JUMPING WITH THE RED LIONS

As a child viewing the National Day Parade (NDP), I would marvel at the red smoke against white clouds as the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Red Lions soared through the skies to cheers of encouragement from spectators. This year, I got to experience a display jump firsthand and gained a better understanding of what it takes to be one of the Red Lions.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in July, I found myself at about 9,800ft (3,000m) in the air in a Republic of Singapore Air Force Super Puma helicopter, where the temperature was a cool 15 degrees Celsius. I was thankful to have by my side my tandem master, 2nd Warrant Officer (2WO) Krishnan Pakrisamy, who had more than 2,400 jumps under his belt, as he kept up our conversation and cracked jokes to keep me at ease.

When the time came, 2WO Krishnan hooked my harness to him and we ambled towards the door of the Super Puma.

As we stood over at the edge of the aircraft, my heart was pounding in my ears and even with my gloves on, I could feel my hands grow cold as I gripped my arms and took a deep breath. With one quick step and before I could realise what was happening, we had stepped out into thin air.

The sound of the air rushing past us was deafening as the clouds rushed by us. When I finally remembered to breathe, I could feel the air get progressively warmer and the ground looked like a mass of brown and green. And I still couldn't believe that I was freefalling.

My tandem jump journey began with a medical screening and a jump-training session to ensure that I was physically and mentally prepared for the jump. The medical screening included a chest X-ray, an echocardiogram (a heart test), a blood test and a physical examination.

Once I cleared the medical screening and was certified medically fit for the jump, a training session was conducted to explain what a tandem jump entailed. The training included learning the responsibilities of both the tandem master and the passenger, as well as a demonstration of the positions that the passenger needed to adopt during the jump.

In mid-flight, 2WO Krishnan signalled to me to take the first position with my arms folded across my chest as he deployed the main parachute. I felt a tug upwards and the sound of air rushing against me made way for absolute silence.

We were now cruising at a speed of about 20kmh as we descended. It was at this point that we got the chance to truly appreciate the view. The field that we had taken off from was but the size of a 20-cent coin from where we were.

It was all over in just three minutes, but even as we glided to a stop, I could still feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins and my heart racing.

Being a tandem passenger was a thrilling experience, but I was keenly aware that it was only possible because the tandem master was well-trained and experienced.

In a typical NDP rehearsal jump, the team leader - 1WO Tan Lee Khoon this year - of the six Red Lions has to analyse the wind conditions and determine the safest approach for landing. Once a route is determined and there is a clear line of sight to the landing zone, all six Red Lions jump out and form a six-way star, freefalling for approximately 25 seconds before they turn 180 degrees to track away from each other to find an open space to deploy their parachutes at designated altitudes in what is called stack flying. This ensures that the jumpers will land at the Marina Bay Floating Platform in succession.

Tough training and multiple jumps ensure that the Red Lions are well trained for the job. 1WO Tan Bok Leng, 42, from the Naval Diving Unit, who has more than 300 jumps under his belt, will be jumping for the first time at this year's NDP. Part of the selection process and training to be part of the Red Lions include having to land safely in a drop zone similar in size to the area on the float.

1WO Tan, who had jumped as part of the Red Lions team at the 2011 Air Force Open House, explained what keeps him attracted to jumping: "Part of it is my friends and my colleagues. We started together as trainees and some have even become my instructors when I was an instructor-trainee".

Experience was something Staff Sergeant (SSG) (NS) Danniel Lee, 49, from 10th Commando Battalion, certainly did not lack. Volunteering to be part of this year's Red Lions team, SSG (NS) Lee marks his second NDP jump with the team. As a commercial skydiving instructor with more than 5,500 jumps under his belt, he professed that he still gets nervous before a jump. "Anyone would be nervous, whether experienced or not but our training takes over", he said.

Taking time off his busy schedule of conducting courses around the world to volunteer to be part of the Red Lions for this year's NDP, SSG(NS) Lee said: "I always want to give back what the SAF gave me, that's why this is my second time volunteering."

Regardless of whether they are old hands or jumping for the first time at the NDP, the Red Lions will be sure to put up a breathtaking display once again this year at the National Day Parade. I will be watching with a renewed sense of respect as I watch these now-familiar faces descend onto the floating platform.