NDP 2018 TO FEATURE LARGEST MILITARY TATTOO EVER
//Report by Koh Eng Beng
//Photos by Chua Soon Lye
This year's National Day Parade (NDP) promises to be bigger and bolder!
With a 560-strong military tattoo performance, it will be the largest military musical performance to be held at The Float @ Marina Bay for NDP.
Performing with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Military Police, SAF Band, and the Police Band will be the National Cadet Corps Precision Drills squad and School Display band. The performance will also include 18 students from special education schools.
Besides the military tattoo, the parade comprises 33 marching contingents, as well as a 220-strong combined schools choir – a crowd favourite returning after a five-year break.
"The entire parade and ceremony segment will bring together over 2,600 participants from different walks of life in a traditional and dignified parade that will represent who we are as a nation," said Chairman of Parade and Ceremony Committee Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC) Kenneth Chiong, 41.
"It aims to evoke pride and confidence among Singaporeans, as we proudly commemorate the nation's independence through a precise and dignified parade," added SLTC Chiong.
Warbirds from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will also wow Singaporeans by performing an aerial flypast towards the floating platform.
There will also be an enhanced aerial display featuring up to 21 aircraft from the RSAF. Be sure to catch the F-15SG fighter jet – sporting a special blue livery commemorating the RSAF's 50th Anniversary this year – as it carves through the skies over the Marina Bay area in a series of manoeuvres.
Singaporeans can also look forward to traditional celebratory elements such as the Presidential Gun Salute and the State Flag Flypast.
Challenges
For Parade Regimental Sergeant Major Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Tay Ban Heng, his responsibilities extend beyond making sure that the parade goes on smoothly – he also has to watch over the participants' safety.
"This is especially so for Muslim participants who are currently fasting in the month of Ramadan," said MWO Tay, 44.
Both MWO Tay and the Parade Commander Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Shawn Ingkiriwang are confident in putting up a good show, having had a one-year head start in preparing for their roles. They were the reserve parade RSM and commander for last year's NDP.
They have been training for consecutive weekends, just like the other NDP participants. "It's a sacrifice for the participants to be training every weekend," said LTC Ingkiriwang.
"The time away from family… is always difficult," said the 36-year-old, who is also a fighter pilot.
"But there is a whole group of people behind them (and) I want to express my appreciation for the family behind every participant for giving their utmost support."
Once in a life time
For NCC silent precision drills squad members, 3rd Sergeant (3SG) (NCC) Nur Mufidah Bte Selamat and 3SG (NCC) Vicky Soh, the sacrifices are worthwhile.
Come 9 Aug, they will perform alongside the SAF Military Police in front of 30,000-strong crowd. "It's a once in a lifetime experience," said 3SG (NCC) Nur Mufidah.
It will be their first large-scale public performance, and naturally they are feeling nervous. But training with the SAF Military Police has helped. Said 3SG (NCC) Soh: "They take the time to teach and make jokes, just to help us not be so nervous."
Singaporeans are encouraged to join the NDP 2018 conversation by tagging their photographs, well wishes, reflections and stories on both their personal and the NDP social media platforms (@ndpeeps), with the following hashtags: #WeAreSingapore, #NDP2018, and #NDP18
