STUDENTS TO SOLDIERS: "THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US"

"Bazooka! Bazooka!"

Such exclamations may be more common on a battlefield than at a primary school in the HDB heartland of Ang Mo Kio.

These cries were from several Jing Shan Primary School students, upon noticing a soldier carrying a weapon system.

Although outnumbered, the man in green smiled and hoisted the "bazooka" - actually an 84mm recoilless rifle - onto the shoulder of a student, taking care to support most of the 16.1kg weapon himself.

"Wow! It's so cool!" gushed Primary 6 student Louisa Vilinne.

Acutely aware of the anti-tank weapon's weight and bulk, she quipped: "It must be tough being in the Army."

Meanwhile, her schoolmates queued for joy rides in open-top Land Rovers, peered through the telescopic sights of a Steyr SSG 69 sniper rifle, and even had their faces painted with camouflage cream.

All this was part of a Total Defence project conducted by the Second Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (2 SIR).

Interestingly, the Total Defence exhibition held at Jing Shan Primary School by 2 SIR started out as a means to impress the importance of Total Defence on the soldiers, not the students.

Commanding Officer (CO) of 2 SIR, Major (MAJ) Alvin Chan wanted to add a memorable element to his battalion's upcoming training exercise overseas.

A brainstorming session with his key staff resulted in this project.

In return, the students would write notes of encouragement to the soldiers of 2 SIR. These notes and drawings would be handed out to the soldiers in the field on 15 Feb.

To maintain an element of surprise, this aspect of the project was kept under wraps from most of the 2 SIR personnel, who left Singapore for their exercise on 12 Feb.

MAJ Chan and his officers decided to enlist the help of primary school students, as they would be "more emotive and creative".

Their messages would tell the soldiers that their jobs are important, and that their contributions are being appreciated.

"When you are training overseas, this will be the only 'news' you receive from home. You'll start thinking," said MAJ Chan. "Hearing from the very people they are protecting may well move them."

In return for the students' efforts, 2 SIR organised a Total Defence exhibition at the school. The day's programme was planned according to a "wish list" submitted by the students.

Through a combination of static displays, activities and talks, MAJ Chan hoped to engage the students and show them the importance of military defence, as well as Total Defence.

The half-day programme started with a talk on military defence, one of the five aspects of Total Defence. Filmlets featuring life in National Service (NS) and live-firing were also screened.

Both items struck a chord with many students.

During the question and answer session, few questions were actually asked. Instead, the students shared their own Total Defence anecdotes.

For a more hands-on Total Defence experience, 2 SIR set up numerous exhibits, including a mock grenade-throwing station.

The students also had a chance to see and touch infantry tools like the new field pack, load bearing vest and toggle rope.

Two brigade snipers, decked out in full gear, were also present.

Once the students overcame their initial apprehension at soldiers who resembled bushes more than men, they demanded to try on the gillie suits (a camouflage vest used by snipers).

Brigade snipers Third Sergeant (3SG) David Wong and 3SG Ang Shouchen were greatly amused, and more than obliging. They soon discovered that one standard issue gillie suit could conceal three Primary Two students!

The face-painting station was another hit. Primary Two student Lina Aqilah gamely presented her face to be camouflaged.

The slight itch on her face did not seem to bother Lina, who responded with an enthusiastic "Yes!" when asked if she would join the Singapore Armed Forces when she grew up.

Fun and laughter aside, it seemed that the core message of the importance of national defence had sunk in.

Responding to this writer's query of why he decorated a card for someone he had never met before, Primary Six student David said simply: "I wish to tell them 'Do your best, and thank you for protecting the country'."