Total Defence Resources
2024 marks 40 years of Total Defence (TD40) in Singapore, since it was first introduced in 1984. The theme for this year's Total Defence campaign - "Together We Keep Singapore Strong" - focuses on the many ways we can put Total Defence into action in our everyday lives.
Total Defence remains relevant to deal with the ever-evolving hybrid threats and challenges to Singapore. These include misinformation, supply chain disruptions and food security that affect communities and Singaporeans' way of life.
Every Singaporean has a part to play in our daily lives to ensure that Singapore is prepared for crises or disruptions, and that we remain resilient and united.
To mark this milestone, a new TD40 logo has been developed for the use of all Total Defence-related activities in 2024. For more details on the TD40 logo colours and their usage, you may download the CI Guide and Logo here.
Below are other resources on Total Defence which you may find useful for your engagement.
Exercise SG Ready
The inaugural Exercise SG Ready was held at various locations across the island between 15 Feb to 29 Feb 2024 to increase Singaporeans' readiness for crises and disruptions. The exercise simulated disruptions of power, water, food supply, digital connectivity and a civil emergency arising from wide spread cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and drone attacks from an anonymous actor in the region.
The aim of the exercise is to get individuals, communities and businesses thinking about the question, "Are you ready for disruptions?", and to put Total Defence into action by putting in place their own contingency plans for disruptions.
More than 800 education, community, commercial, and government organisations, participated in Exercise SG Ready. Participating organisations simulated approximately 250 disruptions of power, 300 disruptions of food or water supply, nearly 200 evacuation drills, and 200 cyber disruptions of which 10 or more were connectivity-related, and 20 or more were disinformation-related.
Students experienced lessons without fans or lights to simulate power disruptions. To simulate food disruptions, some students got to try ready-to-eat meals developed by the Singapore Food Agency and SATS, while others experienced limitations to the range of food served in their canteens.
The PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency conducted a water supply disruption at Yung Sheng Road where more than 200 households collected water from PUB's water wagon and water bag filling machine. About 12,000 members of the public visited the Civil Defence Shelter Open Houses at Dakota, Potong Pasir, and Tan Kah Kee MRT stations to learn how selected underground MRT stations can be converted into public shelters to protect civilians during an emergency.
More than 160 businesses validated their contingency plans for either simulated disruptions of power, water, food supply, digital connectivity or a civil emergency. Some of them went on to conduct simulated phishing exercises referencing Cyber Security Agency's playbooks, which were developed in consultation with Microsoft and Google.
Exercise SG Ready Scenario Video
As part of Exercise SG Ready, the scenario video illustrates how hybrid threats can disrupt our daily lives. It also helped set the context for the simulated disruptions that took place beween 15 - 29 Feb 2024!
Watch the Exercise SG Ready Scenario Video here now!
Total Defence Organisation Table-top Exercise (TTX)
The Total Defence Organisation TTX aims to activate thinking and encourage discussion among participants on the strengths and weaknesses of their organisation's existing Business Continuity Plan (BCP), and how their organisation can be ready and prepared for crises and disruptions.
From such discussions, we hope participants will review and strengthen their BCP, ensuring organisations are well-prepared and resilient to navigate through crises and disruptions effectively.
Interested to carry out your own Total Defence Organisation TTX? You may use the Exercise SG Ready Scenario Video as well as the facilitation materials here.
SG Ready Giving.sg Website
During times of major disruptions, it is important not to forget those in need. As part of Exercise SG Ready, Community Chest (ComChest) will be running a campaign from now till 1 November 2024 to support Total Defence. Members of the public can donate or sign up as a volunteer via the Giving.sg online platform at go.gov.sg/SGReadyGiving.
Total Defence 2024 Campaign Poster
The theme of the Total Defence campaign and poster is "Together We Keep Singapore Strong" to remind us that everyone has a part to play!
This year's posters features what Singaporeans can do to put Total Defence in action in their everyday lives, and how we can be more prepared during a crisis or disruption.
The posters can be downloaded here.
A black-and-white (b/w) version of the Total Defence poster is also available at the same link above, as a Total Defence activity sheet for printing and distribution as a colouring activity.
Total Defence Engagement Packages
You may use this engagement package to discuss or better understand the relevance of Total Defence and how each of us can play a part in keeping Singapore strong, amidst the challenges and threats we face. The Total Defence Day 2024 NE Engagement Package can be downloaded here.
Meanwhile, you may check out past years' packages below:
Total Defence Day Videos
Total Defence Day Video 2024
The Total Defence Day Video 2024 is available on our Total Defence YouTube page.
You may also check out the previous years' Total Defence Video Messages below:
Total Defence Day Video 2023
Minister for Defence's Total Defence Day 2022 Message. Download the transcript here.
Total Defence 40 Special Exhibition
Titled Total Defence for Thee!, the Special Exhibition commemorates 40 years of TD in Singapore and showcases how TD is integral to addressing threats and challenges.
The full exhibition is held at Singapore Discovery Centre till Mar 17 2024. Roving abridged exhibitions will make appearances at public locations like SAFRA clubhouses and libraries. We have prepared two guides below for readers who are interested to visit our roving abridged exhibitions. The schedule will be updated monthly. Stay tuned!
Facilitation Guide for Educators
Download the Facilitation Guide for Educators here
Self-help Guide for General Public
Download the Self-help Guide for General Public here
Total Defence Sandbox
The Total Defence Sandbox initiative encourages the public to submit ideas on strengthening Total Defence and have their ideas brought to life through implementation in the community. By seeking ground-up ideas and proposals that put Total Defence into action, the Total Defence Sandbox encapsulates how everyone has a part to play in Total Defence to keep Singapore strong, while highlighting the continued relevance of Total Defence in dealing with crises and disruptions.
More information regarding the Total Defence Sandbox can be found here.
Submit your ideas here!
Carry Forth the Fire - A Song for 40 Years of Total Defence
In commemoration of 40 years of Total Defence, we collaborated with The Songwriter Music College (TSMC) to get their students to write a song in support of Total Defence. The song, "Carry Forth the Fire", written and sung by AEONA, a 21-year old homegrown singer-songwriter, emerged as the winner.
Catch the full music video here!
Total Defence Murder Mystery Role-playing Game (MMRPG) Video Series
6 players, 1 murder. Who can it be? The Total Defence MMRPG video series is an immersive social deduction game developed into a three-part video series. This is a ground-up initiative, implemented under the Total Defence Sandbox. The developers of the MMRPG video series are two university students who are game design enthusiasts.
Featuring celebrities such as Tosh Zhang, along with Mister Young and Colin Tan from Power 98, Jimmy Koh from 88.3JIA and more, the video series aims to further engage youths on how they can play a part in the fight against terrorism and climate change.
Watch the video series here!
Total Defence Tower Defence Game
Total Defence Tower Defence Game (TDTDG) - Trailer
Are you game for something new? The Total Defence Tower Defence Game (TDTDG), an online strategy game, was conceptualised and devised by a dynamic group of youths from NUS High School of Mathematics and Science.
The game adds a Total Defence-themed twist to the classic tower defence game where players need to allocate resources to build towers to defend their territories against enemy attacks. In the TDTDG, players have to defend Singapore against various threats. The threats have been designed to showcase how the six pillars of Total Defence: Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defence, come into play and highlight how everyone has a part to play in defending Singapore.
The TDTDG is the 4th ground-up initiative to be implemented under the Total Defence Sandbox (TD Sandbox).
Check out the game here!
Total Defence Community Table-top Exercise (TTX)
The Total Defence Community TTX aims to bring individuals across different ages and walks of life together to discuss potential impacts of pertinent issues affecting Singapore, and develop community drawer plans that can be implemented during times of crises and disruptions to our essential supplies and services.
Total Defence Table-top Exercise Scenario Video 2023
Interested to carry out your own Total Defence Community TTX? You may download the Total Defence TTX Scenario Video as well as the facilitation materials here.
Note: There is also a second version of the facilitation materials. This version includes a role-playing element where participants may adopt different personas to think about how the different roles within our society can play a part to be ready and prepared for crises and disruptions.
Total Defence Interactive Video 2023
What are the consequences of your choices? In the Total Defence Interactive Video, you will get to make decisions that will determine the outcome of the character's day.
Experience the video and understand what you can do to play your part for Total Defence!
Watch the Total Defence Interactive Video (2023) here.
Past Speeches and Press Releases
You may find past speeches and press releases on Total Defence here.
Total Defence Badge Programme
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The Total Defence Programme for Uniformed Groups (UGs) aims to promote awareness and involvement in Total Defence by UGs for the attainment of different levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold Badges) of the programme. The refreshed programme provides more opportunities for UG cadets to put Total Defence into action with a greater emphasis on practical emergency preparedness skills, self-directed learning and active citizenry through volunteering.
For more details and to download the Facilitation Guide, please click here. The policy document encompasses the guidelines applicable to the TD Badge Programme.
Schools may also write in directly to nexus@defence.gov.sg to request for the badges for the non-UG students.
More TD Resources and Activities
You may find more TD resources and Activities such as Total Defence Song, Total Defence Sandbox, Total Defence Puzzle, Guardians of the City II Card Game here.
Useful Videos
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ciNE65 Short Film Competition aims to capture our Singaporean identity through the lenses of local budding film-makers. Launched by Nexus in July 2011, it encourages aspiring film-makers to tell their Singapore story and what Singapore means to them. Through ciNE65, Nexus hopes to harness the potential of short films to touch the hearts and minds of Singaporeans. You may view the past ciNE65 films here. Do remember to subscribe to this channel!
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N.E.mation! is an annual national digital animation and storyboard competition for students and youths to express their thoughts about Total Defence. View all N.E.mation! videos from past seasons here. You may also use this guide to facilitate discussions based on the N.E.mation! clips.
Useful Articles
Commentary: The Spirit of Total Defence - by Mr Chew Sutat
Crises and disruptions often have a disproportionate impact on the vulnerable. During peacetime, we have to inculcate a culture of giving as a way of living. To support and champion the potential of the differently-abled in our midst. To commit not just resources in writing a cheque, but also to volunteer our time and talent in the community. In establishing habits that have been time-honoured since our forefathers' days of community self-help, we can foster a whole-of-society resilience and not be easily shaken by the next crisis.
Read the full article here.
Commentary: Understanding the foundation of Singapore's national resilience will enable us to better weather storms ahead - by Dr Ong Weichong
How a nation responds in times of crisis and disruption is critical for the survival and success of vulnerable small states such as Singapore.
Read the full article here.
Sports and National Defence - a commentary written by Mr Nicholas Fang
George Orwell famously wrote that sports is "war minus the shooting". While the celebrated writer meant that sports at the highest levels was similar to war in that it was about winning, almost at all costs, it is worth exploring the value that sporting contests have in the context of national defence.
Read the full article here.
Useful Reports
RSIS Commentary - "Total Defence in Action - Singapore's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic", National Security Studies Programme (NSSP) Research Report.
Singapore's Total Defence Framework has helped to rally the country and facilitated a whole-of-country response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The wide-ranging and multi-sectoral effects brought about by the pandemic underscores Singapore's need for a coordinated, cross-domain response to national security threats. Total Defence remains salient and critical to Singapore's national defence posture. Download the full report here
Podcasts
You may find useful podcasts related to Total Defence below. Please note that you’ll need to download the Camokakis App from your App Store first for the links to work.
#1 - Lessons for Singapore from the Ukraine Crisis: Dr Ong Wei Chong from the S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies speaks about Singapore’s strong stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the lessons the conflict has for Singapore’s military and citizens. Listen here.
#2 - Keeping our Food Supply Secure: In the wake of Malaysia’s chicken export ban, Singapore Food Agency’s Gwyneth Tey shares about the country’s strategies in ensuring a safe supply of food and how everyone can play a role to strengthen our food security. Listen here.
#3 - Reflections on Resilience from the Ukraine War: Most of us would have heard of Total Defence before, but how and why does playing your part really matter? Hear from former actor Ix Shen who is currently living in war-torn Ukraine, and Singapore Red Cross Senior Director Sahari Ani, who has spent months helping displaced refugees from the conflict. Listen here.