Total Defence
TOTAL DEFENCE
Total Defence is about the different
things that we can do everyday in every sector of our society to strengthen our
resilience as a nation.
How can u contribute to it?
-National service
-Civil emergency exercises
Introduced in 1984
Two reasons why we adopted it.
1)
Singapore
as a young nation with a small population, we
cannot afford to maintain a regular armed force so young men are enlisted to
straighten the armed forces.
2) The nature of modern warfare has
changed. Wars are no longer limited to the battlefield. Instead, potential
aggressors can strike in less obvious, non-military ways.
5 aspects of total
defence: military, civil, economic, social, psychological
National service
We can do this by taking (National Service) seriously, participate
in (civil emergency exercises), (upgrade ourselves and learn new skills) for
e.g. learn new computer skills… etc., (build strong bonds with different
races and religions), and feel the pride of being Singaporean, we contribute to
Total Defence.
When
was NS introduced?
After
Singapore
separated from
Malaysia
in 1965, the
first call-up of 9,000 youths for the independent nation was initiated on
21 Feb 1967
– by none other than her
own Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The cream of
Singapore
’s youths would
have to serve two years in the Armed Forces on leaving school.
It took
Dr Goh Keng Swee, who was the Minister of Defence, and his small team at the
Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID), most of 1966 to deliberate and plan the
announcement of National Service.
Why
NS?
Small
population: In 1965
Singapore
had a population of less
than 2 million. Furthermore, manpower was needed in factories and industries
There
were insufficient funds to support a professional army.
What’s
NS all about?
All
18-year-old-bodied male citizens were called commanded by a small regular
force.
After
completing NS, the men undergo reservist training for 13 years for maximum of 40 days per year. Bringing Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds together, to help
foster greater cohesiveness and understanding across the different ethnic
groups. All male Singaporeans are required to serve National Service (NS).
Under the Enlistment Act, all male
Singapore
citizens are liable for NS. The acquisition of foreign
citizenship (dual citizenship) does not exempt a
Singapore
citizen from his NS obligations. Like all other male
Singapore
citizens, dual citizens are required to register for full-time
National Service (NSF) upon reaching 16 ½ years of age, and to enlist for NSF
upon reaching 18 years of age.
Why is
Singapore
The answer is that through
National Service (NS) and In-Camp Training (ICT), NS men become well trained
and combat-ready. More importantly, they are as equally committed to NS as they
are to their family and their work.
How do u play your part?
Male
By taking national service seriously and keeping
fit to perform in national service
All 18-year-old-bodied male citizens were called commanded by a small
regular force.
After completing NS, the men undergo reservist training for 13 years for
maximum of 40 days per year.
Female
By giving morale support to the men.
How has NS changed
overtime?
1966 - A Hint of things to come
Dr Goh Keng Swee, the then Minister for Defence, announced on 29
November 1966 that all new government and statuary board members would have to
undergo military training with effect from 1 January 1967 - An exemplary move
by the Singapore leaders to prepare the people for the introduction of National
Service.
The First Step
Addressing the crowd at Toa Payoh Community Centre, Mr Lee
Kuan Yew, the then Prime Minister, announced to the public on 21 February 1967,
that all 18-year-old male Singapore citizens and permanent residents would be
called up for National Service Full-time. After their full-time service, they
would go into “Reserves”.
Officers would serve 3-year Full-time National Service and
non-officers would serve 2 years. Subsequently, they would serve a 10 year
cycle for In-Camp Training. “At the outset, National Service was not very
popular, but there was no other way. Ensuring equality in burden sharing and a
commonality in obligations was an important part in making National Service an
integral facet of our nation.” - Chief of Army, MG Ng Yat Chung, 2000
The early years were one of uncertainties. Singaporeans were
initially resistant to the idea of National Service, as they did not know what
to expect. Parents, filled with bitter memories of past histories, were fearful
for their sons. These, were slowly overcome. They were assured that their sons
would be trained and taken care of by the newly commissioned Second
Lieutenants.
The First Call-up
The first 900 of independent
Singapore
’s national servicemen reported for enlistment at 50 “send-off points”
across
Singapore
on
17 July 1967
. These young
18-year-old males were transported to the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) at
Tanglin Camp. With the special gift package and medallions - a sign of concern
and support from the Government and the community, the boys were welcomed with
a grand reception. Members of Parliament were on hand to deliver inspiring
speeches to motivate the young men who were about to start their National
Service. Then they were transported to Taman Jurong Camp, where they first donned
their jungle green uniform and entered history as the first Singaporeans to
begin their National Service since
Singapore
’s independence.
The First Batch
The recruits, being the first batch of National Serviceman
Full-time (NSFs), started a new chapter in their lives in Taman Jurong Camp.
Many came with mixed myth of army life and did not know what to expect. Some
had difficulty coping with the tough training and regimentation that they
faced. It was a complete change in lifestyle and culture for them. They had to
live, eat and sleep together, a far cry from the comforts and privacy of their
homes that they were used to.
Basic military skills were taught, from regimentation to field
training. These new ways of life and training turned the boys to men, from
ordinary citizens to fighting-fit soldiers, ready to defend the country. But
most of all, national service created camaraderie and cohesion amongst people
from different backgrounds.
The instructors had a difficult time training the recruits as they
had little experience in managing the fresh recruits. In addition, many of the
recruits had little education and could only communicate in their mother
tongue. Instructions had to be translated to them. It was a slow and arduous
progress. To overcome the language barrier, special language courses for the
non-proficient soldiers were conducted in the 1970s - moulding these men into
united and effective fighting units.
1969 to 1970 - The SAF takes shape
The first batch of 900 NSFs completed their active service on
August 1969 and went into “Reserves”. 1 SIR and 2 SIR, which used to consist
solely of regular soldiers, received their first batches of NSFs in 1969. By
the end of 1970, a brigade headquarters was established to co-ordinate the 4
active and 3 reserve battalions..
Building of the SAF
The first decade of National Service was a period of rapid
build-up of the defence force. More emphasis was channelled into the management
of NSFs, NS men and Total defence during the second decade. The SAF was also equipped
with the latest weapons to keep up with modern warfare. By the end of the
second decade, the SAF has grown into a credible deterrent force.
THE SAF TODAY
National Service has come a long way since its infancy years. An
integral part in the defence of our nation, the SAF soldier today, not only
epitomises the sacrifices of Singaporeans, but also their commitment in
maintaining the peace and prosperity of
Singapore
Time Line
1954: National Service Ordinance came into force,
followed by violent protests against NS.
1957: The formation of the first battalion of the
Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR). With independence in 1965, about 40 per cent
of its troops went to
Malaysia
.
9 Aug 1965
:
Singapore
became an independent island-nation. Its military force stood at 1st, 2nd SIR
and the Singapore Volunteer Corps.
December 1965: Passing of the
Singapore
Army
Act.
February 1966: Formation of Singapore Armed Forces
Training Institute for the training of officers.
March 1967: Passing of the National Service
(Amendment) Bill mandating that all
Singapore
citizens and permanent residents do national service when they turn 18 years of
age. There were demonstrations against NS but nothing like those in 1954.
July 1967: Formation of the first two National Service
Full-time (NSF) battalions ‚ 3rd and 4th SIR; British government announced the
phased withdrawal of British troops to be completed by the mid-1970s, later
accelerated to end-1971.
1968:
Singapore
Air
Defence Command formed with one borrowed Cessna civilian trainer aircraft.
1970: SAF Medical Services first humanitarian relief
mission with the despatch of a self-contained and self-supporting medical team
to
East Pakistan
(now
Bangladesh
) to
give medical aid in areas hit by a cyclone.
1975:
Singapore
Maritime Command renamed Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and Singapore Air
Defence Command renamed Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
2002:
Singapore
Armed Forces celebrates 35 years of National Service.
The rationale
of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
It is to prepare school students when in time
of an emergency.
It can help save lives and make evacuations
orderly.
Water Rationing
When and why was water
rationing introduced in Singapore?
Water rationing was
necessitated by the severe drought, which affected Johor and
Singapore
from early 1963. Water stocks were down to dangerously low levels at the Tebrau
waterworks in Johor, and the MacRitchie, Seletar and Pierce reservoirs. The
rainfall for Mar and Apr 1963 was in fact a quarter of the average rainfall for
the two months, the lowest in ten years.
On the other hand, the hot and dry weather encouraged
Singaporeans to use more water to cool themselves. There was also heavy demand
on our water sources as more factories were set up in Jurong as part of our
drive to industrialise. In addition, the expanding population who increasingly
lived in HDB flats with piped water needed water.
On the afternoon of
23 Apr 1963
,
water rationing began.
Singapore
was divided into seven zones. Each zone is supposed to get no water
six hours a day four times a week either from
8 a.m.
to
2 p.m.
or from
2 p.m.
to
8 p.m.
However, despite the water rationing and the appeal for the
voluntary reduction of water usage, the amount of water saved proved inadequate
as the drought became more serious and the water stocks fell further. A week
later on
30
Apr 1963
, a 12-hour rationing was imposed
from
8 a.m.
to
8 p.m.
; each zone gets no water for 12 hours three times a week. When this
too did not produce any significant result, an island-wide 12-hour rationing
from
8 a.m.
to
8 p.m.
was finally introduced on
7 May 1963
. The
severe water rationing remained throughout the rest of 63 and was relaxed only
in Jan 1964. Water rationing only completely ended on
28 Feb 64
with the return of heavy rainfall and when water stocks returned to
an overall average of 75.1% in both the water catchment areas in
Singapore
and
South Johor
.
What are the benefits of such
exercises?
The benefits of such emergencies are
to get Singaporeans prepared when there is a need for food and water rationing.
For instance, war, famine, etc. In this way, Singaporeans will be aware of the
procedures of rationing and be mentally prepared during crisis.
How is the food rationing
carried out in Singapore?
During an emergency, food will have to be
rationed so that all will get a fair share. You will receive a Registration
Notice. Bring this notice together with your family documents (e.g. NRICs or
birth certificates) to your designated Registration Centre. Collect your Food
coupons. Fill in the names and NRIC numbers of every member of your household
in each Ration Book. Use the Ration Books to purchase rationed items from
licensed retailers.
Other countries that also carry out
food and water rationing
Britain
During the Second World
War (1939-1945) the British government introduced food rationing to make sure
that everyone received their fair share of the limited food which was
available. Food rationing started in 1940 and finally ended in 1954.
Conclusion
A similar disruption to our water supply now could not be
ruled out. Our demand for water is increasing each year. With increasing
affluence, Singaporeans enjoy a good standard of living and now own many modern
appliances, which demand ever-greater use of water. The setting up of more
nuclear families and households also increases water consumption.
On the other hand,
Singapore
is still not self sufficient despite the construction of 11 more reservoirs
since 1964. The stability of our water supply from
Malaysia
depends very much on the state of relationship between
Singapore
and
Malaysia
, with or without the water agreements. Malaysian politicians have
always brandished the threat of cutting off water whenever there is a spat
between the two countries. Singaporeans have to recognise that our shortage of
water is one of our key constraints. It is up to all Singaporeans to make sure
that we put whatever water we have to good use and not waste a single drop
unnecessarily.
Do you think that younger generation will participate in
food and water rationing exercises?
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Anyone can be a follower but might not be a good one. Not everyone can be a leader and only some can make it good.
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