In 2013 at the age of 55, Margaret Leon was ready to retire. But then she was asked to extend her service.

Today, the 1st Warrant Officer (1WO) is 61-years-old and is the oldest female commander in Singapore's Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC).

Just as fit as other soldiers

In an interview with Pioneer magazine, Leon talked about her role as a Platoon Commander in BMTC's School 1, Charlie Company.

Despite her age, she achieves a gold award for her Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) every year.

Leon regularly leads route marches with a 20 kilogram field pack strapped to her back. She also shows her soldiers how to dig trenches, and sleeps in the jungle during field camp.

Regular workout routine

Her secret to keeping fit? On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, she has morning training sessions.

She also joins her recruits during their morning runs. On weekends, she exercises with her husband.

It's all about hard work and discipline, which is the example she sets for her recruits.

She is strict but caring

Leon is known to be strict with her soldiers as she pushes them to pass the various tests during training.

If any of her recruits are struggling to complete an exercise, she will simply tell them: "Ancient lady can do, young boys cannot do?"

But despite her strict nature, Leon cares a lot for her recruits too.

Gives advice to her soldiers

Leon makes it a point to write back to her recruits in their weekly reflections.

She recalled one particular case where a recruit confided in her about struggling to communicate with his mother.

She advised him to bring his mother out for brunch one day to have a talk with her.

The recruit wrote back to Leon to thank her as he took her advice and it turned out successful.

Her history in the army

According to the Pioneer article, Leon joined the military in 1976 as a clerk, but 10 years later, she was given the opportunity to be a combat trainer, before moving on to serve as a combatant.

After that, she served as an Officer Cadet School instructor, Signal specialist and Company Sergeant Major in the 8th Singapore Armoured Brigade.

She was even deployed for a humanitarian mission in East Timor.

Right before she joined BMTC, Leon held the record of the longest-serving woman in the Signal formation.

She told Pioneer Magazine:

"I've trained officers, specialists and operators. Now I've a chance to take on recruits.

When I leave the Army, I would have completed the full experience."

Read the full article here.

Top photos via Kenneth Lin/MINDEF.