Shirley Ng (2WO)

Shirley Ng (born 1978), is a Singaporean female warrant officer under the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). She is the first and only female member of the SAF Parachute Team, also known as the Red Lions.[1][2]

Shirley Ng
Shirley Ng.jpg
Born1978
EducationGCE Ordinary Level

Background

As of 2020, Shirley Ng is a Second Warrant Officer (2WO) in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). In 2014, it was reported that she has achieved over 280 free fall jumps, as well as obtained the title of SAF Master Rigger.[3] She holds a GCE O Level certificate.[4]

Singapore Armed Forces - Rigger, SOTSC

 
Shirley Ng pictured in 2013 with a parachute pack. Photo from The Straits Times.

2WO Shirley joined the Singapore Armed Forces in 1998, at the age of 20 years old.[5][6] She worked as a rigger in the Aerial Delivery Wing of the Special Operations Tactical Support Centre (SOTSC), where she had to pack and maintain parachutes for Singapore's elite Commando unit.[7][8] Her roles and responsibilities include conducting safety inspections at each stage of the parachute packing process to ensure optimum safety standards for the soldiers. She took her first free fall jump in 1999 with the first parachute she packed as a certified rigger.[9] In 2006, Shirley Ng completed a month-long free fall course and has since also trained in the United States of America.[10]

SAF Parachute Team (Red Lions)

In 2010, a wrist injury from a parachuting accident left Shirley Ng inactive for six months.[11] However, she was eventually selected to be part of the SAF Parachute Team in 2012, being the only female parachuter in a team that has mostly been filled with commandos.[12] That same year, she participated at the World Parachuting Championships in Dubai as a part of the Red Lions team.[13] At the time, she reportedly weighed 54kg and had to handle a 15kg parachute pack.[14] She kept pace with male members of the team by running five kilometres twice a week, in addition to her usual fitness regimen.

Debut - National Day Parade 2014

 
Shirley Ng pictured after her successful landing at NDP 2014. Photo from Facebook.

In 2013, Shirley Ng was supposed to make her debut with the Red Lions during the annual National Day Parade. However, the free fall jump was cancelled due to inclement weather.[15] Instead, she made her debut as a Red Lion during the 2014 National Day Parade celebration where she landed at the Marina Bay floating platform.[16][17] Having experienced the crowd reaction when it came time for her to land, she was quoted as having said the following:

“...you can actually hear the crowd cheering, people shouting your name, the emcee talking about you...it’s great.”[18]

In 2015 and 2016, the Red Lions did not make their appearance at the National Day Parades due to inclement weather at the Padang[19] and for safety reasons at the National Stadium respectively.[20] From 2017 to 2019, 2WO Shirley did not appear in the Red Lions team during the annual National Day Parade celebrations.[21][22][23]

Return - National Day Parade 2020

 
2WO Shirley Ng (pictured first from right) with the rest of the Red Lions team in 2020. Photo credit to Gin Tay/ ST PHOTO.

Shirley Ng returned as a part of the Red Lions in 2020. This time, however, she will be landing in the heartlands of Singapore.[24][25] The Red Lions team will be jumping and landing at open fields in two teams of six near Sengkang and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital as a tribute to the healthcare workers of Singapore who have dedicated the majority of their year to the fight against COVID-19.[26] Speaking about the interaction with the crowds at an NDP rehearsal in 2020, 2WO Shirley said:

“It has been a surprise that the residents here, as we land, they are cheering for us, waving to us from their windows and balconies, so it’s very heartwarming (to see).”[27]

Media appearances

Over the years, 2WO Shirley Ng has been featured across various forms of media due to her special position as the first and only female Red Lion in Singapore's history. The following is a list of her media appearances.

Year Publisher Media Refs.
2020 The Straits Times Feature article [28]
2014 [29]
The Singapore Army Social media post [30]
2013 The Straits Times Feature article [31]
Mediacorp Channel 5 News [32]
Prestige Feature article [33]
The New Paper [34]

References/ Citations

  1. Red Lions controversy: 5 things to know about the two groups contesting the name”. The Straits Times. March 18, 2015. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  2. 154thmedia2013. “Red Lions to feature first female parachutist at NDP 2013 - 18Jul2013”. YouTube. July 18, 2013. Accessed 4 August 2020.
  3. The Singapore Army. “SAF Riggers Adopt Stringent Parachute Packing Process”. Facebook. January 12, 2014. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  4. Theng, Andre Joseph. "She's set to make history at NDP". The New Paper. July 21, 2013. Accessed on 5 August 2020.
  5. Lin, Melissa. “First female Red Lion ready to thrill”. The Straits Times. July 19, 2013. Accessed 3 August 2020.
  6. Yeo, Sam Jo. “Second chance for first female Red Lion at National Day Parade”. The Straits Times. August 5, 2014. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  7. The Singapore Army. “SAF Riggers Adopt Stringent Parachute Packing Process”. Facebook. January 12, 2014. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  8. Lay, Belmont. SAF shares photos, sheds more light on stringent parachute-packing process via Facebook post”. Mothership. January 13, 2016. Accessed 3 August 2020.
  9. Lin, Melissa. “First female Red Lion ready to thrill”. The Straits Times. July 19, 2013. Accessed 3 August 2020.
  10. Theng, Andre Joseph. "She's set to make history at NDP". The New Paper. July 21, 2013. Accessed on 5 August 2020.
  11. Lin, Melissa. “First female Red Lion ready to thrill”. The Straits Times. July 19, 2013. Accessed 3 August 2020.
  12. Red Lions controversy: 5 things to know about the two groups contesting the name”. The Straits Times. March 18, 2015. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  13. "Shirley Ng". Prestige. September 4, 2013. Accessed on 5 August 2020.
  14. Lin, Melissa. “First female Red Lion ready to thrill”. The Straits Times. July 19, 2013. Accessed 3 August 2020.
  15. Yeo, Sam Jo. “Second chance for first female Red Lion at National Day Parade”. The Straits Times. August 5, 2014. Accessed August 4, 2020.
  16. 154thmedia2014. “Singapore NDP 2014 - 09Aug2014 [Full Length in 1080p]”. YouTube. August 10, 2014. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  17. Channel News Asia. "3WO Shirley Ng - first female #RedLion to successfully make a jump at the #NDP2014". Twitter. August 9, 2014. Accessed on 5 August 2020.
  18. Second chance for first female Red Lion at National Day Parade”. The Straits Times. August 5, 2014. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  19. Tan, Audrey. “Red Lions skydivers prepare to soar again at this year’s NDP, after a two-year break”. The Straits Times. July 2, 2017. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  20. Chan Kit Whye, Sean. “Why Was The Sports Hub Rejected As NDP Host?”. MustShare News. Nov 1, 2017. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  21. Media A. “National Day Parade 2017 - NDP 2017”. YouTube. August 9, 2017. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  22. Hi1307 Productions. “NDP 2018 Full Show”. YouTube. August 18, 2018. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  23. NDPeeps. “NDP 2019 Livestream”. YouTube. August 9, 2019. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  24. Shan, Ying. “Red Lions Rehearse For NDP In Heartlands For The First Time, Pays Tribute To Medical Frontliners”. MustShare News. July 20, 2020. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  25. Choo, Yun Ting. “Red Lions take on new challenge with jump into the heartland for NDP2020”. The Straits Times. August 1, 2020. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  26. Shan, Ying. “Red Lions Rehearse For NDP In Heartlands For The First Time, Pays Tribute To Medical Frontliners”. MustShare News. July 20, 2020. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  27. Red Lions take on new challenge with jump into the heartland for NDP2020”. The Straits Times. August 1, 2020. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  28. Choo, Yun Ting. “Red Lions take on new challenge with jump into the heartland for NDP2020”. The Straits Times. August 1, 2020. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  29. Yeo, Sam Jo. “Second chance for first female Red Lion at National Day Parade”. The Straits Times. August 5, 2014. Accessed August 4, 2020.
  30. The Singapore Army. “SAF Riggers Adopt Stringent Parachute Packing Process”. Facebook. January 12, 2014. Accessed on 3 August 2020.
  31. Lin, Melissa. “First female Red Lion ready to thrill”. The Straits Times. July 19, 2013. Accessed 3 August 2020.
  32. 154thmedia2014. “Singapore NDP 2014 - 09Aug2014 [Full Length in 1080p]”. YouTube. August 10, 2014. Accessed on 4 August 2020.
  33. Tan, Lauren and Erniza Veel. "40 Under 40 2013". Prestige. September 4, 2013. Accessed on 5 August 2020.
  34. Theng, Andre Joseph. "She's set to make history at NDP". The New Paper. July 21, 2013. Accessed on 5 August 2020.