Time is of the essence, and this adage is best expressed by a career in the SCDF. Two officers share their stories of life-saving and rescue missions.

By Tang Pin-Ji

Dousing flames with huge jets of water and rescuing trapped people from car wrecks may sound like scenes from your usual action movie. But for SSG Francis Tan and SSG Md Jazman s/o Md Ramzan, these are emergency situations they have been trained to deal with.

Both Francis and Jazman are Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Specialists in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). Their specialties lie in detecting and containing hazardous materials such as chemicals and toxins. These contribute towards the SCDF’s overall mission of building a world-class organisation that provides fire-fighting and rescue services.

Every second counts
Every moment on the job is a challenge, as it is impossible to anticipate what might happen the next second. From the time an emergency alarm goes off, these men have only one minute to don their gear and head out of the station, and eight minutes to arrive at the scene.

Francis emphasises that a fast response time is absolutely critical. “Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, you have to stop immediately and slide down the sliding pole. Even if you’re having your lunch, you leave the station within one minute,” he reveals.

A career in civil defence is not just about training for physical resilience; it is also about nurturing each individual’s mental agility and people management skills.

By Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

The grounds of the Civil Defence Academy (CDA), a training establishment under the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), emanate a subtle resonance that would leave a lasting impression on anyone. There, the men don’t just walk – they stride with purpose, knowing that the safety and security of the nation’s civilian population is all in a day’s work for them.

Life as a Senior Instructor at the CDA is one filled with challenges that anyone with a taste for adventure would relish. Eugene Phng is one such individual.

“Before I joined the CDA, I was looking for a job that would provide me with a very challenging environment,” the Senior Instructor of the Command & Staff Training Centre shares. “I’m a very ‘outdoorsy’ person. I think the mission of SCDF is what I was looking for. We’re doing something for the people around us.”

Singapore is renowned as one of the safest cities in the world. Every day, Singaporeans are able to live, work and play in an environment relatively free of crime, civil strife, and terrorism.

By Tan Yan Shuo

This is testimony to the effectiveness of the Home Team, the collection of departments and statutory boards under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a multifarious team that watches over our city like a guardian angel, and is staffed by countless dedicated individuals – our heartland heroes.

Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
Concerned about cigarette smuggling? You might want to thank SSG Herwan Bin Pani, who once detected 4,800 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in a 20-foot container that was falsely declared as containing furniture. With his keen eye, quick wits, and professionalism, Herwan achieved the ICA Commissioner’s Outstanding Award for two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006.

“I chose to be an ICA officer as the job fills me with pride and a sense of professionalism,” he says. “I enjoy being at the first line of defence, safeguarding our borders and doing my part in protecting our country.”

Fires, trapped people, toxic spills, collapsed buildings… When things go wrong, you can rely on the specialists of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to save the day.

By Edwin Tam

Chances are that you might know someone who describes his job with one of these three words—routine, monotonous, lifeless. Second Warrant Officer Eric Lee Kar Kiat describes his job as “colourful”...