COMMUNITY
RACING AROUND THE ISLAND FOR TOTAL DEFENCE
13 Feb 2006
At 9am on 11 Feb, 100 elite teams were activated by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean and off they went, all around the island, ready to complete their missions.
These teams were taking part in the Total Defence (TD) ExploRally.
The anchor event of this year's TD campaign, the ExploRally was a one-day car rally modelled after the popular television reality show 'Amazing Race'.
Teams of four or five members had to rush to five island-wide locations and complete TD-related challenges. The team awarded the most points for its performance in the challenges won a grand prize totalling $10,000.
The five challenges facing these elite teams were:
Operation Steady Case
In this challenge at the Marine Parade Branch of NTUC FairPrice supermarket, participants were tasked to buy the basic survival items needed during emergencies.
Being prepared is an important part of staying resilient during emergencies and this challenge reflects the theme of this year's TD campaign: Stay Vigilant. Be Resilient.
Operation Rapid Development
Participants went around the three-storey Singapore City Gallery at Maxwell Road, searching for the answers to a quiz on Singapore's economic development.
This operation aimed to provide fun for the participants as they learnt about Singapore's economic progress during her formative years.
Operation Warm Front
Held at the Singapore Civil Defence Academy located at Jalan Bahar, the participants had to show their ability to administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and then their mettle in fire-fighting skills.
Operation Easy Target
In this operation, the participants had to exhibit marksmanship skills as they competed to hit the most targets using an M-16 rifle and a Section Automatic Weapon in a simulated real-life scenario held at Pasir Laba Camp.
Operation Team Spirit
The final event of ExploRally brought the participants back to the starting point at East Coast Park, where the teams attempted to score against players from the Singapore Armed Forces Warriors Junior league in soccer.
This operation aimed to convey the importance of community spirit.
Emphasising the importance of Social Cohesion to Singapore, Mr Teo said: "It is important that we have social cohesion and psychological resilience when facing terrorism. We must make sure that that we have social harmony and that our people can bounce back after an attack."
Mr Teo also officiated at the opening of the 'Hang Tough' exhibition. This roving exhibition consists of two graffiti-covered container trucks, which will travel to various schools and Community Development Council districts. The travelling exhibition aims to showcase, in an entertaining way, what it means for Singaporeans to stay resilient.
At the end of the event, it was evident that most participants went back armed with new knowledge of the importance of Total Defence.
One of them, Mr Wah Tze-lan, said: "We have to maintain the multi-racial fabric of our nation."
"This has been a great event!'
These teams were taking part in the Total Defence (TD) ExploRally.
The anchor event of this year's TD campaign, the ExploRally was a one-day car rally modelled after the popular television reality show 'Amazing Race'.
Teams of four or five members had to rush to five island-wide locations and complete TD-related challenges. The team awarded the most points for its performance in the challenges won a grand prize totalling $10,000.
The five challenges facing these elite teams were:
Operation Steady Case
In this challenge at the Marine Parade Branch of NTUC FairPrice supermarket, participants were tasked to buy the basic survival items needed during emergencies.
Being prepared is an important part of staying resilient during emergencies and this challenge reflects the theme of this year's TD campaign: Stay Vigilant. Be Resilient.
Operation Rapid Development
Participants went around the three-storey Singapore City Gallery at Maxwell Road, searching for the answers to a quiz on Singapore's economic development.
This operation aimed to provide fun for the participants as they learnt about Singapore's economic progress during her formative years.
Operation Warm Front
Held at the Singapore Civil Defence Academy located at Jalan Bahar, the participants had to show their ability to administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and then their mettle in fire-fighting skills.
Operation Easy Target
In this operation, the participants had to exhibit marksmanship skills as they competed to hit the most targets using an M-16 rifle and a Section Automatic Weapon in a simulated real-life scenario held at Pasir Laba Camp.
Operation Team Spirit
The final event of ExploRally brought the participants back to the starting point at East Coast Park, where the teams attempted to score against players from the Singapore Armed Forces Warriors Junior league in soccer.
This operation aimed to convey the importance of community spirit.
Emphasising the importance of Social Cohesion to Singapore, Mr Teo said: "It is important that we have social cohesion and psychological resilience when facing terrorism. We must make sure that that we have social harmony and that our people can bounce back after an attack."
Mr Teo also officiated at the opening of the 'Hang Tough' exhibition. This roving exhibition consists of two graffiti-covered container trucks, which will travel to various schools and Community Development Council districts. The travelling exhibition aims to showcase, in an entertaining way, what it means for Singaporeans to stay resilient.
At the end of the event, it was evident that most participants went back armed with new knowledge of the importance of Total Defence.
One of them, Mr Wah Tze-lan, said: "We have to maintain the multi-racial fabric of our nation."
"This has been a great event!'
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