President Tony Tan Keng Yam visited the Civil Defence Academy (CDA)earlier today. President Tony Tan was received by Commissioner SCDF, Commissioner Eric Yap. The visit[1]provided President Tony Tan an updateof SCDF"s Conceptof Operations, itstraining facilitiesat the academyand overseas humanitarian missions.

Accompanied by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, President TonyTantouredtheCDA"s training facilities. During the tour, President Tony Tan was shown demonstrations of the academy's state-of-the-art computer-controlled simulators used for fire-fighting, rescue,HazMat mitigation and pre-hospital care management. In addition, President Tony Tan was also shown the academy's latest training system, the Advanced Command Training System (ACTS) which uses a 3D immersive environment for command and control training for senior commanders.

President Tony Tan also viewed an exhibition on SCDF"s Overseas Missions[2] on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. The exhibition showcased SCDF"s Overseas Operation Lionheart missions as well as the partnerships forged with respective international organisations such as the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance (UNOCHA). The exhibition also featured specialised equipment and appliances used by SCDF"s Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) during overseas missions.

President Tony Tan"s visitto CDAconcluded with a reception where he was invited to sign on aDART rescue helmet to commemorate the visit. This helmet will be displayed for public viewingatthe SCDF"s Heritage Gallery. President Tony Tan also signed theSCDF"s Guestbook and mentioned: ""SCDF"s capability to respond to and manage crises is crucial to Singapore"s continual growth and prosperity. I congratulate SCDF for your professionalism in keeping Singapore and Singaporeans safe and secure."

[1]President Tony Tan had previously visited CDA in 2002. He was then the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

[2]SCDF has deployed the Operation Lionheart Contingent for 13 overseas rescue missions. The most recent was in 2011 where they were deployed to Christchurch, New Zealand and Soma City, Japan, which were hit by powerful earthquakes.