WATER PARADE AT RAFFLES PLACE

Do you know that every recruit undergoing Basic Military Training (BMT) has to drink eight to 10 litres of water during 'water parades' to prevent dehydration?

Members of the public got this little piece of information when they were handed bottles of mineral water at Raffles Place on 7 Mar.

This was part of a publicity effort by National Geographic Channel to promote an upcoming reality TV series on its channel about Singaporeans undergoing BMT, which premieres on 8 Mar.

The reality TV series, entitled From Boys to Men: Every Singaporean Son, follows a section of recruits during their BMT on Pulau Tekong, from their enlistment day to their graduation parade.

The series is adapted from the web series first aired on cyberpioneerTV's Youtube channel in July last year, which has garnered about one million views online.

A total of 7,000 bottles of mineral water were given out at the 'water parade', which immediately brought back memories of BMT for Corporal (CPL) (NS) David Chin, a banking consultant who happened to be walking by, and received a bottle.

"The whole water parade idea is very interesting as it brings back good memories." said CPL (NS) Chin, a combat medic during his full-time National Service (NS).

"I have never heard of Every Singaporean Son so I will probably watch it to find out more."

Ms Perlyn Tan, an administration executive with an investment banking firm also stopped to find out more about the show from the crew. She is looking forward to catching the show and understanding the kind of training her son will undergo in future, even though he is still very young.

She said: "It is good to watch the show especially if you have children doing NS in the future. I will want to watch it."

Mr Tan Hock Choon, an IT professional who has completed his 10-year NS cycle, has caught a few episodes of the web series on cyberpioneerTV. Commenting on the reality series, he said: "It's a good start to give young Singaporeans an understanding of national service before they enlist."

Catch the six-episode series, From Boys to Men: Every Singaporean Son, on the National Geographic channel (Starhub Ch 411) every Tuesday, starting on 8 Mar, at 9.30pm.