Aug 2025 — Present
MINDEF | MINDEF Annex
Admin Support Data Scientist
Posted to G1-Army as an Admin Support Assistant (ASA), where I track data and support ad hoc requests. I work with a wide range of datasets for analysis and visualisation, collaborate with other NSFs on group projects, and guide them in using datasets to support their tasks.
My Responsibilities:
Overview
Two years of National Service — some people dread it, while others see it as a waste of time. For me, if I am spending two years of my life here, I want them to be meaningful. As a PES E1, my vocation options were limited, and I was ultimately assigned as an Admin Support Assistant (ASA). Whether it was luck or fate, I ended up in G1-Army’s People and Analytics section, where my technical skills were put to the test every day. During my time here, I have created multiple scripts using Excel VBA and Python, built visualisations and dashboards in Power BI, and worked on data collection, analysis, exploration, and modelling for the Army.
Attrition tracking
One of my key jobs is to help the SAF track attrition across the board. I assisted in refining the methodology and criteria for attrition, and updated our existing dataset based on the revised criteria. Since attrition tracking is done every month, I developed a Python script that takes in a bunch of inputs and helps populate the attrition timeline across the months. I also worked with other departments to narrow down the granularity of the different attrition types.
Role Recommendation Algorithm
Together with another NSF, Aarron Loke, I worked on a major project that recommends roles a person may be suitable for based on multiple criteria and considerations. The algorithm uses both hard and soft rules, with different weightages assigned to the soft criteria based on their importance. We also worked closely with several HR departments, who were keen to support and contribute to the development of the model.
Ad Hoc Work
Some of my routine work includes processing large volumes of data and updating our current datasets with new information. I also receive ad hoc requests to look into a specific target audience, where I identify the required data, collect and clean it, and submit the results. Sometimes, I am also asked to provide insights or identify correlations between different fields. These requests usually require additional time for data collection, analysis, and visualisation.
Conclusion
As of this moment, my time in G1-Army has strengthened my ability to work with data, communicate my findings clearly, and support a wide range of operational requests. I am grateful for the guidance and support from my fellow NSFs and the wider team, who have helped me grow along the way and made my National Service a meaningful one.
Skills
- Data Analysis
- Data Cleaning
- Data Modelling
- Data Visualization
- Excel
- K-Means Clustering
- M365 Planner
- Matplotlib
- Node.js
- pandas
- Power Apps
- Power BI
- React
- Seaborn
- VBA
- XGBoost
Endorsements
“TBC.”