A Look at Total Defence

What does the word TOTAL mean ? According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, it means Complete, Absolute. Thus we know that when the Singapore Government came up with this TOTAL DEFENCE concept in 1984, they are leaving nothing to chance.

The 5 aspects of TOTAL DEFENCE:

• Military Defence
• Civil Defence
• Economic Defence
• Social Defence
• Psychological Defence So how did TOTAL DEFENCE come about ?

There are 2 reasons why this concept was inked and carried out.

Firstly, Singapore is a young nation with a small population and we are unable to afford a regular armed force, thus we need to include every Singapore in the bid to maintain national security in times of crisis.

Secondly, war now is very different from the past and is not longer about attacking using bombs, gunfire and tanks. It can be in non-military ways such as using chemicals, nuclear and viral.

In Short:

TOTAL DEFENCE is not only a defence strategy that can be applied only during times of war but it is a framework for a comprehensive response to deal with all kinds of threats and challenges.

For example during the SARS period in 2003 and even in our most recent case of Mas Selamat's escape from the detention centre. Total defence calls for everyone's participation to ensure Singapore continual survival and success. Everyone has a personal responsiblity and a part to play to help keep Singapore safe and secure.

So the next question you may ask is : I'm only a student. How can I be involved ?

Well.......the answer is very simple... we need to take personal responsibility even in seemingly small things.

• Remember the fire-drill that our school conducted in Term 1 ? We all stopped our lessons and went in an orderly manner to the open field opposite our school.

• Remember the temperature taking exercise we conducted in our own classes ? Teachers were chasing you all to bring your thermometers and collecting them from you in a bid to make sure everyone takes their temperature on that day.

• Remember Racial Harmony Day that we have every year ? On this day we celebrate our differences and seek to achieve racial and religious understanding.

All of us took part and we contributed in our small ways to building and strengthening of the country's security. We need to be vigilant at all times.

Go to this website to read some stories teaching you how you can be a part of Total Defence
http://www.totaldefence.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/topics/totaldefence/resources/srp.html

Watch this video clip on Youtube on NATION MOULDERS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3W0EtSEucY