Get on a journey to learn more about National Service (NS)! The NS55 Interactive Trail ‘Cepat Jalan’ has been designed to showcase the rich history and significance of NS through accessible and fun ways. It is a meaningful activity that helps everyone appreciate how far we have come as a nation, and the contributions of our national servicemen to keep our nation safe and secure.
Available as a Walking Trail and a Virtual Trail, you will be brought on a journey to various locations that are significant to NS. You will also be able to use Augmented Reality (AR) to immerse yourself in the history of NS, and take part in games and quizzes along the way.
Discovery Points for Walking Trail
The Walking Trail is suitable for those who enjoy long walks, and is a perfect outing idea to be enjoyed with family, friends or fellow national servicemen.
1. The Battlebox @ Fort Canning
The Battlebox was constructed by the British as an underground command centre for war. It is also where Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival made the decision to surrender to the Japanese in World War II. It is a reminder of the importance of defence to protect our sovereignty and way of life.
2. Clemenceau Avenue
The colonial government introduced the NS Ordinance in 1954 during the height of the Communist Emergency in Malaya. However, the ordinance did not sit well with the Chinese middle school students. On 13 May, hundreds of them assembled at Clemenceau Avenue to protest.
3. Central Fire Station
The Central Fire Station is Singapore’s oldest fire station where many generations of national servicemen have served and continue to serve.
4. Singapore Management University (SMU)
A representation of our national servicemen’s commitment to serve NS while putting aside personal pursuits. After full-time NS, many NSmen go on to pursue their careers or further their studies at Institutes of Higher Learning such as SMU.
5. Civilian War Memorial
The Civilian War Memorial commemorates civilian victims from the Japanese Occupation. It is also where some units have conducted their Weapon Presentation Ceremony, a time-honoured tradition to reinforce the importance of NS and is a reminder of their responsibility to ensure that Singapore never falls again, like it did in 1942.
6. Esplanade
The Esplanade Bridge marks the starting point for many editions of the SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon, a national running event that is popular with our national servicemen and their families. However, more than just a popular event, it is also a homage to the camaraderie forged during NS, and recognition of the importance of families’ support for NS.
7. The Float @ Marina Bay
The Float @ Marina Bay is where the passing-out parades for SAF recruits have been held, in the presence of family and friends. The Float will be replaced by the NS Square. NS Square will showcase our NS story and recognise the contributions of our national servicemen.
Interactive Activities and Field Pack Quest
It takes approximately 1.5 hours to visit all seven Discovery Points on foot, excluding the time spent at each location. At each point, you can look forward to fun and interactive activities, while deepening their knowledge of NS through short articles.
You may also attempt a simple quiz and will be rewarded with an AR puzzle piece for each successful quiz attempt. Upon completion of all seven quizzes, you will be awarded with a set of specially-designed NS55 WhatsApp stickers. At the end of the journey, you will also be rewarded with a digital postcard.
In between Discovery Points, you can engage in a scratch-and-reveal activity, Field Pack Quest, where you can fill up their digital field pack with handy and essential items that every national serviceman carries.
To join this exciting adventure, you will need a smartphone with location service, camera functionality, and Internet connection. The Interactive Trail will be hosted on the website, and is available in English only.
Discovery Points for Virtual Trail (7 Discovery Points from the Walking Trail + 5 Additional Discovery Points)
The Virtual Trail will suit those who prefer to learn more about NS history from the comfort of their homes. The Field Pack Quest will not be available for the Virtual Trail. Upon completing all 12 Discovery Points, you will be awarded with the NS55 WhatsApp Stickers.
1. Dempsey Hill
The barracks served the British garrison infantry battalion until the fall of Singapore in 1942. From 1972 to 1989, the site was the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence and the Central Manpower Base.
2. Former Taman Jurong Camp
The former Taman Jurong Camp was Singapore’s first NS Camp to the first batch of Singaporean men enlisted to serve NS. It also housed the school of the Singapore Artillery. A heritage marker was installed in 2017 to mark the 50th anniversary of NS in Singapore.
3. Police Heritage Centre
The Police Heritage Centre is a multifarious showcase of exhibits that recreates the genesis and development of the Singapore Police Force (SPF) since the 1800s. The Centre captures the history and heritage of SPF and recognises the contribution of Police regulars and NS officers, as well as volunteers both past and present who work tirelessly round the clock to keep Singapore safe and secure.
4. SAFRA Mount Faber
SAFRA was formed in 1972 to strengthen bonds among SAF national servicemen and to appreciate their contributions to national defence. It also caters for the social and recreational needs of national servicemen and their families, through quality sports, social, and professional development programmes.
5. National Service (NS) Hub (Upcoming)
The upcoming NS Hub will centralise various NS-related services and transform the NS experience for our national servicemen and pre-enlistees. The hub will be where pre-enlistees will undergo psychometric tests and medical checks, and full-time national servicemen can get specialist medical and dental care at the Military Medicine Institute
The public will also be able to use the hub as a place for leisure, to learn more about NS and consider a career in the defence industry.
For information on the NS55 Interactive Trail ‘Cepat Jalan’, please visit here.
