Combined Rehearsal 3

In today's final Combined Rehearsal at the Float @ Marina, we look at one of NDP 09's much talked about highlights – the Total Defence Display!

Total Defence was first introduced to Singapore in 1984, as part of a comprehensive defence plan to safeguard our national interests in five different aspects, namely in Military, Civil, Economic, Social and Psychological aspects. With 2009 marking the 25th year of Total Defence, this year's Total Defence Display (TDD) at NDP commemorates this milestone and more importantly, showcases our nation's multifaceted defence capabilities.

A combined effort between the SAF and the Home Team, LTC Simon Lee, Chairman of the Total Defence Display, shares with us some interesting insights about the collaboration. “When it comes to operations, we understand each other, but when we come to a show, sometimes there is what you call a creative tension.” However, he guarantees a riveting performance that will definitely wow audiences!

A fast-paced, exhilarating 15 minute performance involving over 300 servicemen, the TDD promises to keep all spectators at the edge of their seats, employing the use of thrilling pyrotechnics, audio and visuals. In addition to that, our Army troopers and Naval Divers will be in close contact with the audience, making surprise entrances at the spectators' stand.

This year's TDD features all 3 elements of the environment, with aerial, naval and land components in the display. Perennial crowd favourites, the Apache and Chinook helicopters, will not only be present in the state fly past, but also be making an appearance in the water segment.

For those without tickets and watching the parade from the pavilion, they are in for a close and wet experience, thanks to the spray from the river as the Chinook descends 10 feet above the Marina Bay to deploy divers into the water to clear underwater mines. In addition, there is also a high speed boat chase executed by the Police Coast Guard and the Navy to intercept unknown intruders that are approaching the Marina Bay area.

In the land component, armoured columns and numerous SAF vehicles will be coming in at high speeds onto the Float and the promenade. PTE Daniel Cheung, 21, from the Guards Formation, who is a driver of a Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) involved in the Parade, remarked, “Other than high-speed sharp turns, the engine is very noisy, so we have to rely on visual cues!” SGT Arz Harill, 23, from the SCDF echoes his sentiments. Being a high velocity, high adrenaline display, he said, “We have to execute many drills within a short span of time, so it is definitely a challenging task!”

Such exhilarating moments in NDP are never left uncaptured, with more than 50 photographers deployed throughout the Float to capture moments that have come to colour and form our impression of NDP every single year.

For veteran photographer, Robin Ng, 42, it is his 6th time photographing for NDP. “I want to serve my country, that's why every year I return to take photos!” First time NDP photographer, Chris Wong, 33, remarks, “Photographing for NDP is hard work, but when you see your photos published on a national level, it is a great achievement for me personally!” Another photographer, Daryl Tan, 22, shares similar sentiments. “It is the spectators that make the difference every year. Every one of us has an assigned role and angle but when we go on freelance mode, I will focus on the spectators!”

Although tonight's rehearsal began at 6 pm, spectators began streaming in as early as 4 pm! Being the first time the public got a look at this year's parade, there was a mood of excitement in the air as our spectators were treated to a stunning array of mass displays, culminating in a “Pledge Moment” at the end of the parade.

At the end of tonight's rehearsal, we caught up with some of our spectators to find out what they thought about tonight's parade.

One of the first impressions many shared with us was that this year's parade was very different from previous years. Salimah, 48, came together with her 3 daughters to support her son who was in the marching contingent. Her daughters excited remarked, “We like this year's stage because it is so much more colourful!” Chen Wenxu, 21 took this opportunity to watch the Parade with his girlfriend, Lee Ai Lin, 21. “I really like this year's Total Defence Display! It is definitely a much cooler and more creative way to parade our military vehicles.”

The funpack items were also a hit amongst the spectators. For Valerie Ng and Lauretta Low, 21, who came to support their friend in the martial arts display, their favourite items were this year's heart-shaped lights and hand-shaped drums!

Other than entertaining our spectators, the Parade also served to inspire our younger generation. After seeing fellow Singaporean children share their dreams in one of the parade's segment, Lee Feng Qing, 9, told us that he too aspires to be an artist because he likes to draw.

There were also others that took a trip down memory lane after watching tonight's rehearsal because it reminded them of their own participation in past year's NDP performances. This was just the case for Jane Ng and her friends from Serangoon CC Line Dance Club, who participated in last year's NDP parade. “We really like this year's idea of performing inside the grids mounted on stage! It is such a vibrant and colourful way to present a dance to the spectators!”

NE shows will commence next week, so for the many Primary 5 students that will be joining us for the Parade, we look forward to seeing you at the Float @ Marina!

Here are some pictures from the rehearsal.