be firefighters at our fire stations. I’m also the Course Administrator of the 50th Fire Fighter Course, where I plan and manage the training of 140 trainees. What drives you to excel in what you do? During my PTP phase as an obese recruit, my instructors motivated me to train hard. I lost 18kg and was selected to join the 5th Section Commander Course. I eventually got the “Best in Practical” award and achieved Silver in IPPT. When I was posted to Changi Fire Station as a Section Commander, I responded to fire and rescue incidents, and this made me realise the importance of SCDF in times of crisis. Then I was selected to cross over to the 4th Rota Commander Course, where I managed to achieve IPPT Gold and graduate as a Senior Officer.
Any advice for aspiring firefighters? Be fit in both body and mind. This is a job that demands both physical and mental strength – you’ll be entering a burning building when everyone else is getting out of it! Have passion in your work and realise that lives are at stake in every operation, every day.
LTA Mohammad Sayraz Khan Amiruddin Age 23 Appointment Rota Commander, Civil Defence Academy, SCDF Specialties Fire and rescue training, course management Achievements • Awarded Best in Practical in the 5th Section Commander Course • Awarded SCDF Service Excellence Award in 2012
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WORDS JEFFREY KONG PHOTOs long fei/t2 pictures
What’s next in your career? I have a Higher Nitec in Mechanical Engineering, but I know a better qualification is important if I want to be a regular Senior Officer in the SCDF. So I got a place in Singapore Polytechnic to do a diploma in Aerospace Engineering, and I’m glad to have done well enough to go straight into the second year of the course.