Young defenders to light up NDP display

SINGAPORE — Some 200 students from Yishun Primary School will take to the stage at this year’s National Day Parade (NDP) in the attire of the various uniformed services as “future defenders” during the grand finale of the Dynamic Defence Display of military vehicles.

The children’s performance, which will be part of the largest Dynamic Defence Display ever seen, will “show how they step forward to prepare themselves” when it is their turn to protect Singapore, said Colonel Dinesh Vasu Dash, Chairman of the display.

Besides the “action-packed” and adrenaline-filled display featuring 40 vehicles (air, land and sea) as well as up to 350 participants, spectators at the NDP can look forward to “point-of-view perspectives” from the equipment operators to help them understand that “there are faces behind these daunting machines who are there 24/7, defending and protecting us, so that we can rest easy”, noted Col Dinesh.

The display, which is making its first return to the NDP since 2011, is also set to “surprise and awe” its audiences with the latest equipment from the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force (SPF).

Other highlights include a demonstration of the SPF’s “Anti-Swarming” tactics, a showcase of manoeuvres by the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Police Coast Guard and a demonstration of firepower by the Army.

The display of Singapore’s modern assets will be followed by a traditional parade in the NDP’s Parade and Ceremony (P&C) segment. Together with the display segment, it will represent the struggles Singaporeans go through as they deal with striking an “equilibrium” between change and their values.

“We want this to provide an anchor for Singaporeans to reflect and remember who we are, where we come from and our values”, said Chairman of the P&C segment, Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Lee.

In line with this year’s NDP theme of “Many Stories, One Singapore”, spectators can look forward to highlights such as a photo montage during the presidential inspection that will showcase “our shared history”, as well as videos highlighting unique stories from six to eight Singaporeans about why they love Singapore.

This year’s Parade Commander is Lieutenant-Colonel Sng Meng Wah and the Parade Regimental Sergeant Major is Master Warrant Officer Chua Hock Guan. The Colours Regimental Sergeant Major is Neo Boon Kwee.