SG prepares for disruptions in nationwide Total Defence exercise

Terror incidents around the world have led to authorities raising the threat status in Singapore. On the morning of 15 Feb, security forces activate their personnel in a show of deterrence.

Meanwhile, a successful phishing attack causes a power shutdown at the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) Centre. All systems are offline, and people are trapped in the building’s lifts.

These scenarios were simulated at Exercise SG Ready – a nation-wide Total Defence (TD) exercise to strengthen the public’s preparedness for disruptions.

This year’s exercise, now in its second edition, will run for two weeks until 28 Feb and involve over 1,000 organisations.

As part of the exercise, personnel mobilisation exercises were held by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) at Selarang Camp and Murai Camp. Several power, food and water disruptions were also simulated across the island, including a “blackout” of over 30 prominent buildings.

“Total Defence is everyone’s business,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, who launched the exercise on 15 Feb at the TD Day Commemoration Event held at SBF Centre.  

“As the challenges we face are becoming more complex, it is even more important that we strengthen our whole-of-nation response…and to support one another so that we can stay united and recover faster and stronger,” he said, as part of his TD Day message.

Ready to respond

At Selarang Camp, activated army personnel from various units streamed in on 5-tonners, ready for deployment.

They operated alongside the Singapore Police Force in joint patrols for a simulated period of heightened threat.

“This demonstrates the Army’s adaptiveness and ability to conduct a full range of operations beyond conventional warfighting tasks,” said Major (MAJ) Caine Liew, 35, who was the force commander for the mobilisation exercise at Selarang Camp.

As part of preparations, the soldiers were trained in Peacetime Contingency Operations, including Search and Arrest and Rules of Engagement training, which is outside of their usual scope of work.

The troops, who came from formations including Armour, Artillery and Combat Engineers, also conducted operational readiness checks – such as ensuring that their stores were always ready and their equipment batteries charged – so that they could be deployed at a moment’s notice.

“Today’s exercise validates our army’s responsiveness and ability to recall troops on short notice, so that in the case of real emergency or crisis, (we know that) our army is ready to deploy swiftly,” said MAJ Liew, who is also Commanding Officer of 24th Battalion, Singapore Artillery (24 SA).

3rd Sergeant (3SG) Chong Ching Weng, a Full-time National Serviceman in 24 SA, was surprised to receive the activation alert this morning.

However, the Operations Specialist was ready to jump into action, thanks to mock-up exercises conducted beforehand that helped him revise and remember his protocols.

“This is my first time experiencing a no-notice activation, so I treated it as if it’s a real-life scenario,” said the 24-year-old.

“Our unit is also on operational manning, so we know to be contactable and report within a certain timing.”  

Prepared for disruptions

This year’s Exercise SG Ready, co-led by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Energy Market Authority, puts focus on disruptions caused by cyberattacks on the power grid. It kicked off with a simulated power disruption to the lifts at SBF Centre.

Mr Gan watched the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) demonstrate its lift rescue capabilities, and was briefed on SP Group’s 1MVA mobile generator that can supply electricity during a power shutdown.

He was also given a preview of a phishing exercise, jointly conducted by MINDEF’s Nexus  and SBF, to enhance cybersecurity awareness.

Over 200 businesses, many of which are small and medium enterprises, will take part in the exercise, and involve over 7,000 employees. 

This is the first time many of these businesses are conducting a formal phishing exercise, said SBF’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kok Ping Soon. 

“We often say that employees are the weakest link in a company’s cybersecurity regime. Phishing simulations help socialise them to the tell-tale signs of cyber criminals… so that they are on the alert and don’t fall prey to actual attacks. 

“The results of the exercise will help the companies better enable the training of their employees and identify where there are lapses in their processes,” he said. 

Nationwide TD activities

Come night-time, parts of Singapore will also experience a “blackout”, with over 30 buildings switching off their façade lights to simulate a power disruption.

This includes National Gallery Singapore and Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre in the central area; as well as the Ang Mo Kio Public Library and Jurong Regional Library in the heartlands.

This blackout aims to encourage businesses and residents to think about contingency plans, such as having back-up power sources, and how they can prepare for unexpected power outages. 

On 15 Feb, SAFRA Choa Chu Kang also organised various activities to educate members of public on what to do during a disruption.

This included a showcase of how the Public Utilities Board (PUB) distributes water to the public in times of disruption; and a Cyber Safety Quest for participants to learn how to guard against cyberthreats like phishing and malware.

Beyond this weekend, schools across the island prepare for food and water disruptions that could result from a prolonged power outage. The Singapore Food Agency and SATS will distribute ready-to-eat meals to secondary schools and pre-universities participating in the exercise.

Visit the SGReadyGoWhere website to find out more details about various exercise activities happening as part of Exercise SG Ready in the next two weeks, as well as resources for preparedness activities.