This year marks Singapore’s 60th birthday, and you can bet the National Day Parade (NDP) is going to be extra special. But SG60 isn’t just about flashy fireworks and heartfelt performances — the Parade and Ceremony (P&C) segment will showcase 40 marching contingents (a record!) and about 2,100 participants.
It’s also a milestone year for the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC), which will be marching as a full contingent in the parade for the very first time. And leading the way is SV4 Arlene Pang. She’s been with the SAFVC since its formation year, and 10 years later she steps up as its inaugural contingent commander for NDP 2025. In the SAFVC, she is a Bridge Watchkeeper with the Republic of Singapore Navy.
From managing her day job as a research analyst with Mindef to reflecting on her decade long journey, Arlene shares what this role means to her — and how she finds time to run marathons and still catch the NDP aerial displays.
You’ve been in the SAFVC since the year it was formed – 10 years! What has been the highlight of your journey so far?
The first was the rifle presentation ceremony during basic training. I didn’t expect to receive the rifle on the first day of training. We went to Kranji War Memorial as part of our national education journey, and at the end of the day, we received the rifle. I was a bit stunned and surprised.
I reflected and thought about how much trust it took to allow us to hold a weapon that we could actually use to defend the country, if necessary. On the bus ride back to Maju Camp, I kept thinking about what a great responsibility it was.
The second highlight was probably during the pandemic, when we had call centre operations and I was deployed for two weeks to a call centre.
For that, it was not just SAFVC coming to serve, but we also were working alongside civil servants from different agencies and ministries. It was very powerful because I saw that when Singaporeans come together for a shared mission and a shared purpose, we can actually achieve a lot together.
Has anyone in the SAFVC personally inspired you?
Yes — my Tuesday running buddies! When we first started, I felt slow and couldn’t sustain a long distance. But they encouraged me and made jokes to cheer me up. One of them saw my “run happy” shirt and said, “You not happy, you run sad.” Being part of this group inspired me to keep fit, to want to keep improving, and to get a better timing as well.
So how far do you usually run?
Normal practice runs are about 4 to 5km. But if I join a race, it could be 10km or a half marathon.
You travel overseas for runs too?
Yes! My first overseas run was in Perth. I’ve also done a 10km run in Hong Kong last year, a half marathon in Hong Kong this year, and a half marathon in Gold Coast. I achieved my best timings in Hong Kong.
Got any future running goals?
Maybe next year — Osaka! Someone recently told me there’s a Lord of the Rings run in New Zealand where you run through the movie sets. That sounds fun!
As someone used to pacing yourself over marathons, how have you handled the challenges of being Contingent Commander?
The most challenging aspect is performing the drill well. At the start, I struggled with locking my elbows when I swing my arms, and it didn’t look nice.
Standing for long periods during rehearsal was also tiring. My salute was another challenge — I couldn’t keep my fingers straight. But I’ve been working on it. It’s gotten much better because week after week, I see myself getting stronger physically. Even my recovery time is faster.
What’s been your favourite part of NDP over the years?
The aerial display! Not just during NDP itself, but even on rehearsal days. Sometimes I know where the planes will fly, so I make the effort to be in the right spot to watch them.
You’ve volunteered at NDP before in other ways, right?
Yes, I did crowd control and spectator management in 2022 and 2023. I liked that role a lot. You stand there and see Singaporeans of all ages coming for the same event. There’s a kind of pride that wells up within me when I see that.
Committing to NDP is like signing up for a marathon – you know it’ll take time. What made you want to take on this “race”?
I don’t see it as a sacrifice, even though it takes a lot of time. It’s just how I’ve chosen to spend my time. I think when we decide to do something, it’s more meaningful to think of it as “I want to do this”, rather than “I have to do this” or “I gave up something for this”.
For someone standing at the starting line and considering joining SAFVC, what would you say to help them take that first step?
I would definitely encourage them to join. The mission is meaningful, and the people you meet will inspire you to do more for Singapore. We all come from different walks of life, and that richness of experience really makes a difference.
I also feel inspired by SVs who are new citizens. I see how they think long-term about their kids, and how they want to set an example for them. There’s so much positive energy. It keeps us going and wanting to make Singapore better.
About the SAFVC
SAFVC is open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 18 to 45 who aren’t required to serve National Service — like women, first-generation PRs, and new citizens. That said, not everyone gets in. Applicants go through a selection process that includes interviews and medical checks to make sure they’re a good fit.
Once accepted, SAFVC Volunteers (or SVs) go through Basic Training (BT) led by experienced trainers from HQ SAFVC and the Regulars. In their first year, SVs complete BT at Maju Camp, which usually runs for 10 weekdays or over four weekends. After that, they’re typically called up to serve 14 days a year.
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This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.
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