STAY VIGILANT AND RESILIENT

It can happen to anyone, anytime, and anywhere.

This is the underlying theme of a commercial for this year's Total Defence campaign. The campaign tagline is 'Stay Vigilant. Be Resilient'.

As part of the campaign this year, there will be a one-day car rally - TD ExploRally - modelled after the popular reality television show 'Amazing Race'.

Teams consisting of four or five members each will have to complete a series of TD challenges at five locations island-wide. Examples of such challenges include marksmanship competitions and life-saving exercises.

With $10, 000 worth of cash and other prizes, and an opportunity to learn more about Total Defence, the TD ExploRally looks set to be a hit. Already more than 40 teams have registered to take part in this rally. Registration closes on 31 Jan.

It will be launched on 11 Feb by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at East Coast Park.

"This year's campaign is slightly different because we want people to be more involved and to take personal responsibility to go out and find out how they can be psychologically prepared in the event of an emergency or crisis," said Colonel Tan Kok Heng (above, right), director of NEXUS, the Central National Education Office of the Ministry of Defence.

To support that objective, an eight-week mass communications campaign will run from 11 Feb.

Featured in the campaign will be a series of animated clips produced by 22 students from CHIJ St Joseph's Convent.

Said Mui Rui Yi (left, in the centre) a member of the team which produced an animated clip featuring a live 'sand-art' performance: "The message behind our project is 'Every grain of sand matters, just like every Singaporean'."

"Everybody has a part in protecting Singapore, just like how each grain of sand forms a part of the icons in our clip. I play my part by being a good citizen and by studying hard!"

There will also be a roving 'Hang Tough' travelling exhibition - two grafitti-covered container trucks will travel to various schools and Community Development Council districts. The travelling exhibition aims to showcase what it means for Singaporeans to resilient in an entertaining way.

Total Defence Day is commemorated annually on 15 Feb, the day Singapore fell to the Japanese in World War II.



Registration and more details of the TD ExploRally can be obtained at www.totaldefence.sg.