United we stand, divided we fall

TODAY, in partnership with Total Defence, documents in images how Total Defence has become part of daily life for Singaporeans - fulfilling National Service duties, volunteering in Civil Defence activities, working hard and contributing to a strong economy, strengthening community ties with one another regardless of race and religion, and staying committed to defending the country.

The State Flag flypast seen here over the Marina Reservoir is one of the most popular and iconic traditions of the annual National Day Parade. It evokes in Singaporeans a sense of pride at what they have achieved collectively, and how much is at stake.

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TODAY Visual Desk

United we stand, divided we fall

SINGAPORE – On Thursday (Feb 15), Singaporeans will be sitting down for reunion meals with their loved ones on Chinese New Year’s Eve. On this same day, 76 years ago, Singaporeans cowered and feared for their lives – for on the first day of Chinese New Year in 1942, Singapore fell to the Japanese.

At 6.20pm on Thursday, the Public Warning System sirens will go off, to mark the time when the British surrendered to the Japanese. And since 1984, Feb 15 has been commemorated nation-wide as Total Defence Day.

The idea behind Total Defence is that individually, every citizen has a part to play, so that collectively, they can build a strong, secure and cohesive nation that is ready to deal with any crisis.

TODAY, in partnership with Total Defence, sets out to document how Singaporeans can and easily incorporate the five prongs of Total Defence in their daily lives.

From fulfilling their National Service duties (Military Defence), to training up their skills in first aid (Civil Defence), to working hard to contribute to a strong economy (Economic Defence), to living harmoniously with their neighbours regardless of race or religion (Social Defence), and staying committed to defending the nation (Psychological Defence), getting involved in Total Defence is easy as 1, 2, 3.

One is never too young to help protect and defend one’s nation, as these children learning how to put out a fire during an Emergency Preparedness (EP) Day at Teck Ghee constituency show. Learning what to do and how to react in an emergency is one crucial way that citizens can play a part.

By donating blood, this SAF personnel is helping to save lives. This simple act is something everyone can get involved in, as regular donation ensures that the national blood bank has a constant and adequate supply to deal with national emergencies.

Nothing screams national pride as much as these Singaporeans cheering on the Lions during a football match at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. Did you know that national pride is actually an important facet of Total Defence? It falls under Psychological Defence.

Mr Tay Meng Huat, 67, (seen here taking a wefie with a fellow graduate at the People's Association Senior Academy) is among the older generation of Singaporeans who are keen to pick up new skills to make sure they are not left behind in the country’s aim to be a smart nation. It might not seem obvious, but this is a form of Economic Defence.

Members of the public come together to learn how to administer CPR during the Keat Hong Emergency Preparedness Day. Being trained in life-saving skills like First Aid and CPR to help others in need is Civil Defence at work.

Being operationally ready to be called upon, just like these full-time national servicemen and operationally-ready servicemen participating in a mobilisation exercise at Selarang Camp, is a key way all Singaporean men contribute to the military defence of Singapore.

Paddling in Punggol Reservoir in hand-built and inflatable rafts as part of their Outbound Bound School experience, these students are participating in sports activities which help to foster and promote shared understanding and sense of belonging among citizens, a form of Psychological Defence.

Activities such as this ActiveSG Urban Family Camp, where families pitch tents at the Float @ Marina Bay, and bond through tent pitching, outdoor cooking, a night walk, and a campfire, help foster social cohesion, and is a form of Social Defence.

These pre-nursery children from NurtureStars Pre-school at SAFRA Toa Payoh washing their hands from a bottle as part of a water rationing exercise, carried out as part of Singapore World Water Day, are participating in Economic Defence. Citizens who conserve water and adopt environmentally-friendly practices are actually contributing to Total Defence too.

Having friends of different ethnicities, faiths, beliefs and practices, as most Singaporeans do in their day-to-day life going to school, work and play, is Social Defence at its best. Here, Tampines Primary School students taking part in their school’s Racial Harmony Day celebrations is just one of the many examples of Social Defence seen island-wide daily.

Every Singaporean contributes to Military Defence, whether as national servicemen who make up a strong Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), or as parents, siblings, spouses or friends of servicemen. Here, visitors interact with a V200A Armoured Fighting Vehicle which was part of the static display during the Singapore Airshow. Public exhibitions and outreach programmes such as these help citizens understand more about the SAF.

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United we stand, divided we fall

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