SOLDIERS, STUDENTS OBSERVE TOTAL DEFENCE DAY

On an island 15 minutes away from Singapore, the hearts and minds of more than 4,000 soldiers in Pulau Tekong were drawn back home while they watched the Home music video on the evening of 15 Feb.

The screening of the music video was part of activities organised at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on Total Defence Day, held on 15 Feb annually to mark the day Singapore fell to the Japanese in 1942.

The six-minute video, which featured 39 local artistes performing a remake of the popular song Home, had the audience cheering at the appearance of their favourite celebrities, and chorusing to the familiar tune.

The programme also included the delivery of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean's Total Defence Message by Commander BMTC Colonel Simon Lim, vocal performances by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Music and Drama Company (MDC), and animation clips from the annual competition N.E.mation!.

For the soldiers whom cyberpioneer spoke to, the highlight of the night was unanimously the Home music video, with its poignant lyrics and scenes of life in Singapore.

"Sometimes in our training, we can get so caught up in executing the mission that we forget why we carry out the mission in the first place... I think the song reminded us that we're actually fighting for ourselves, for our home," said 2nd Lieutenant Joshua Choo, an Assistant Training Development Officer in BMTC HQ Training Branch.

Others like Recruit Muhammad Taufiq Bin Idris from BMTC School 3, Scorpion Company, were reminded of their loved ones back at home.

He said: "Before being enlisted in the Army, I took things for granted. I always felt that there'd be other people who would take care of our security. But now that I'm doing my National Service, I know that it's my responsibility to protect my country and my family."

Back on Singapore's main island, soldiers from 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR) brought military defence out of their Army camp and into National Junior College (NJC) on 16 Feb.

As one of the five pillars of Total Defence, military defence is about Singaporeans keeping Singapore safe. The other four pillars are civil, economic, social and psychological defence.

Featuring a Bronco ambulance and two Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles, as well as various equipment and weapons used in the Army, the exhibition drew a crowd of about 1,800 students and teachers, with many eager to get a feel of military hardware.

The soldiers also set up face camouflage and field ration tasting stations for students to get a first-hand experience of being in the military.

The Commanding Officer of 41 SAR, Major Goh Wee Tiong, explained the purpose behind the event: "By coming here and presenting a part of the SAF, we hope to build confidence in the students in NJC, about how SAF is forward-looking and ready to defend our nation.

"With more confidence in military defence, we hope students will be spurred to contribute in the other aspects of Total Defence."

Corporal Ng Wee Cheng, who was on site to explain to students how various weapons work, added: "Through the exhibition and our interactions with the students, I believe it'll help familiarise them in what they can expect when they enlist in the future."

Judging by the number of phones that were whipped out to capture images of the armoured vehicles and weapons, and by the excited chatter about the technologically-advanced equipment, the event was a hit with the NJC students.

On the exhibition, Secondary Three student Sumithri Rekha V remarked: "Thanks to these exhibits, I got to see what goes on inside the military of my country, what soldiers do and how things work. It makes me feel proud."

Secondary Two student Preston Ching raved about the hardware on display: "I was amazed to learn that the armoured vehicles were actually designed and built in Singapore!"

He continued: "When I enlist in the Army in the future, as I hold the weapons and ride the armoured vehicles, I think I'll have this sense of achievement that I'm actually able to defend my country."

The event at NJC continues on 17 Feb.