A total of 1100 cadets from 152 National Police Cadet Corps (NPCC) Units participated in the NPCC Annual Parade as part of the Guard-of-Honour Contingents, Supporting Contingents and display segment on the Home Team Academy's Parade Square on 18 April 2015.
"NPCC has formed my core values and developed me as a person. I think it is a very valuable experience that I have gotten to date that cannot be replaced with any other events or co-curricular activities," shared Probationary Honorary Officer Bryan Tan Yi Pin.
The 23-year-old Parade Commander at this year's NPCC Annual Parade was once an NPCC cadet in his secondary school and still contributes to the uniformed group today.
NPCC wad first formed in 1959 with just 30 students at Bartley Secondary School, and has since expanded to 152 secondary schools with 16000 members. The group aims to spread the message of crime prevention to the cadets' friends and the community through its Police Youth Ambassador Programme.
Superintendent of Police, Mr. Hoo Poh Heng, Chairman of NPCC Council, Associate Professor Phua Lye Huat, Stephen and Deputy Commissioner (Policy) of Singapore Police Force (SPF), Mr. Lim Kok Thai joined in the celebration of NPCC's 56th Anniversary on 18 April.
Member of Parliament, (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), Mr. Hri Kumar Nair was present at the Annual Parade as the Reviewing Officer.
"The close partnership with the Singapore Police Force provides opportunities for NPCC cadets to engage in more authentic learning experiences. In recent years, the Corps has introduced more Police-based trainings and this includes revised Police Knowledge course, the Community Safety and Security — Police Youth Ambassador Programme and the Unarmed Tactics course," said Mr. Hri in his speech.
Mr. Hri went on to share about former cadet, Muhammad Iylia Bin Mohd Hutta, who had returned as part of the alumni to serve the Corps as a Cadet Inspector (CI) after four years as a cadet at the Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and after completing his International Baccalaureate studies, he is now serving the NPCC Headquarters under the National Youth Internship Programme.
Mr. Hri also quoted CI Iylia in his speech, CI Iylia had share that "being in NPCC has provided me good insights in the work of the Police, especially in serving the people around me, developing in me deep values that I cherish. This has inspired me to apply for a scholarship with the Singapore Police Force, which I believe would provide the best opportunity for me to continue to serve the community, in an effort to make Singapore the safest place in the world."
Pioneer NPCC member, Assistant Commandant, Koh Ngiat Hung was also present at the 56th Anniversary celebration. Driven by a strong desire to give back to the society, the 83-year-old still continues to participate actively in NPCC events, attend meetings, conduct lectures for new officers and provide invaluable guidance to them. For his 50 years of services to the Corps, he was presented with the Pioneer Award by Mr. Hri.
Mr. Hri also presented the Unit Overall Proficiency Gold Awards (UOPA) to 66 schools that have achieved the Gold standard in NPCC UOPA 2014.
Everyone then rose to witness the members of NPCC recite the NPCC Pledge with pride, followed by singing of the National Anthem.
The parade segment came to an end with a group of cadets from different schools putting up a song-and-dance performance. In celebration of SG50, the cadets performed to National Day songs of composed the country's history. The impressed audience, many of whom were parents of the cadets, sang and clapped along.
Taking part in the annual parade for the first time, 14-year-old Lance Corporal Megan Tan Sze Rui from St. Margaret's Secondary School shared how she felt, "I feel really honoured because my school has specially picked me out from my squad, with a few other squad mates to join NPCC Annual Parade and I enjoyed it so much."
NPCC Annual Parade 2015 - March In
NPCC Annual Parade 2015 - March Past
By,
CI (NPCC) Tong Ho Leong