Lieutenant General Winston Choo is, without doubt, the most celebrated Singapore soldier. A living legend.
He was just 32 yrs old when he became chief of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). He remained so for 18yrs!
During this time his priority was to professionalise the military and its leadership. His key achievement was to make the SAF a respected Tri-service force.
Gen Choo also forged deep, enduring relationships with his counterparts in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea, Australia, India and the US. After retiring from the military, he served as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Israel for over 15yrs.
Most of us would see Gen Choo as a favoured son handpicked for a cushy life. The reality is that as a trailblazer it was a rough, tough pebbled path. In many ways his life story mirrors the trials and tribulations of the early years of the SAF.
In 2017, he fell seriously ill and was diagnosed with cancer. The surgery has permanently affected his speech. Yet, he agreed to be interviewed, with some hesitation. During the 1hr interview we had to stop a few times because it was difficult for him. Yet, he soldiered on.
You don’t want to miss this landmark interview!