BEHIND THE PARADE

https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/2bfc39f6-5a2f-47ef-976a-5d3ce9be7f25/0-2_fb2_colours-party2-20250719-ted_620406adee6f-d936-4887-8e3c-944e9b5e0539.jpg?sfvrsn=2b8e3191_1 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/28jul25_news1
BEHIND THE PARADE https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/28jul25_news1
28 Jul 2025 | COMMUNITY

BEHIND THE PARADE

Months of hard work and burnt weekends, all for Singapore’s biggest birthday bash. Here’s your backstage pass to this year’s National Day Parade!

//STORY BY SHERLYN QUEK /PHOTOS BY PIONEER PHOTOGRAPHERS, TEDD JONG & COURTESY OF NDP 2025 EXCO

Feeling flag-tastic: The SAF Colours Party are all smiles after completing another NDP rehearsal. This year marks the first time the Uncasing of Colours will be held at Marina Square, so that more Singaporeans can watch the ceremony!
Smartly dressed in their crisp No. 1 uniforms, the Colours Party wave to enthusiastic spectators as they head in to get ready for the Uncasing of Colours ceremony earlier in the afternoon.
Red Lions boarding the C-130 Hercules plane. These elite parachutists will be teaming up with naval divers for the first-ever Jump of Unity – the Red Lions will be descending at the Padang while the naval divers will land into the waters of Marina Bay.
Give a wave to the Army’s gunners and combat engineers as they sail across the Bay on the M3G raft! On 9 Aug, these 25-pounder guns will fire 21 times – the highest military honour that is reserved for the President. During NDP previews, the guns are fired 19 times instead for the parade's Reviewing Officer.
F-16 fighter pilot CPT Rachel Wong, who is taking part in her first NDP, enjoying the view of Singapore as she flies to the Padang for the enhanced Salute to the Nation and Jet Formation Flypast.
“Dragon-tamer” in action: CH-47F helicopter pilot Lieutenant Colonel Tan Guan Yong conducting pre-flight checks on the Chinook before the State Flag Flypast.
An exclusive view: The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s CH-47F Heavy Lift Chinook, S-70B Seahawk and AH-64D Apache helicopters approaching Show Centre at the Padang as part of the Helicopter Formation Flypast.
Students sneaking in a wefie with Joakim Gomez, one of this year’s NDP hosts.
Performers getting their outfits show-perfect. More than 39 artistes and 3,000 performers will be taking part in the spectacular Show segment!
Star power: Local artistes coming together for a group shot after the finale at one of the NDP rehearsals.
Suggested Reading
Feature
THEY’VE GOT THEIR EYE ON THE BULLSEYE
PEOPLE
18 Nov 2025

Precision, mental fortitude, consistency. The SAF Shooting Contingent must carry these qualities as they prepare to compete in the ASEAN Army Rifle Meet (AARM) this year.

AI JOINS THE FIGHT IN NATIONAL CYBER DEFENCE EXERCISE
TECHNOLOGY
12 Nov 2025

AI and closer collaboration among agencies and industry are taking centre stage in this year’s Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise (CIDeX).

DEFENCE IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS
PEOPLE
06 Nov 2025

Whether it’s supporting NSmen in their NS commitments or volunteering in the SAF and empowering youths, 2SG (NS) Elliot Ang and SV2 Sheila Manokaran support our nation’s defence in their own ways.

Feature
FIRST IN, LAST OUT AT EX WALLABY 2025
OPS & TRAINING
06 Nov 2025

Meet the teams who toil behind the scenes to enable the smooth conduct of the SAF’s biggest unilateral overseas exercise.

Cover story
EXERCISE WALLABY 2025: TO SEE BETTER, SHOOT FASTER
OPS & TRAINING
31 Oct 2025

The SAF focuses on complex strike missions and multi-domain integration in Exercise Wallaby 2025, the 35th edition of its largest unilateral overseas exercise.

Feature
EX WALLABY 25 – GREATER INTEGRATION AND COMPLEXITY
OPS & TRAINING
25 Oct 2025

The 35th edition of the SAF’s largest unilateral overseas exercise is an opportunity for expanded scale and deeper integration towards an effective, networked fighting force.
COMMAND & STAFF COLLEGE GRADUANDS READY FOR NEW CHALLENGES
PEOPLE
23 Oct 2025

Family, work and studies – having to manage these demands is tough, but all the hard work was worth it for both MAJ Ikhtiaruddin Iman Bin Mustafa and SWO Seck Wai Kong, two recent graduates of the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College.
NAVY LAUNCHES 1ST MULTI-ROLE COMBAT VESSEL
MILESTONES
21 Oct 2025

The Multi-Role Combat Vessel will function as a mothership for the command and conduct of unmanned naval operations.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW CMPB
MILESTONES
14 Oct 2025

The new Central Manpower Base (CMPB) at Bukit Gombak officially opened its doors on 14 Oct, welcoming pre-enlistees, servicemen and the public alike to a state-of-the-art, one-stop hub for all things National Service (NS).

Feature
FATHER & SON DOCTOR DUO
PEOPLE
13 Oct 2025

COL (Dr) (Ret) Tan Peng Hui was a pioneering figure in the SAF Medical Corps. Now, decades later, son CPT (Dr) Caleb Tan follows in his footsteps as part of the 100th Medical Officer Cadet Course.