ITE graduate, 23, fulfills childhood dream by becoming an auxiliary police officer at Changi Airport

Looking at Boeing 737 aircraft up close. Listening to the adrenaline-rushing sounds of plane engines. Greeting travellers who flew from all over the world to Singapore. Going behind the scenes at Changi Airport.

These are what Muhammad Shakir Zufayri, 23, experiences every day — not as a pilot or flight attendant, but as a Certis auxiliary police officer (APO) deployed at Changi airport.

According to Shakir, who became an APO five months ago after graduating from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), being able to explore the airport and gain new experiences during his various deployments was one of the most exciting aspects of his job.

While acknowledging the stress that comes with his responsibilities of securing the airport’s safety, Shakir said that his colleagues and the staff at the airport helped him cope with it:

“They are so friendly, and they are very approachable. So, you can talk to them, you can be nice to them, and you can laugh with them.”

A dream come true

Speaking to Mothership, Shakir shared that he applied to become an APO because it was his childhood dream to help maintain law and order in Singapore.

At the same time, the job also allows him to interact with others and help them solve their problems, a process that gives him “the most satisfaction”:

“I am someone that loves meeting people and prefers a field-based job that allows me to be hands-on over a desk-bound job. As an APO, although I am maintaining access control, I can engage with the public. So, I am not just a security officer, I am also an information counter — helping lost travellers finding their way, for example.”

Shakir’s status as a fresh graduate, however, did not stop him from realising his dream, as his application turned out to be successful and he underwent multiple rounds of training to equip him with the necessary skills to discharge his duties.

Besides undergoing a comprehensive basic training course required for all APOs, Shakir also went through specialised training that’s relevant to his posting at Changi Airport.

According to him, the APO basic training spanned three months and covered areas, such as firearms, physical fitness, law, and security.

Gained hands-on experience 5 months into job

Although Shakir is still relatively new to his job, he can already recall several instances in which he assisted with maintaining order and helping others at Changi Airport.

One such incident took place at the transit area of Terminal 2.

At the time, Shakir noticed that a well-built male passenger, who had already disembarked from his flight and entered the terminal, was trying to re-enter the aircraft through the gate.

As re-entering the aircraft without authorisation was prohibited and there were still travellers trying to exit through the gate, Shakir decided to intervene, even though the passenger was taller and bigger in size.

“I had to find a way to squeeze myself through the crowd and stop him. Although he managed to cross the restricted line a little, I was able to escort him out while adhering to safety protocols,” recounted Shakir.

However, as the passenger did not understand why he was not allowed to re-enter the aircraft, he started arguing with Shakir.

In response, Shakir recalled the standard operating procedures (SOP) he acquired during his training and tried to calm the passenger down by asking whether he was in need of any assistance.

Upon learning that the passenger wanted to fetch some items he left behind on the aircraft, Shakir managed to secure help from airport staff and retrieved the items.

While managing such situations “was not easy”, Shakir believed it helped him learn to control his emotions better to handle similar incidents more confidently in the future.

Close-knitted team

Another factor that convinced Shakir that APO was the right job for him is the support from his team.

Although his colleagues come from various backgrounds and most of them are aged between 30 and 60, Shakir said everyone is willing to listen to each other and assist each other to the best of their abilities, regardless of their ranks.

One person that he was particularly grateful for is his supervisor, whom Shakir described to be “very much a father figure”:

“Although I only knew him for two months, we communicate a lot. From the way he spoke, you knew that he had experience and knowledge.

He will be on the ground talking to you, trying to understand what was the issue at hand, and he never misses your birthday.

During our roll call, he would prepare a birthday card and pass it to you. Everyone will laugh and sing birthday songs together. He will laugh with you and make jokes too.”

For Shakir, this spirit of “togetherness” is what deepens the bond amongst his colleagues, enabling them to find strengths and support from each other as they navigate the challenges of being APOs.

According to him, while some of his colleagues had joked about leaving their job, they all stayed on eventually.

“There are many funny justifications, such as ‘I’m getting married soon. [I believe] the reason they stayed is because the job and the colleagues around them made them feel comfortable,” shared Shakir.

Becoming a Certis APO

If you are keen to explore a career as an APO like Shakir, you will be pleased to know that Certis currently offers a bonus of S$30,000 for new officers under the Certis Earn and Learn Programme (CELP), in addition to “a competitive salary package”.

However, becoming an APO does not mean you need to give up on your education pursuit.

As part of CELP, you will be able to attain a diploma at eligible institutions while gaining hands-on experience by working as an APO concurrently.

Certis is also offering a Work-Study Diploma in Security Operations through ITE College Central, with the first intake starting this year. Students will also be able to arrange shifts to accommodate school days as required.

The best part? Your school fees will be fully sponsored by Certis. Terms and conditions apply.

You can find out more about Certis and life as an APO here.

This branded article by Certis fulfilled the writer’s dream of speaking to an auxiliary police officer.

Top images courtesy of Shakir