Really glad that we get to know what NDP means to this particular commander

(I took the liberty to bold some of the more interesting phrases :)

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I would like to reflect what taking part in NDP meant to me during my NSR (Reservists) days.

NDP 1984 – Contingent Commander

Venue : Padang

I recall vividly having just taken over my new 1^st year NS Battalion at the end of 1983 upon completing ROSC (Reservist Officer’s Staff Course) and was wondering how to build up camaraderie and unit cohesiveness. The battalion that I had just taken command was a mono-intake battalion that had just gone ORD. I was also informed early in 1984 that my battalion was going to form a contingent for NDP and will be representing 6 Division. The tasking was not in exchange for ICT which was due in the last quarter of 1984 but over an above the normal annual call up.

My decision was to call together the Battalion PSOs and OCs to inform them that we had the honour of representing 6 Division for NDP 1984. The theme for that year was celebrating 25 years of self rule which we had from 1959. I made sure that all the PSOs and OCs were enrolled for the task and made up the first row of the contingent so as to instill a pride of our battalion as an integral contingent. Once they knew that they could not ‘siam’, they in turn volunteered their own men to form the rest of the contingent.

With this collective ‘spirit’, we forged the battalion camaraderie. We had many internal marching sessions in 1 SIR Guillemard Camp twice a week. Attendance was a challenge, but we persevered especially once the combine rehearsals at Paya Lebar Airbase. We established a standing rule that all the contingent participants will be exempted from guard duty during the coming ICT unless they were given ‘extra’ duty.

Those were the days of large number of contingents that formed up at the Padang in the morning hours to celebrate our Nation’s Independence with a Grand Parade. We trained hard all the way during the Military Combined Rehearsals and finally ending up at the Padang for many Rehearsals before the Actual Day. The format back then was to do a Route March from the Padang through the City and end up in the Housing Estates. I remember our route took us to the end of Alexandra Village opposite the old SAFRA Bukit Merah Clubhouse. We always seem to be able to bring out the best when we are in the public eyes. Cannot let 6 Division and our battalion lose to the other contingents is drill standard.

On the Actual Day the hair raising feeling of pride and achievement was at it highest when we all knew that once we reached the end of the route march that morning, it was all over. We were determined to give our best and not let each other down after such a long and tough preparation phase of training … mainly drills and marching in step. The Sergeant Majors did their job well. This was evident that after 3 months of training, we were marching very professionally and proudly bearing the colours of 6 Division and the State Flag. I belief it is easier to march with “rusok senjata” as the swinging of the arms helps provide the kinetic momentum for the next stride. Of course the challenge of keeping the arms swinging in step was the reason for all those preparatory training.

As a contingent commander it was challenging to give the commands especially to halt the column on the Padang or give them the ‘chepat jalan’ order as the noise level was very high and we didn’t have any audio amplifying devices. I was constantly worried that my voice will be the killer of our perfect drill. It was nothing close to that. The battalion was in unison and our drills executed with precision. I guess they listened intently for the commands at the right time and reacted beautifully. Now while watching later parades, I can appreciate the improvements using music to cue the contingents.

The next challenge of being a contingent commander is keeping not too far away from the front of the contingent and in the center while the column is marching. The trick that our Sergeant Major used was simple, the center man in the front row kept calling out to me to ensure that I was dead center and not too far in front. With all the practice runs that we had, we were tight and if you could review those footages of the TV broadcast that year, we were a cohesive unit and did our formation, Army and Nation proud.

NDP 1994 – Parade Commander

Venue : National Stadium

In 1994, we were celebrating 25 years of National Service. This meant from the time the first batch became NSmen (Reservist in those days) in 1969 25 years had passed. It was decided that a NSman be the parade commander for NDP 1994. I was the Parade Commander designate for SAF Day 1994. However, since they were looking for a NSman to be the NDP parade commander, I was chosen and my very good friend COL Johnny Lim was made SAF Day Parade Commander. Incidentally the Parade 2IC for SAF Day that year went on to be the 3^rd NS NDP Parade Commander for 2007, COL See Tow Pak Onn.

It was a great honour for me being very fond of the military and all its tradition to be chosen as the parade commander for National Day. I took the task seriously and knew from the start that it was a great responsibility as well. The entire success of the parade and ceremony segment of the NDP celebrations depended on executed drills called by the parade commander.

I was then Brigade 2IC of 5 Singapore Infantry Brigade. Again there was the requirement to task a battalion to provide the supporting Army contingent from 6 Division. My thoughts went back to 1984 when I was CO and asked one of my OCs back then, LTC Lee Chia Hsing who was a CO in 5 SIB whether he would volunteer. He did and he too experience my own earlier stint as a contingent commander. In fact his then Bn 2IC now COL Lam Charn Whye became the 2^nd NS NDP Parade Commander in 2002. This is testimony to the closeness and camaraderie we have among the NS community, to lead by example and motivate our fellow commanders to take charge when they turn came.

Training to be the Parade Commander was more on an individual basis as the voice training and commands needed to be remembered according to the sequence well before any combine rehearsal starts. The Parade Sergeant Major assisted in training the Guard of Honour and Colour Party while the senior Sergeant Majors helped me out in voice control and sword drill. There were many commands to remember and the whole ceremony sequence. I kept drilling the parade sequence and commands in my head whenever I had spare time. I used to wear my sword belt at home and go through the sequence and commands in front of a mirror. My biggest worry would be to go blank at the wrong time. It would have been an unbearable silence and embarrassment. Fortunately my fears were unfounded. The military training that we all go through prepares us subconsciously to carry out drills. This help me to keep my mental focus which pulled me through the entire parade and ceremony.

On the final rehearsal with the GOH at Khatib Camp, I gathered all the 4 Guard of Honour contingents and gave them a pep talk. In brief I told them that there were going to be 60,000 people at the National Stadium and we will be able to experience what our National Footballers feel when they are on the field performing. We were not going to let this chance of a lifetime slip by with nothing less than a perfectly executed drill by everyone. I promised them that I too will do my best as I urged each one to reach deep down inside and produce the best performance of their lives … and we all DID.

It is such a resounding hair stand feeling when you march onto the field to start the first command for the parade. As I marched through the Military Policemen twirling and throwing their rifles in front of me and hearing the announcement of my name as the Parade Commander over the PA system, the experience was and is still indescribable. The rest was one quick succession of commands and ceremonies that seem to zip by in super quick time. There was never a moment of pause, except those multi-racial songs between the arrival of the VIPs. Before you have time to capture the moment, you are marching down the tartan track with the eyes right cue to the President of Singapore and down and out Gate 2 into an eerie silence outside the Stadium of sudden emptiness that its all over.

In 1994 there was no Route March. Once we marched passed the President and out the Gate 2 to the car park, the parade ended and everyone dispersed. With a quick change I was able to re-enter the Stadium to watch the rest of the Show. There was no time to socialize or wind down after all those months of training. What was lacking was a party for the marching contingents. We should do this so that everyone can let of their steam and high feeling together since we have all peaked on the Actual Day. However, in the name of efficiency and expedient dispersal (so as not to mix with the spectators leaving after the parade) we all part ways immediately after falling out.

I would like to share on brief moment during the inspection when I escorted President Ong Teng Cheong from the saluting dias. I said to him and I quote, “Your Excellency I feel so proud that two Architects are making firsts for this National Day Parade”. He was the first elected President and me the first NS Parade Commander. The other memorable take away from NDP 1994 was the new No.1 uniform which was improved with the removal of the red cumber band and the sword belt tucked under the tunic. We wore the new No.1 for the Actual Day.

I sincerely thought that I had completed the full circle involvement with NDP with the highest point as Parade Commander. But there were other plans which I will share in my next blog when I was roped in as Chairman Infrastructure for the Millennium NDP Parade in 2000.

By Clement Hendricks, Dy Chairman 2 EXCO NDP 2009

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Ever since we started this blog, we've sat down with many people and listened to them as they shared heartwarming anecdotes on their National Day experiences.

Really grew to appreciate the amt of hard work and 'heartwork' that went into every National Day Celebrations :)

Do you?