National Cadet Corps (Singapore)
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| National Cadet Corps | |
|---|---|
| Image:Crest ncc.jpg | |
| Active | 1901 - present |
| Role | Volunteer Youth Organisation |
| Headquarters | Amoy Quee Camp |
| Motto | To Serve With Pride & Dedication |
| Commanders | |
| Cmdt NCC | LTC Stuart Khoo |
The National Cadet Corps (NCC) is one of the most established uniformed youth organisations in Singapore. As of 31 March 2004, it had a total strength of 523 officers and 17,891 cadets in its ranks. While supported, in part, by the Singapore Armed Forces, the Corps is not considered a pre-service organisation, although a large number of cadets do eventually sign on for careers in the Armed Services.
Contents |
[edit] Organisation
[edit] National Level
The National Cadet Corps comprises three elements. These are the Land (Army), Sea (Navy) & Air (Air Force) elements.
Of the three elements, the Land element is invariably the largest and is divided geographically into three districts. The Air and Sea elements function independently of these geographical districts and have a more centralised command structure.
Headquarters National Cadet Corps (HQ NCC), based at Amoy Quee Camp, an Army facility, controls the organisation; there are subordinate HQs at element or district levels staffed by teachers seconded to the Corps, civil servants and a handful of volunteers. A regular Army Lieutenant Colonel serves as Commandant National Cadet Corps. While the Commandant holds command over the corps and controls its day to day activities, he or she is bound, by law, to work in consultation with a policy making body known as the National Cadet Corps Council when making major changes in policy.
The NCC Council is chaired by a Chairman appointed by the government. Members of the Council include officers from the armed services as well as officials from the Ministry of Education.
[edit] Unit Level
Units of the various elements of the Corps are based in various secondary schools throughout the nation. It is also not unusual for some schools to support more than one unit, with a few schools hosting even up to three units, one each from the Land, Air & Sea elements. Each unit’s ranks are usually filled by students from the school in which it is based. The typical NCC unit is commanded by a Commanding Officer, who is usually also a teacher from the host school. The CO is assisted by a team of officers, cadet officers and cadet specialists.
[edit] Membership
[edit] Cadets
Singapore citizens and permanent residents typically join the NCC as a school Co-Curriculum Activity (CCA) around the same time they enrol for Secondary School at the age of 13. They then stay for a term of 4 to 5 years. Cadets who wish to stay on in the Corps after completing their secondary education may apply to undergo a 2 week long Cadet Lieutenant course (CLT Course). Cadets passing out from the course are then appointed Cadet Lieutenants. Cadet Lieutenants serve for the whole duration of their tertiary studies are eligible for promotion to the rank of Senior Cadet Lieutenant after they have accumulated a minimum of 250 points from their participation in various activities.
The cadets of all elements join at the rank of Recruit. After a period of up to 2-3 years, cadets who complete a Specialists Course are then promoted to the status of Specialists. The Specialist ranks in the NCC typically mirror those of the Singapore Armed Forces. Exactly when and how cadets are promoted after the specialist course varies depending on the procedure followed by the cadets' element. Cadets who perform well may be nominated to attend a further training course known as the Senior Specialist Course to groom them for leadership positions within their respective units.
[edit] Adult Staff
The staff who run the NCC come in 3 types: commissioned officers, adult volunteers and SAF personnel.
Commissioned officers are usually teachers from the Ministry of Education, who have been seconded to the Corps. Adult volunteers may also apply to be commissioned as NCC officers, however, there also exists a sizable pool of civilian volunteers who are not commissioned and provide service to units on an ad hoc basis. SAF personnel are both Regular armed forces personnel and also Full-Time National Service (NSF) personnel, usually from the Army, who are seconded to the Corps. Regular SAF personnel either stay permanently or rotate out of the Corps after serving a period of 2 to 5 years, while NSF will serve for a period of 1 to 2 years before they ORD (Operational Ready Date).
Commissioned officers typically start at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, though if they held a higher rank in the Armed Forces, they may enter at that rank. For instance, an NCC Officer who is also an Operationally-Ready NSman (or Reservist) holding the rank of Captain, can join the NCC at the rank of Captain. The highest rank attainable by an NCC officer is Lieutenant Colonel.
All ranks of the NCC have the suffix (NCC), to distinguish them from the ranks of the SAF. For example, a Captain in the Corps would list his rank as Captain (NCC) while working in that capacity.
[edit] Activities
Within the framework of the training programme NCC cadets have the opportunity of taking part in many activities.
[edit] Training Days
Every unit meets or parades, at least once a week. Training Days usually begin and end 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 days 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 might include Physical Training, Drills and lessons on topics such as Fieldcraft, Navigation and other military-related topics.
[edit] Marksmanship
Cadets have the opportunity of firing an M16 or SAR 21 rifle on firing ranges. Cadets first train on the Army Individual Marksmanship Trainer, 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 forces Medic is also attached as a safety measure.
A Shooting Competition is also organised annually where cadets from all three elements compete.
Cadets who obtain a respectable shooting score are awarded a Marksman badge.
[edit] Drill
All NCC squadrons practise drill 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 who possess a high standard of military drill may be selected aa Parade Supernumerarys. This group is given further drill training and compose the Guard-of-Honour contingent who greet visiting dignitaries.
Certain units also form Precision Drill Squads which specialise in performing display drills.
[edit] Adventure Training
Within the NCC there are many opportunities to take part in adventure training, such as canoeing/kayaking, walking/camping and abseiling/rock climbing/rappelling. In addition, overseas expeditions are held annually to places such as Mount Ophir, Malaysia. Cadets who meet the necessary physical fitness criterion may also take part in Singapore Armed Forces Basic Diving and Basic Airborne Courses. There are also overseas courses such as Jungle Survival and Desert Training to name a few. Adventure training may also be undertaken at the various Outward Bound schools, locally and overseas.
Selected air cadets might also be given a chance to learn Gliding in India and all sea cadets are given a go at learning how to sail.
[edit] National Youth Achievement Award
The National Cadet Corps is one of Singapore's largest supporters of the National Youth Achievement Award. Cadets are often encouraged to achieve the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards as they progress through their cadet careers.
[edit] Community Volunteering
Cadets often volunteer to help local charitable organisations through various fund raising and interaction programmes. For example, the Corps has previously raised funds for disabled youth. The Corps also frequently organises Clean-up projects at local parks, beaches and nature reserves.
In addition, the Corps occasionally organises overseas community projects in countries like India and Cambodia.
[edit] International Cadet Exchanges
Every year selected cadets are given the opportunity to participate in various international exchanges with cadets from countries like Australia, Brunei, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and India.
[edit] History
Prior to the formation of the modern National Cadet Corps, the Land, Air & Sea elements of the Corps were regarded as separate organisations. These were respectively known as the Army Cadet Corps, the Singapore Air Training Corps and the Sea Cadet Corps. All three corps were integrated to form the National Cadet Corps in 1969, along with the Police Cadet Corps, which was then renamed as the National Cadet Corps (Police). In 1972, the Singapore Parliament passed the National Cadet Corps Act, and was also the same year that the National Cadet Corps (Police) reverted as a distinct organisation, and became known as the National Police Cadet Corps.
While the year 1972 is the official date of the formation of the modern NCC, the Corps can trace its history back to colonial days when in May 1901, C M Philips, the acting principal of Raffles Institution formed a cadet corps which comprised existing and ex-Rafflesians. Because of this, the Corps considers itself the oldest youth organisation in Singapore and, disregarding the 1972 date, celebrated its centenary in 2001.
[edit] People
[edit] 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 - Present)
