National servicemen to get special salute at this year’s NDP
The joint forces of the SPF and SAF during a counter-terror display during the NDP 2017 media event. Photo: Najeer Yusof/TODAY
SINGAPORE — National servicemen (NSmen), as well as their families and employers, will get a special salute at this year’s National Day Parade (NDP) as a show of appreciation for their contributions over the past 50 years.
About 2,000 participants from 31 marching contingents will present the salute, the parade’s organisers said on Tuesday (June 13). Spectators at the parade will be invited to stand and jointly salute the NSmen, their families, and their employers.
There will also be a tribute video to mark 50 years of National Service, and a parade segment where contingents from the Youth Uniformed Group fan out to form the words “NS50”.
“We are able to celebrate this milestone (NS50) because of very special groups of people,” said Colonel Koh Ee Wen, 39, chairman of the NDP’s Parade and Ceremony committee. “We know that when NSmen come to camp to report for duty, it’s really the family helming the home front.”
At this year’s parade, the audience can look forward to the return of a crowd favourite — the combined land, air and sea performance by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), known as Dynamic Defence Display (D3).
Back after a two-year absence, this year’s D3 segment involves over 500 participants and more than 50 military vehicles.
The 25-minute D3 performance will be in two parts: In the first segment, the audience can expect to see an array of advanced SAF equipment from the army, air force and navy. The second part will focus on Singapore’s efforts in dealing with cyber security and terrorism threats.
“We are going to bring very intense actions to the audience, up close and personal,” said Colonel Tan Tiong Keat, 38, chairman of the NDP 2017 show and D3 committees.
Another highlight of the parade is the signature fighter-jet aerial bomb burst. This year’s display will be performed by an all-F-15SG line-up for the first time, with two of the fighter jets flown by NSmen pilots.
For 14-year-old twins Mohammad Faris and Mohammad Farid, this year’s NDP will be extra special for them since they have volunteered to be part of the Boys’ Brigade contingent.
Although the boys are fasting during this month of Ramadan, that has not stopped them from attending the rehearsal every Saturday.
“I feel very excited and happy that we are able to participate in the NDP because not everyone gets the opportunity to do so,” said Mohammad Faris.
For 67-year-old Jessie Choo, it will be the fourth time that she is participating in the NDP — she first took part in the parade as a secondary school police cadet.
“Coming back after 50 years, it is my honour and pride as a Singaporean,” said the part-time warehouse logistics assistant, who is part of the People’s Association contingent .
Despite the long rehearsal hours and sweltering heat, Madam Choo, secretary of Macpherson Zone F Residents’ Committee, said: “I’m a kampung girl. For us at that time (in the old days), there was no aircon … and we had to go under the sun to polish our things, so this type of heat is nothing to us.”
