My NS with the Police Academy (by Syed Sagoff)

My National Service with the Police Academy.

Contributed by Syed Sagoff

Just like most able-bodied Singaporean, I received the NS call up order sometime om November or December 1977. I was required to report to CMPB at Tanglin on 27 Dec 1977. Quite a number of our schoolmates also received the call up order either for 27 Dec 1977 or 28 Dec 1978. Most of us were wondering whether we will be selected to go to OCS for the Officer Cadet Training.

Sometime in mid-December 1977, I received another call up order to report to CMPB. While I cannot remember the exact date of the date to report, I believe that it was about a week or 10 days before 27 Dec 1977. When we reported at CMPB we were told to he that call-up order for 27 Dec was cancelled. Instead, we were given another call-up order to report on 21 Jan 1978. Upon asking the reason for the change, we were told that we were to be enlisted into the Singapore Police Force. Most of us protested even though we were told that we will be undergoing Officer Cadet Training.

On 21 Jan 1978, we reported at CMPB. Unlike today, there was no ceremony. Our names were called up one by one and we were herded into Police buses which we later learned were called Black Maria. I do not know why they were called Black Maria as the buses were blue in colour.

(Editor’s After note: Click here for origin of name Black Maria for police van)

Black Maria police van

We were transported to the Police Academy and again grouped in "squads", which was the equivalent to the platoons in SAF. There were three squads of Officer Cadets numbering about 120 cadets. Officer Cadets from Raffles Institution made up the biggest group from a single school. I was grouped in Squads OCT 3 with a few other Rafflesians. We were introduced to our drill instructor, Mr Rahman Koh who was a Corporal. We later came to know that he was a fitness fanatic. Our first day include orientation of the Police Academy grounds, but instead of walking around we he made us run around it. There was another drill instructor for OCT 1 who was a national boxer. In a way it is fortunate that I was not in that squad as the he made his OCT trainees went through boxing training.

One of the highlights of the first few days of our training was the cutting of our hair. Some of us had kept our hair long since the end of the A level exams. Most of us looks funny after our hair-cuts with our new GI haircuts. We also get to taste Police mess food for the next 9 months of our stay in the Academy.

After a while we got accustomed to a training routine involving academic training in Law and Police Procedures, physical training and drill. I could say that it was quite interesting going through all these.

As part of our leadership training, we were sent to SAFTI to undergo some basic military training. We learned manoeuvres in sections and platoons, FIBUA minus the grenade throwing and route marches. We were also made to carry our buddies using the fireman's lift method for about a kilometre or so with rifles and all. Maybe the distance was less but we were "shacked" at the end. The SSF Instructors also gave a demonstration of mortar fire. Being Police cadets, we felt that some of the Lieutenants target us. We survived the two weeks of training.

On one of the field exercises, the Encik spoke to us. We informed the Encik that we will be preparing for the National Day parade upon our return to the Academy as part of the Guard of Honour Contingent. The Encik felt that we were not good enough and tested us on the spot. He conducted an impromptu drill session. At teh end of the session he acknowledged that we were good enough to be members of the Guard of Honour Contingent.

The National Day Parade training started almost immediately upon our completion of training at SAFTI. Most of the component training was conducted in the Police Academy. At the beginning, we found it hard t synchronize we the other SAF contingents. As the training went well on, we adapted to the faster timing of the SAF. Part of the training was conducted during the fasting month. The h at of the Police Academy parade square did takes its toll in the Muslims. I remember looking at the rest of the contingent having their drinks during the break. Somehow we survived the training even though we were fasting.

National day finally arrived. The National Day was held at the Padang. It was still in the fasting month. After numerous practises and rehearsals, we prepared for the big day. While the parade was supposed to be at 5pm, we were at the Padang hours earlier. We had one last practise. When the time came, we donned our ceremonial uniform. It was unfortunate that we did not have handphones then. Not many photos were taken. We matched in from Armenian Street to the Padang accompanied by marching tunes played the Singapore Police Force Band. It was a proud moment for us. President Benjamin Sheares inspected the Guard of Honour on that day. After the march past we continued on a road march from the Padang to Lower Delta Road.

We had our Passing Out Parade in Oct 1978. This time our family get to attend the parade. Once again, it was a proud moment, especially for our parents.

In those days, there was no graduation dinner organized of OCTs upon their passing out. We took it upon ourselves to organize our own Commissioning Ball at Hyatt Hotel. We get to let our hair down that night although there was not much hair to let down then. It was our last large gathering as OCTs before we started on our n XT phase of national service in the various Police Divisions.

Later I was posted to 'G' Division which was headquartered at Joo Chiat Police Station.