Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) is a military cadet corps youth organisation supported by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education. As of 2020, it had a total strength of more than 11,000 members, consisting of officers, cadet officers, and cadets, amongst others. The Corps is represented in 125 secondary schools with a total of 146 units – 108 Land units, 20 Air units and 18 Sea units.

It is one of the country's oldest youth organisations, formed in 1901.

Mission & Vision

Mission

''To nurture inspiring leaders and committed citizens through fun, adventurous and military-related activities''.

Vision

''Extraordinary Youth Leaders''

NCC Key Thrust & Core Values

Key Thrust

NCC is guided by three thrusts – Leadership, Fitness and Commitment to Singapore.

Core Values

NCC is driven by 8 core values.

* Loyalty to Country
* Uprightness
* Leadership
* Discipline
* Commitment & Responsibility
* Care for Fellow Cadets
* Adventurous Spirit
* Safety

NCC Cadet Strong Framework

An NCC cadet is 'Cadet Strong', with a resilient mind, fit body and committed heart.

He/she is also a self-motivated leader.

* ''Resilient Mind'' – Cadet is confident to take on challenges and persevere in the face of adversity to overcome setbacks.
* ''Fit Body'' – Cadet takes ownership to maintain his/her physical fitness and adopt healthy living habits.
* ''Committed Heart'' – Cadet lives by the NCC Core Values with a strong sense of purpose to serve his/her team, school and nation. Cadet is proactive and passionate about developing his/her own abilities.

Brief history

The NCC traces its origins to the Cadet Corps of the Raffles Institution, the first Singaporean military cadet schools organization established in 1901 during its days as a British colony. Originally affiliated to British Armed Forces units stationed in the island and later on the Malaysian Armed Forces, the current tri-service character of the Corps dates from 1969, when the NCC was formalized as the country's sole military cadet organization when the then separate cadet forces affiliated to the young SAF were merged into one organization.

Activities

Within the framework of the training programme, NCC cadets have the opportunity of taking part in many activities.

Training Days

Every unit conducts training at least once a week. Training Days usually begins and ends with a simple parade. The parade at the start of training is usually used for taking attendance and briefing cadets on the schedule for the day's training session while the parade at the end of training is used to brief cadets on subsequent events and as a short feedback session. A typical training day includes just constant drills and occasionally, physical training.

Physical Training

Physical Training (PT) usually starts with a short warm-up, then a few sets of static exercises before the whole unit goes for a company run. Physical fitness is a criterion for the Best Unit Competition. It is also a graded component for courses.

Physical Fitness is also a key factor in the current theme of 'Cadet Strong'.

Technical Handling

All cadets have to go through Technical Handling (Trainfire) lessons as part of the NCC Basic Trainfire Package in order to learn the proper procedures of handling the SAR 21. Lessons are conducted by SAF National Servicemen Full-time (NSFs) and NCC Cadet Officers. The Basic Trainfire Package includes stripping and assembly, marksmanship fundamentals, stoppages and remedies, and weapon reloading.

Marksmanship

Cadets have the opportunity of firing a SAR 21 rifle on firing ranges. Cadets first train on the Individual Marksmanship Trainer (IMT), a computerised simulation, before progressing on to shoot at live firing ranges. Safety is always the main concern when shooting, with everything done by the book. Cadet live firing is always conducted by active armed forces personnel under the supervision of a trained Safety Officer. An armed force Medic is also attached as a safety measure.

Cadets who obtain a respectable shooting score are awarded a Marksmanship badge.

Drills

All NCC units practice drills as a means of instilling discipline and teamwork, it is also used in formal parades, for moving around military bases and moving cadets in a smart and orderly fashion.

Cadets and Cadet Officers who possess a high standard of military drill may be given Parade Appointments such as Parade Regimental Sergeant Major, and the Parade Commander.

As of 2009, a Cadet Leader from each unit will attend the Advanced Drill Course, which will enable them to learn advanced foot drills, arms drills, sword drills, colours drills, and pace stick drills.

Units have Freestyle Exhibition Drill teams which specialise in performing display drills and the newly introduced Precision Drill Squad who perform with Lee-Enfield Mk-IV rifles.

Leadership Courses

Every cadet is a leader and will influence their peers to do well and focus on completing the objective at hand. Under the NCC Syllabus, there are a few Leadership Courses for NCC Cadets to attend.

Physical Training Instructor (PTI) Course

The PTI course is designed for Secondary 2 cadets who have an interest in being a physical fitness instructor. They are taught the various ways of conducting physical fitness lessons and are equipped with the basic theory of physical fitness. The PTI course is a great training aid for cadets' fitness, as they will have the necessary skills to lead their unit in physical fitness training to attain Gold for their NAPFA test.

Senior Specialist Leaders Course

Senior Specialist Leaders Course (SSLC) is a 3-days-2-nights course that serves as a replacement for the previous Senior Specialist Course and Leaders Camp. The Cadet Leaders will further enhance their leadership skills by working together during team activities and develop a resilient mind through camping and challenging activities. They will experience activities such as Advanced Foot and Arms Drills, Urban Operations, Knots & Lashings and the Fitness Challenge, etc. Cadets who are selected to join the course are given high expectations in order to graduate and earn their NCC First Sergeant (1SG) rank.

Cadet Officer Course

The Cadet Officer course is a gruelling 2-week course, designed for our cadets who have graduated from their secondary school education. Upon entering the course, the cadets will participate as Cadet Officer-Trainees (CDTs) and will learn how to manage and work better as a team as they go through the daily programmes. Through situational tests and scenarios, Trainees will also acquire the knowledge of how to plan and execute events/training effectively by working with their team-mates. Trainees have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills, as every Trainee is put in a position to lead their platoon. During the 2 weeks, Cadet Officer-Trainees are expected to exemplify themselves as effective leaders and graduate as a full-fledged Cadet Officer (C/OFFR).

Teacher Officer Course

The Teacher Officer Course is a 2-week course, designed for newly appointed NCC Teachers-in-charge. Upon entering the course, the teachers will participate as NCC Officer-Cadets (OCTs). The course provides the teachers with a better understanding of the NCC Curriculum and the programmes their cadets get to experience during their NCC journey. The course will aid teachers in conducting training sessions for their cadets in their respective units. Upon graduation, the teachers will graduate as NCC 2nd Lieutenants (2LT), or a higher rank depending on their rank in NS, and are thereafter appointed as Teacher Officers.

Adventure Training

Junior Cadets (Secondary 1 cadets) attend an outdoor camp for at least 2 days and 1 night conducted by their school's unit. From 2008 onwards, they will also attend Camp FORGE, an adventure-based experiential day camp held in NCC Campus. The acronym FORGE stands for Fun with friendship, Orientation with outdoor activities, Responsibility and resilience building, and Experiential learning. Cadets are given opportunities to participate in activities such as archery, paint-ball gun competition and the Flying Fox, amongst many adventure facilities.

Senior Cadets (Secondary 2 cadets), will attend Camp STEEL. STEEL stands for Standards, Tenacity, Emotional Intelligence, Energy and Leadership. This is a 1 Day non-residential camp during which cadets participate in more challenging adventure training like the Rappelling Wall, Advanced Paintball Challenge, Weapons Technical Handling, Team Building, and Team Learning, and basic Emotional Intelligence (EI) to become better leaders themselves, as well as of their peers and juniors.

Cadets are also provided many opportunities to attend adventure courses locally and overseas. The following are some of the courses available:
* Annual Kayaking Expedition
* Exercise PUNCAK (Mount Ophir Expedition)
* Midshipman Sea Training Deployment (MSTD)

NCC cadets are also able to attend prestigious courses such as the Basic Diving Course conducted by the RSN Naval Diving Unit, as well as the Basic Airborne Course conducted by the Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation

The NCC is constantly seeking new adventure programmes to broaden the experiences and horizons of its cadets.

International Cadet Exchange Programmes

Every year selected cadets are given the opportunity to participate in various international exchanges with cadets from countries such as Australia, Brunei, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Hong Kong, India and China.

The Singapore National Cadet Corps Command Band

The Singapore NCC Command Band is the musical unit of the National Cadet Corps and Swiss Cottage Secondary School. Serving the Corps since 1999, the Command Band's mission is to provide musical support for HQ NCC's military occasions such as the Teacher Officer Course Graduation Parade, Cadet Officer Course Graduation Parade, and Affirmation Ceremonies.

In addition to serving HQ NCC, the Command Band has also provided musical support for the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Civil Defence Force. Other military-related ceremonies which the Command Band is also involved in would include the Remembrance Day and War Memorial Services organised by the SAF Veterans League and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Since 2010, the Singapore NCC Command Band has been part of the Combined Band, providing the parade music for the Parade and Ceremony Segment of the National Day Parade.

The Director of Music is MAJ (NCC) Anthony Chew.

People

Commandants

* LTC J P Durcan (January 1969 – June 1970)
* LTC Mohd Salleh (June 1970 – December 1970)
* MAJ Syed Hashim Aljoffrey (January 1971 – March 1972)
* MAJ Yeo Peck Chua (April 1972 – January 1980)
* COL John Morrice (February 1980 – February 1981)
* MAJ Yeo See Cheh (March 1981 – April 1983)
* LTC Toh Chee Keong (1 May 1983 – 31 December 1990)
* LTC George Ho Yat Yuen (1 January 1991 – 16 October 1994)
* LTC Swee Boon Chai (17 October 1994 – 30 June 1997)
* LTC Yeo Yoon Soon (1 July 1997 – 31 March 2000)
* LTC Phua Puay Hiong (1 April 2000 – 10 January 2003)
* LTC Lim Teong Lye (11 January 2003 – 16 December 2004)
* LTC Colin Wong (17 December 2004 – 8 June 2007)
* LTC Stuart Khoo (8 June 2007 – 3 December 2008)
* LTC Adrian Koh (3 December 2008 – 10 January 2013)
* LTC Johnny Yeo Yew Kuan (10 January 2013 – 5 February 2016)
* LTC Richard Koh Ban Chuan (5 February 2016 – 21 November 2019)
* LTC Joey Wong (21 November 2019 – present)

Regimental Sergeant Major

* 1WO Christopher Bryan (? – 13 October 2017)
* 1WO Pheong Siew Shya (13 October 2017 – 29 September 2021)
* 1WO Susan Lee Siok San (29 September 2021 – present)

Director of Music

* MAJ (NCC) Anthony Chew (1999–present)

See also

* Australian Defence Force Cadets
* Bangladesh National Cadet Corps
* Canadian Cadet Organizations
* Combined Cadet Force
* Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps
* National Cadet Corps (Ghana)
* National Cadet Corps (India)
* National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka)
* New Zealand Cadet Forces

References

External links

National Cadet Corps Act

{{Singapore Armed Forces

Youth organisations based in Singapore
Military education and training in Singapore
Military of Singapore
1901 establishments in Singapore
Military units and formations established in 1901