NDP treat — just for the kids

SINGAPORE — Her heart was pounding when “terrorists” swarmed the Marina Bay floating platform and opened fire. When they took some people “hostage”, Benarie Wong, 10, started to “really tense up”.

The Fengshan Primary student had been watching a simulated terrorist attack conducted as part of the first National Education show yesterday for a live audience.

The show gave some 13,000 Primary 5 pupils from 54 schools and students from six special-education schools a glimpse of what the National Day Parade (NDP) has in store as it returns to the floating platform after a two-year hiatus.

“I know it’s fake, but it’s still exciting,” Benarie said of the simulated attack — part of the Dynamic Defence Display, which will be separated into two segments for the first time at this year’s NDP.

The first part will focus on the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) military capabilities, featuring the likes of the Terrex infantry carrier vehicles and the Leopard 2SG main battle tanks.

The second part will involve a simulated cyber incident and terrorist attack, showcasing the collaboration between the SAF and Home Team agencies in countering potential threats.

These events will be part of a larger display to mark the 50th anniversary of National Service (NS). An NS50 tribute video, which reinforces the importance of NS, will also be played during the parade.

North Spring Primary student Aril Kurniawan, 11, felt inspired by the four-minute video and believed it shared with pupils the importance of national defence.

“If there isn’t NS, I don’t think Singapore will be as safe and as secure as it is right now,” he added. “It’s an important message.”

Pupils were also treated to traditional crowd favourites, such as the Red Lions parachutists and the signature fighter-jet aerial bomb burst.

This year’s fighter jet display will be an all-F-15SG line-up for the first time, with two of the jets flown by NSmen pilots.

Holy Innocents’ Primary student Angelica Chan, 11, was especially excited to catch the Red Lions live, as she had never been to an NDP.

“I managed to watch them only on television, plus they were absent in the last two parades — so seeing them close up was something I won’t forget,” she said. “I was cheering for them when they landed. It looked dangerous but exciting.”

This year’s NDP theme, titled #OneNationTogether, was announced in May by organisers, who noted that it was a call to Singaporeans to be “confident in our collective future as we overcome all odds together”.

Holy Innocents’ Primary student Jonathan Khoo, who was “wowed” by the fireworks at the end of the programme, described the National Education show as “very nice”.

But the 11-year-old, whose family has managed to get tickets for the actual parade, said: “On the day of the parade itself, the atmosphere and the emotions of the crowd will be different. Nothing beats the real thing.”