Total Defence Day is marked annually on February 15 in Singapore to commemorate the anniversary of the surrender of the British to the Japanese on February 15, 1942, precursory 3 years and 8 months (44 months) of Japanese Occupation.
In Total Defence, our people are organised to defend the country against all forms of attack, both military and non-military. The concept of Total Defence, which remains at the centre of Singapore’s defence planning today, was introduced in 1984. It was designed to integrate all segments of Singapore society into a united front for the defence of the country by expanding public understanding of national defence beyond military defence.
The objectives are:
-
Learn how the 5 pillars of Total Defence (TD) contribute to building a strong, safe and cohesive nation in these times of troubled peace.
-
Reflect on our past and appreciate the efforts of various National Service (NS) institutions and our National Servicemen defending our nation.
-
Instil in students the confidence to play their part in times of crisis.
The 5 pillars of Total Defence:
-
Military Defence - “Keeping Singapore secure”;
-
Civil Defence - “Taking care of our family, friends, and people around us in times of crisis”
-
Economic Defence - “Having a strong and resilient economy”;
-
Social Defence - “Living harmoniously and looking out for one another”; and
-
Psychological Defence - “Being a resilient people” .
Sharing about five (5) pillars of Total Defence with examples.
Parent volunteer was invited to share about her job as a nurse; what inspired her to be a nurse; and how did she help people in needs and others.