Uniformed groups evolve to play bigger role in supporting Total Defence efforts

They may be young, but even they have to change with the times.Youth uniformed groups in Singapore have evolved in activities and in some cases, looks, with the hope of playing a bigger role in supporting the country's efforts towards Total Defence.

One aspect of this is an increased focus on community outreach, where youths engage directly with the public to help build social resilience.

It is the school holidays, and police youth ambassadors are helping to spread the word on crime prevention.

Together with real men-in-blue, the National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) members advise Sentosa's beach-goers to stay vigilant while enjoying themselves.

The programme started with 30 students from three schools in September 2011, and has snowballed to include some 300 cadets from 16 schools, two years on.

Staff Sergeant Herry Mansori, community liaison and preparedness officer at Bukit Merah West Neighbourhood Police Centre, said: "The cadets will remind members of the public to keep their belongings safe during their enjoyment at Sentosa beachfronts. So thereafter, throughout the day, members of the public will be mindful."

Ervin Gee, member of Maris Stella High School's NPCC, said: "This contributes to psychological defence as our crime prevention project... mentally prepares them (members of the public) to protect their belongings."

"Psychological defence" is one of the key elements of Singapore's Total Defence strategy.

And youth uniformed groups play an important role in that strategy.

Bernard Chew, Education Ministry spokesperson and principal of Bowen Secondary School, said: "We teach our young, our youths... what it means to build a more cohesive society and stay united.

"And I think our youths today in the uniformed groups do a lot of community outreach. And through these community outreach projects, they learn to take care of the more unfortunate in society."

Uniformed groups have also updated their look.

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has switched from their old camouflaged attire to new pixilated uniforms, as their senior counterparts in the Singapore Armed Forces have done.

The change goes right down to replica weapons used by cadets on their marches.

The M16 assault rifle, previously the military's standard issue, has been replaced by the SAR 21s, now the Singapore soldier's weapon-of-choice.

Cadets also have to go through Total Defence-related assessments to earn their stripes.

Eugene Phui, member of Fuhua Secondary School's NCC, said: "As a teenager, I believe, at this stage, when we are still growing up, it's especially crucial for us to know more about Total Defence.

"So when we grow up, when we go into adulthood, we can actually pass down all this knowledge and this emphasis on Total Defence down to the younger generation."

The Education Ministry said about three in 10 secondary school students are involved in youth uniformed groups.

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