SISPEC TRAINEES TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE

Trainees at the School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) conducted their Basic Section Leader Course graduation parade a little differently this year.

It was a graduation march with National Education messages about the importance of defence woven in by their commanders and instructors.

The trainees began their 28km graduation march at the Kranji War Memorial with a simple but dignified wreath-laying ceremony, to remember the sacrifices of those who had fallen in war.

Said LTC Yeo Hock Seng, a Basic Wing Commander at SISPEC: "It is good for the trainees to understand what they're doing, to see the symbolism behind the entire event."

Following the laying of the wreath, the trainees marched along a route specially designed to incorporate sites of historical significance. These sites the scenes of important battles fought during the Japanese invasion of Singapore in the Second World War were meant to show the young soldiers the importance of their responsibility in national defence, explained LTC Yeo.

A total of 908 trainees marched from the Kranji War Memorial to the Kranji Dam, before heading to Sarimbun Beach, Tengah Air Base, then finally returning to SISPEC. At each of the checkpoints, their instructors explained the significance of the site to their trainees.

Speaking to PIONEER after their graduation parade were Corporals (CPLs) Sng Ping Yi and Caspar Ng.

"It was a very meaningful experience," said CPL Ng, of their eight-hour graduation march. "It reminded us of the need for a defence force."

Echoing his fellow trainee's views, CPL Sng felt that the lessons learnt during the route march were valuable to the trainees to "not let history repeat itself".