Fourteen AETOS officers received awards and recognition from the Security Association of Singapore during this year’s Security Officers Day. The Awards were launched in 2014 to recognise outstanding officers who have performed exemplarily in their duties and who have actively adapted to using technology on the job.

Among the recipients is Security Executive Thurkadevi, who was named Security Officer of the Year. Devi was nominated for her role as team leader of the security operations team at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) – one of the largest multi-disciplinary public hospitals in Singapore, and instrumental to the national response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the difficulties they faced, Devi displayed exemplary leadership and pro-activeness as she worked tirelessly to uphold heightened security measures, while making sure that her team was kept well-informed and aware of the evolving situation. She also made the health and well-being of her officers her topmost priority, ensuring that personal protective equipment was readily available and that temperature-taking and social distancing guidelines were adhered to.

Security Supervisor Saiful received the Job Redesign Award for his commitment to self-learning and upskilling, as well as his contributions to work productivity and security outcomes. A strong advocate of upgrading one’s self, Saiful actively motivates his team members to expand their competencies through continuous learning, and leads by example. He is also able to come up with innovative solutions to workplace issues, harnessing technology to reduce inefficiencies and free up manpower for higher value work.

Said Mr. Alvin Tan, General Manager of AETOS Guard Services, “We are glad that our officers are recognized for their hard work and commitment, especially during this challenging period. I am confident that they will continue to excel, and uplift the industry as a whole.

Our officers don’t just work hard – they play hard too. A team of Auxiliary Police Officers from Mobile Division came in second place in the Country Qualifiers for the PUBG Mobile PVP Corporate Championship. Hosted by local organisation PVP Esports and sponsored by Singtel, the event was part of a multi-title tournament in Asia-Pacific aimed at levelling up gaming communities across the region. The team will be going on to represent Singapore in the regional finals.

We interviewed some of the team members to find out more.

Congratulations on your win! What inspired you to take part in the tournament?

Rio: Most of us got into PUBG back when it launched in 2018. As we really enjoyed it, we recommended and shared the game among our colleagues, and eventually began playing together while off-duty. Most of us are casual gamers, so when I found about this tournament, it seemed like an opportunity to try something we’d never done before. Since all of us are from Mobile Division, it seemed fitting that we use that as our team name.

What are your roles in the team?

Audi: Mazree was initially supposed to play on the team, but during registration we found out he wasn’t eligible to join as he is already registered with a professional SEA team (Resurgence), so we nominated him as our manager. He coaches and advises us, and his experience really helped find us ways to improve.

Although our team members are quite well-rounded, they all have their own areas of expertise. Rio makes a great scout, while Salleh is good at rushing for our objectives, and Firdaus specializes in certain maps.

I became team leader because apparently I make better mapping predictions (laughs). While I direct the team and make decisions during each match, their input based on their specialties often helps me to see the bigger picture.

It must have been quite challenging to prepare for the tournament. How did you pull it off?

Mazree: It was definitely challenging because we have different deployments and shifts. Audi, Firdaus and myself are in the pursuit team at Woodlands Checkpoint. Salleh is a LTA Traffic Marshall, Firman is a maintenance officer, and Rio does adhoc deployments.

As this is our first tournament together, and we only had a month to practice, we had to make time wherever possible – during break times, after work, and on our off days. We rarely get the full team online at the same time, so it’s really based on whoever is free at the moment.

Salleh: We identified our own strengths and weaknesses and worked to improve where possible. We also came up with strategies for different situations and maps. While we usually have a plan for each match, most of the time we end up improvising and reacting based on the situation we find ourselves in.

Of course, we also have fun while doing it. Juggling work and family commitments can be tough sometimes, and PUBG has been a great way to release stress – we can scold each other in-game too (laughs).

Did your role as Auxiliary Police Officers come in useful at any point?

Rio: Actually, yes. We’re already used to working together as part of a team, while focusing on our individual duties. We have to be able to communicate effectively, and know how to lead by delegating tasks and making decisions. We also develop good reflexes and a strong sense of awareness – for example, our traffic marshals need to constantly be aware of their surroundings, and find good positions to stand so that they have the best possible field of view. These skills are brought into the game as well.

What’s next for the team?

Salleh: We’ll definitely be busy preparing for the regional finals. Playing against teams from other countries will be a good learning experience for us as they often have very different strategies and perspectives. Some of us stream occasionally too. Check out Dondale Gaming on Facebook!

Mazree: It can be tough competing against full-time gamers – if you think you’re good, there are always people way better than you. As a team though, we’re going to persevere and see where this takes us.

As part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, AETOS is doing our part to provide security services for foreign worker dormitories and alternative accommodation facilities. A few hundred AETOS Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) and Security Officers have been deployed at 53 different locations across the island, including Government Quarantine Facilities (GQF), floating hotels under the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), and military camps. As part of our integrated services, AETOS is also supplying technology solutions such as CCTV systems to some of the deployment sites.

In addition to the regular duties such as security patrols and access control, the officers also perform temperature checks, ensure that social distancing measures are adhered to, and escort workers who have tested positive for COVID-19. This is no easy feat as the officers are required to don full personal protective equipment (PPE) - including medical gowns and gloves at some of these deployments - for their entire 12-hour shifts.

Said Sergeant (APF) Syarifuddin, an APO currently deployed at an isolation facility, “Once I put on the attire, I better understood the hardships that healthcare workers face on a daily basis. While it is not easy to wear full PPE under the hot sun, I hope to make a positive impact alongside my fellow AETOS frontliners”.

Mr. Lim Kok Hwa, Vice President of Operations said, “In times of adversity, our actions define who we are and what we are capable of. We are proud that our officers stepped up to the challenge and joined in the national effort to battle this pandemic on the frontlines. To support them, our main priority lies in ensuring our officers’ well-being. With constant supervisory visits and increased measures targeted at maximising their welfare, our officers are able to discharge their duties with confidence and positivity.”