Singapore: PonteSud – News Desk
For the first time in National Day Parade (NDP) history, the 2025 parade and ceremony will feature a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) guard of honour contingent on Aug 9.
NDP 2025, which marks Singapore’s 60th year of independence, will also see the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) field its first full contingent to mark its 10th anniversary.
Speaking at National Gallery Singapore on June 12, NDP 2025 parade and ceremony chairman, Colonel Lim Yu Sing said that the parade will feature 40 marching contingents – the largest number at the Padang since 1990, when 70 took part.
While participants still train over about 14 weekends – similar to previous years – the higher number of Guard of Honour contingents has added complexity to their movements, said the 44-year-old parade and ceremony chairman.
Meticulous planning has gone into technicalities such as where the contingents turn, their spacing, marching speed and where they stop, said Col Lim, who was also parade and ceremony chairman for NDP 2023.
SCDF deputy commissioner for operations and resilience Ling Young Ern said the decision to include SCDF in the guard of honour contingent was made following public feedback. The force will remain a part of the guard of honour in future NDPs.
The inclusion of SCDF means that its service personnel have to be trained to handle the SAR21 rifle – which is not part of SCDF’s personal equipment but a standard weapon borne by guard of honour troops.
NDP 2025 will be led by parade commander Lieutenant Colonel Firdaus Ghazali, 38, and parade regimental sergeant major Master Warrant Officer Lim Jie Hui, 46.
About 2 100 participants will take part in the parade. They include members from six Guard of Honour contingents, the SAF colours party, several SAF and Home Team supporting contingents, uniformed youth organisations, numerous civilian contingents, a combined band, and a live choir.
In addition, 142 soldiers are involved in the presidential gun salute.
Training for contingents from the SAF and Home Team began in April, while civilian contingents joined in from May. The first combined rehearsal at the Padang will take place on June 14.
Major Lee En Hao, 34, commander of the SCDF’s inaugural guard of honour contingent, said Aug 9 will be a “historical moment” for the force. He added that he is excited to see how future parades may evolve, with the SCDF guard of honour contingent now a permanent fixture in the NDP.
With the rest of the guard of honour, the SCDF contingent will fire blanks using SAR21 rifles during the feu de joie, or fire of joy, which is a ceremonial salute.
Sergeant 3 Thenmoli Silvadorie, a 28-year-old SCDF paramedic, said learning how to use and fire a SAR21 rifle has been exciting for her.
