Archive

Even Heroes May Need Help

It may surprise many of you to think that heroes are not invincible as we do not expect to see vulnerabilities in these extraordinary individuals. The thought that heroes can be as ordinary as you and me may be hard for us to conceive. SCDF’s emergency responders are often seen as heroes who are physically strong, resilient, and are always ready to jump into the thick of action to save lives and properties. However, these front-liners are humans with emotions and vulnerabilities. Every incident, no matter big or small, may at times take a psychological toll on our SCDF officers, which is why even heroes need may need help. This is where SCDF’s Emergency Behavioural Sciences and Care unit (EBSC) comes in. Meet EBSC’s psychologist, Mr Cyrus Chng, who has been providing psychological support and counselling services to members of The Life Saving Force for over two years.

Chairman, Bedok Community Emergency and Engagement Committee Shares His Passion to Serve the Public

You would have read about Mr Patrick Cheong in the news recently. He had responded to two incidents and was awarded the SCDF’s Community First Responder Award (CFRA) and the Community Lifesavers’ Award (CLA). Mr Cheong is the Chairman of Bedok Community Emergency and Engagement Committee (C2E) and has played a pivotal role in assisting Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) in organising SGSecure related programmes for the residents in Bedok constituency. Rescue 995 engaged Mr Cheong for an exclusive interview as he shared his experiences as a Community First Responder (CFR) and Grassroot volunteer in Bedok Constituency.

Cycling Champion Shares Training Tips to Winning Races

Meet Staff Sergeant (SSG) Ahmad Ridhwan Bin Dahlan, a section commander of the SCDF’s elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) and one of the recipients of the Home Team Sports and Recreation Association (HTSRA) Merit Award 2020. This award acknowledges SSG Ridhwan’s outstanding contribution as a SCDF Multi-sports Convenor and a competitor who represented SCDF’s cycling team, taking it to the podium for the past four years!

SWO1 Irianto Bin Marino (left) and MAJ Abdul Razak Senin (right) holding their well-deserved medallion.

Former Veteran DART Rescuers Recall Their First Overseas Operation

MAJOR (MAJ) Abdul Razak Senin and Senior Warrant Officer (SWO1) Irianto Bin Marino can never forget their first overseas operation as rescuers from the newly formed Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) twenty-seven years ago. It was also the year when they had just graduated from the 1st DART Conversion Course. Five months after the conversion course, on 11 December 1993, a huge mudslide brought on by the heavy December rains triggered the collapse of a 12-storey building on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Within hours, DART rescuers were activated to assist in the rescue mission at Highland Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

COL Chew Keng Tok holding his well-deserved medallion

In Conversation with COLONEL Chew Keng Tok, a Veteran DART Rescuer

Meet COLONEL (COL) Chew Keng Tok who has spent over 16 years as a member of the elite Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). COL Chew had graduated from the 10th DART Specialist Course in 2003. He joined the elite unit as a Platoon Commander from 2003 to 2006, and later led the unit as the DART Commander for close to five years since 2015. On 26 October 2020, COL Chew was one of the eight DART members who received a medallion each for their immense contributions to the unit over the years. Today, he is the Commander of 2nd SCDF Division.

CPT Saifulbahri holding the award in his hand

SCDF’s Convenor for Sepak Takraw Wants to Keep the Sport’s Tradition Alive

Meet CPT Saifulbahri Bin Mohd Idris, a training management officer at SCDF 1st Division HQ and one of the recipients of the Home Team Sports and Recreation Association (HTSRA) Merit Award 2020. This award acknowledges CPT Saifulbahri’s outstanding contribution as a Sports Convenor of SCDF’s Sepak Takraw. Under CPT Saifulbahri’s guidance, SCDF’s Sepak Takraw team emerged as champions and runners-up for several tournaments in 2019 and in the early part of 2020 before the start of Covid-19 Circuit Breaker.

In Conversation with SCDF Legend — Encik Agayle (Part 2)

In a previous e-article of Rescue 995, SWO (RET) Mohd Salleh Bin Ali, affectionately and commonly known as Encik Agayle, walked us down the memory lane of his life as a firefighter and trainer in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) for the past 45 years. In this second and final part article, Encik Agayle recalled some of the major incidents which he had responded to during the early days of his career.

NSF of the Year Awardee on The Key Lessons Learned During National Service

LTA (NS) Tran Ngoc Long Gary was elated when he was awarded the NSF of the Year 2020. The 23-year old Rota Commander at Central Fire Station has led his rota in many rescue and fire emergencies. One notable incident includes a Suicide Rescue Incident resulting in no casualty at Havelock Road.

In Conversation with SCDF Legend — Encik Agayle (Part 1)

Meet SWO (RET) Md Salleh Bin Ali who has spent over 40 years of his life as a fireman and trainer in the Singapore Civil Defence Force. At 62 years of age, he is a member of the Merdeka Generation – Singaporeans born in the 1950s – honoured for their contributions to nation building.

Recipient of the ‘NS Man of the Year’ Award Shares His Take on Leadership

MAJ (NS) Rozaiman Rosidi, 37 years of age, started his National Service in 2005 in the Singapore Armed Forces before he was posted to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). In SCDF, MAJ (NS) Rozaiman completed a 9-month Basic Officers’ Course (BOC), and was subsequently posted to the Special Rescue Battalion (SRB) as a Platoon Commander.