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Actions Background of Women's Boot Camp (WBC) and Defence Immersion Programme (DIP)
The Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) leverages numerous platforms and initiatives to engage Singaporeans and increase their support for Total Defence and National Service (NS). Some of these initiatives include Table-Top Exercises in the ITEs for students to understand the importance of putting Total Defence into action during crises, and Joint-Poly NS Info Sharing sessions to help participants prepare for their National Service. ACCORD also recognises the important role that women play in their support for defence and engages them through the Women's Boot Camp which was introduced in 2018. This has been expanded into a full Defence Immersion Programme for Women this year.
Introduced in 2018, the Women's Boot Camp is an ACCORD initiative supported by the Singapore Armed Forces to provide women with a glimpse of National Service life through participation in Basic Military Training activities so that they can gain a better understanding of military life and national service. With WBC's positive reception in past editions, ACCORD expanded the programme into a full Defence Immersion Programme (DIP) for Women where participants can take a dip in the experience of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS). This new initiative aims to provide participants with a better understanding of SAF capabilities and how Singaporeans can play a role in supporting Total Defence and National Service, thereby strengthening support and participation in defence. The Women's Boot Camp makes up one of the programmes offered to engage women under the DIP initiative.
As a lead up to the commemoration of Total Defence 40 (TD40) in 2024, participants attending the WBC, DIP (Navy) and DIP (Air Force) will also participate in the Total Defence Table-Top Exercise. Through this exercise, participants will discuss the impact of pertinent contemporaneous issues affecting Singapore and reflect how individuals, communities and businesses can increase their readiness for crises and disruption.
Overview of DIP 2023 schedule:
|
Name |
Date |
Location |
Description |
|
Defence Immersion Programme (Navy) |
13 – 14 Nov 23 |
Changi Naval Base and Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank (LST), and library@harbourfront |
Participants of the DIP (Navy) will board the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank (LST), RSS Endeavour, for the duration of the programme. Participants will experience a day in the life of an RSN service personnel and observe shipboard operations across the different stations. |
|
Women's Boot Camp |
3 – 5 Dec 23 |
Maju Camp |
WBC participants will undergo a series of modified activities that are an iconic part of the National Service experience such as the introduction to the Singapore Assault Rifle 21 (SAR-21), the Standard Obstacle Course (SOC) and a 2km route march. |
|
Defence Immersion Programme (Air Force) |
9 – 10 Dec 23 |
Sembawang Air Base |
Participants of the DIP (Air Force) will experience a day in the life of a Republic of Singapore Air Force personnel, visit the air traffic control tower and play team-based aviation games. |
|
Defence Immersion Programme (Digital and Intelligence Service) |
12 Dec 23 |
Stagmont Camp and Paya Lebar Air Base |
Participants of the DIP (DIS) will take a peek into the exciting and dynamic work of DIS personnel as they harness advance and secret-edge capabilities to defend Singapore in the digital domain. |
Background of ACCORD
The Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) was established by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in January 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on issues concerning Singapore's defence. Following recommendations from the Committee to Strengthen National Service in 2014, MINDEF has reviewed the structure of ACCORD to deepen engagement with employers, educational institutions, family members and members of the broader community, as well as to facilitate initiatives from the community that better support national defence, National Service and Total Defence. ACCORD has been restructured with three Councils formed under its ambit, namely, the Employer and Business, Family and Community and Educational Institutions Councils.
The ACCORD Employer and Business Council serves as a forum for better engagement of the business community on National Service issues, as well as to strengthen collaboration between the community and MINDEF or the Singapore Armed Forces. The ACCORD Educational Institutions Council aims to raise the awareness of, and boost the support and recognition for National Service among students, parents and educators in MOE schools/Institutes of Higher Learning, as well as the Foreign System Schools and Privately Funded Institutions. The ACCORD Family and Community Council recognises that there is a role for everyone to play towards the defence of our nation, regardless of one's age and gender. For more information, please visit www.accord.gov.sg.