LET THE BATTLES BEGIN!

Spending the school holidays playing computer games is like a dream come true for many teenagers.

That's what 320 students are doing at the finals of the National Education Gaming Championship (NEGC) this June holiday.

This is the second instalment of the NEGC, which had its first run in November 2010. The gaming competition, organised by Nexus, Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and supported by the Ministry of Education, allows youths to learn about defence and National Service (NS) before enlistment.

Since April, more than 1,200 students from 38 secondary schools, institutes of technical education (ITEs) and polytechnics have been pitting their wit, strategy, leadership and communication skills against one another in the game Virtual Battlespace 2 (VBS2). This is a virtual simulation training software used to train soldiers in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

From 128 teams at the start of the competition, only 32 made it to the finals, held from 7 to 10 Jun at *SCAPE Orchard.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Neo Kian Hong, who launched the NEGC finals on 7 Jun at *SCAPE, pointed out the advantages of simulation training in the SAF: "Using simulators, team tactics are built through realistic and complex scenarios, and critical lessons can be learnt in a safe environment. Simulators also allow the SAF to experiment with fighting concepts."

Quoting a participant from Raffles Institution (RI), who commented that his team's Rambo-style strategy took out many of their opponents, but failed to capture the target, LG Neo said: "In other words, success, virtual or real, will boil down to teamwork."

Participant Abdul Quddus Iqbal bin Johari from ITE College West agreed with that remark, adding that strong teamwork was one of the factors that enabled his team to enter the finals.

The 19-year-old, who plays the role of platoon commander in his 10-man team, said: "Teamwork is a must, because without it, we can't properly execute all the strategies that we planned. I also assigned my team members their roles based on their competencies, so that everyone does what he is good at."

Other than honing their gaming skills, participants also got a glimpse of what they will be doing when they enlist for NS in the near future.

On what he has learnt about the Army from his participation in the NEGC, 14-year-old participant Eugene Lee from RI said: "My impression is that the Singapore Army is very advanced; the weapons used are very high-tech and the simulators are pretty realistic."

The grand finals will be held on 10 Jun at *SCAPE, and the last team standing will take home trophies, medals and $3,000.

When asked to share some of the strategies his team will employ during the finals, Eugene replied: "It's a secret...but we're confident of winning!"

Besides the NEGC finals, there are other activities and a military exhibition at *SCAPE from now to 10 Jun. Participants of NEGC and members of the public can try their hands at a Desktop Flight Simulator and a Singapore Assault Rifle (SAR) 21 simulation shooting range.

They can also check out naval exhibits which include a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat, General Purpose Machine Guns, Sniper Rifles as well as models of navy ships.