Latest news with #JumpOfUnity
CNA
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Red Lions, Naval Divers to perform jumps, combined salute at this year's National Day Parade
Both the Red Lions and Naval Divers will perform jumps during this year's National Day Parade, ending off with a combined salute. The inaugural Jump of Unity marks the nation's 60th birthday. It is also the first time the teams will be jumping into separate locations, with the Red Lions landing in the Padang and the Naval Divers in Marina Bay. With timing crucial, training began three months ago, with everyone including aircrew specialists playing a role. Charlotte Lim with the preparations behind-the-scenes.
CNA
6 days ago
- General
- CNA
NDP 2025: What it'll take to pull off the Red Lions and naval divers' first-ever Jump of Unity
SINGAPORE: Naval diver Lim Chee Seng still remembers clearly the day he performed a free fall jump at the 2018 National Day Parade. 'From above, I can see the bay is filled with people dressed in white and red,' said the First Warrant Officer in the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Naval Diving Unit. 'It made me very proud to be a Singaporean.' Seven years since he and other naval divers first joined the famed Red Lions in an NDP jump, the elite force is returning to mark Singapore's 60th birthday with a coordinated display called the Jump of Unity. It will be the first time both naval divers and Red Lions - chiefly commandos - will parachute into two different locations – the Marina Bay and Padang, respectively. Following the jumps, the two teams will perform a combined salute. 'The keyword here is unity,' said 1WO Lim, who is also team lead. He added that the precise coordination to synchronise their actions for the combined salute was one of their 'greatest challenges'. At this year's NDP, seven naval divers will demonstrate a free fall jump used in actual operations. The team will be transported by the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) H225M Medium Life Helicopter, and exit sequentially at 6,000 ft above ground. The divers will then deploy their parachutes at about 5,000 ft, and land in the water in front of the Esplanade at Marina Bay. Once they enter the water in quick succession, they must remove their parachutes, make their way to a recovery platform, and move to the salute point. Their timing must be 'tight and precise", said 1WO Lim, 41. PREPARING FOR THE JUMP 1WO Lim was speaking to the media at iFly Singapore in late June, ahead of the parade on Aug 9. The wind tunnel facility at iFly is where naval divers and Red Lions train for the free fall phase – the time between exiting the aircraft and deploying their parachutes. The main objective is to practise their stability and mobility drills, and to give them the confidence for execution, said 1WO Lim. He added that the iFly facility was 'as close as it gets' to being in the air. 'Whatever you can do here, more than likely you will be able to execute it seamlessly in the air.' To become fully-fledged parachutists, the soldiers undergo training sessions both locally and overseas. This includes a three-week basic airborne course and a month-long military freefall course, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said. Apart from vertical wind tunnel training, the trainees also execute live training jumps and train with a virtual reality parachute flight simulator. Then there is the mental preparation bit, which 1WO Lim emphasises for his team before physical rehearsals. The team will close their eyes while 1WO Lim narrates the process of the jump, and verbally guides them on what they might feel and see. 'Once the mental rehearsal is done, I'll ask the whole team what is one thing that they want to improve for the upcoming jump,' he said. 'So with communication, we understand what everybody wants to do better this round.' For the Red Lions' jump this year, they will be transported by the RSAF's C-130 Hercules aircraft, and exit at 10,000 ft above ground. They will then link up in their traditional ring formation and execute the crowd favourite "bomb burst" move to take turns to land on the Padang. Red Lions team lead and instructor, Master Warrant Officer Chew Eng Seng, said it was always challenging for the jumpers to exit the aircraft together and form a ring. Asked about the hard landing of a Red Lion at NDP 2022, MWO Chew stressed that safety was the 'top priority'. 'Before every jump, we have to make sure that all the safety requirements are met from the weather, visibility and the condition of the servicemen,' said the 50-year-old. Following the incident, a review panel looked into the training and safety management measures of the Red Lions. The training programme was updated to include a component which closely simulates landing zone conditions and includes overseas training, to further hone the Red Lions' skills. The Red Lions team this year comprises seven jumpers, including one female, said MWO Chew. All team members have an average of 500 to 1,000 jumps each, and MWO Chew himself clocking over 1,000. Although it is his fifth time doing so at an NDP, this year's jump is significant as it is SG60, said MWO Chew. He added that the most exciting part is when they land and can hear - and feel - the cheers of the spectators. 'We hope that we can put up a good show in front of the nation on the ninth of August,' he said. 'Get ready for us.'
CNA
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
NDP 2025: Red Lions, naval divers to parachute into Padang, Marina Bay in SG60 tribute
SINGAPORE: In celebration of Singapore's 60th birthday, the Red Lions and naval divers will parachute onto the Padang and into Marina Bay at this year's National Day Parade (NDP). The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will also stage a special aerial tribute, the NDP 2025 executive committee announced on Monday (May 26). With this year's NDP show expanding from Padang to the Marina Bay area, the Red Lions will land at the Padang while the Republic of Singapore Navy's divers will parachute into the water at Marina Bay in a coordinated aerial display called a Jump of Unity. Performances at the Padang will also be combined with building light projections and fireworks across the city skyline, along with water floats and a new floating stage for performers. 'NDP 2025 aims to deliver an immersive experience for all live audiences, whether they are at the Padang or the Bay,' organisers said on Monday. The parade and ceremony segment will feature the largest number of contingents to date, alongside crowd favourites such as the state flag flypast, salute to the nation and the presidential gun salute. Returning to the Padang for the first time since 2019, the mobile column will showcase air, land and maritime assets from the Singapore Armed Forces, Home Team and Maritime Port Authority of Singapore. There will also be an aerial flypast over the Padang and a maritime display at the Bay. The show will unfold in four acts inspired by the National Anthem, featuring local artistes and performers from various organisations. "MAJULAH SINGAPURA" This year's theme, 'Majulah Singapura', calls on Singaporeans to reflect on six decades of nationhood while looking ahead with optimism and resilience, the NDP 2025 executive committee said in a fact sheet. Organisers said the theme highlights the values of trust, inclusivity and mutual support, encouraging all citizens to play their part in Singapore's ongoing journey. The logo for NDP 2025 features a fusion of "60" and GO', serving as a rallying call for Singaporeans to move forward together. Five shooting stars in the design symbolise the nation's founding ideals: democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality. The official NDP theme song, Here We Are, is co-written by Charlie Lim and Chok Kerong, and produced by Dr Sydney Tan. It is performed by Charlie Lim, Kit Chan and The Island Voices. CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE ISLAND Those without parade tickets can also join in the festivities. On Aug 9, the Marina Bay area will host interactive booths, carnival games and activities throughout the day. During the parade, large LED screens and speakers will broadcast the show live across the Bay. Five partner-led celebration sites in and around Marina Bay will also provide additional experiences for the public, organisers added. On Aug 10, five heartland locations will host live performances, fireworks and activities, with the mobile column making appearances across the island. Details on ticket applications for the parade will be released soon. SINGAPOREANS OVERSEAS Speaking to members of the media on Monday, Colonel Chong Shi Hao, chairman of the NDP 2025 executive committee, said the team is working with overseas missions and through the Singapore Global Network to support Singaporeans overseas to celebrate National Day. 'It's still very much a work in progress. I think we are trying to reach out to our partner agencies to gather as many Singaporeans in their respective locations to celebrate wherever they are, even if they are not in Singapore,' he said. When asked about the budget for this year's celebrations, Col Chong said that it is "comparable with past years". "I think what's important is that, as a committee, every year, we strive to be as prudent in the use of our resources, in the use of the budget, while at the same time trying to achieve our outcomes of uniting Singaporeans and bringing them together."
