Fact Sheet: SAF engages schools for Total Defence

Total Defence (TD), which consists of the five components of military, civil, economic, psychological and social defence, help Singaporeans understand how we can each play a part in defending Singapore. It is commemorated yearly on 15 February, and also provides the framework for a comprehensive and integrated response to deal with all kinds of threats and challenges. This year's Total Defence (TD) campaign "Home - Keeping It Together" aims to re-ignite our sense of home and the collective commitment to defend it.

As part of TD 2011's various initiatives to remind Singaporeans from all walks of life about the importance of each TD component, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is engaging students and staff from 13 schools to give them a better understanding of how the SAF contributes to military defence. The 13 schools are: Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Boon Lay Secondary School, Bukit Panjang Government High School, Choa Chu Kang Secondary School, Dunman High School, Institute of Technical Education College Central, Institute of Technical Education College West, National Junior College, National University of Singapore High School, Pioneer Junior College, Republic Polytechnic, Tampines Junior College, and Teck Whye Secondary School. This will be done through a series of events such as road-shows, museum visits and dialogue sessions with senior SAF personnel from 14 to 18 Feb 2011.  

Road-show by 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR) at National Junior College (NJC)

One of the SAF's TD engagement efforts this year is a collaborative road-show between 41 SARand NJC in commemoration of TD Day. The road-show will be held from 16 to 17 Feb 2011 at NJC, and comprises display stations and activities to interest and educate both students and staff alike. NJC has also invited neighbouring schools such as Raffles Girls Primary School to visit the road-show.

Additionally, more than a thousand NJC students and 41 SAR soldiers will take part in the NJC TD commemorative road run.

Display stations at NJC

The SAF's display stations at NJC will consist of the following components:

(i)         a Vehicle Static Display with two Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles and one Bronco Ambulance;

(ii)       a Weapons Display showcasing the Singapore Assault Rifle 21 (SAR 21), M203 Grenade Launcher, Section Automatic Weapon and General Purpose Machine Gun; 

(iii)      a Night-Fighting Equipment (NFE) station, where students and staff will be given the chance to use NFE to identify objects in a darkened environment;

(iv)       an Optics Display, where students and staff can try their hands at identifying objects in a distance using the SAF's advanced optic equipment;

(v)        soldiers equipped with the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) will be on hand to introduce its various integrated components;

(vi)       a Face-Camouflaging station for some hands-on face-painting experience;

(vii)      a Field Ration Tasting station, where students and staff will be able to sample selected rations consumed by soldiers in the field;

(viii)     a Uniform Display showcasing various uniforms worn by SAF personnel; as well as

(ix)       a Total Defence Reflection Board, where students and staff are encouraged to pen down their thoughts on what "Home" means to them.