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Fact Sheet: Women’s Boot Camp 2023 – Youth Edition

Background

This year’s Women’s Boot Camp (WBC) 2023 is targeted at female youths. The camp was held from 11 to 12 February 2023 at Maju Camp, and attended by 31 participants.

The WBC was initiated by the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) and supported by the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC).

The WBC aims to:

a. Provide participants with a glimpse of what our national servicemen go through to allow better understanding of military life and appreciate what our national servicemen experience; and

b. Create an opportunity for youths to show their support for NS and Total Defence (TD).

WBC Activities

Description of Activities (new activities at this year’s WBC are in bold)

Day 1

Description

Handling of the Singapore Assault Rifle - 21st Century (SAR 21)

Participants experienced the handling of the SAR 21, the Singapore Army’s rifle developed locally that all Servicemen are trained to use. The SAR 21 is designed to be light-weight and intuitive to use, catering specifically to the build of our soldiers. It was designed with minimal parts for quick assembly, disassembly, cleaning and maintenance. It was also designed with less recoil and a 1.5X optical scope that allows for more accuracy.

Static Weapon Display

Participants were introduced to weapons such as the M203 Grenade Launcher, Man-portable, Anti-Tank, Anti-Door (MATADOR) weapon, the Section Automatic Weapon (SAW), and GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun).

Introduction to Combat Buddy Aid

Participants were introduced to First Aid Dressing, learned how to apply a tourniquet and performed casualty evacuation.

Introduction to Standard Obstacle Course (SOC)

Participants challenged themselves at a truncated version of the SOC, of which they attempted nine out of the usual 12 obstacles:

  1. Stepping Stones
  2. Rubble
  3. Tunnel
  4. Dodging Panels
  5. Low Rope
  6. Ditch
  7. Corridor
  8. Window
  9. Terrace

Combat Rations Dinner

Participants had the opportunity to taste the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) combat rations.

Focus Group Discussion and TD Activity

Participants engaged in a conversation on how they can play a larger role in NS and our nation’s defence, as well as a TD activity where they brainstormed, reflected and came up with what they pledged to do for TD in 2023.

 

Day 2

Description

First Parade and Usage of Risk Assessment Card

Prior to commencement of training activities, participants collectively assessed five factors comprising: (i) Mission (complexity and factors to consider for safe completion of the task); (ii) Management (safety measures in place); (iii) Man (whether section is physically and mentally ready to undertake the task) (iv) Machine (is of operable condition); and (v) Medium (assess the environment for potential risks and mitigate them). As part of this process, they also underwent temperature taking and water parade.

2km Route March with 100m Simulated Casualty Evacuation

Participants experienced a 2km route march around the camp and a 100m simulated casualty evacuation.

Capability Demonstration

  1. Night fighting equipment
  2. Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

Participants were introduced to the night vision goggles (NVGs) and experienced using NVGs in a near zero-light environment to identify targets. Personnel from HQ Army Intelligence and the SAFVC also operated Micro UAVs with the participants viewing the demonstration. These Micro UAVs are used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.

Introduction to Urban Operations

  1. Instinctive Action Drill
  2. Tactical Room Clearing Procedures
  3. Firing of blanks with SAR 21

 

Participants rehearsed the Instinctive Action Drill (InAD) and tactical room clearing procedures with the SAR 21, mounted with the Tactical Engagement System (TES), before executing with the firing of blanks. The TES on the SAR 21 is a laser transmitter that is mounted and aligned with the rifle barrel to simulate firing and provide feedback if the target has been successfully engaged. This realistically mimics real-world engagements in a safe and interactive environment.

 

About ACCORD

ACCORD was established by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in January 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on issues concerning Singapore’s defence. Following recommendations from the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) in 2014, MINDEF reviewed the structure of ACCORD to deepen engagement with employers, educational institutions, family members and members of the broader community, as well as to facilitate initiatives from the community that better support national defence and NS. ACCORD has been restructured with three Councils formed under its ambit, namely, the Employer and Business (E&B), Family and Community (F&C) and Educational Institutions (EI) Councils.

The ACCORD E&B Council serves as a forum for better engagement of the business community on NS issues, as well as to strengthen collaboration between the community and MINDEF or the SAF. The ACCORD EI Council aims to raise the awareness of, and boost the support and recognition for NS among students, parents and educators in MOE schools/Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), as well as the Foreign System Schools (FSSs) and Privately Funded Institutions (PFIs). The ACCORD F&C Council recognises that there is a role for everyone to play towards the defence of our nation, regardless of one’s age and gender.

Ms Joanna Portilla, co-lead of ACCORD F&C Council Working Group 2 is the organiser of WBC 2023 – Youth Edition. She was the organiser for the past two iterations of the WBC in 2018 and 2019. Joanna has been a member of ACCORD since 2008 and is a strong advocate for NS and TD.

About SAFVC

The SAFVC is a uniformed volunteer scheme inaugurated in 2015 to provide more Singaporeans and Permanent Residents the opportunity to contribute to national defence, show support for National Service and deepen their understanding and ownership of national defence. Volunteers undergo progressive training to ensure that they are competent and ready to serve in a variety of roles in 11 categories across three services – Army, Navy and Air Force. These roles range from security/naval operations, to specialised fields, such as engineering and medical. To-date, the SAFVC has enlisted around 1,000 SVs who serve alongside Full-Time National Servicemen, Regulars and Operationally Ready National Servicemen to ensure the continued peace and security of Singapore.

For more information on ACCORD and SAFVC, please visit www.accord.gov.sg and www.mindef.gov.sg/safvc.

 

 

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