Singapore Police Force veteran DSP (NS) Eddy Jamal says cohesion activities can spark camaraderie among teammates.
TEXT: DSP (NS) EDDY JAMAL
PHOTOS: HOMETEAMNS
“Throughout my 19 years in the Singapore Police Force (SPF), where I’ve held various appointments including that as the Head of Operations (NS) in the Public Transport Security Command (Transcom), I have repeatedly witnessed the importance of fostering a strong sense of unity among men who serve on the frontline of public security. This especially applies to my current role at the Police National Service Department, where I work with colleagues from the Leadership & Executive Training School and the Training Command to conduct leadership courses for our officer cadets as well as mid-level National Servicemen supervisors.
My work revolves around operations, where strong bonds and a high degree of camaraderie are crucial in performing every aspect of the job, from pre-planning to execution. For instance, the locations where officers are deployed for patrols depend on information that’s transmitted from the operations room. Thereafter, the officers on the ground work together to ensure that any detected crime is stopped, and the offenders are apprehended. But such synergy doesn’t materialise from out of nowhere — you must put in effort to nurture it.
Cohesion-building activities are a useful way to develop this sense of harmony between Home Team NSmen. I was reminded of this in 2022, when my former Transcom team participated in a session for senior officers that was held at HomeTeamNS Khatib. While the event featured presentations and dialogue sessions designed to help us fine-tune our operational capabilities, the real highlight for many of us was the second half of the programme, where we were able to let off steam through a series of fun physical activities.
These unfolded at Adventure HQ at HomeTeamNS Khatib, a 2,800 sqm indoor playground equipped with 10 installations. Here, we were able to test our strength and agility through bouldering and rock and urban climbing as well as attempting a ninja obstacle course. I was especially impressed by the 114m slide, which provided an amazing adrenaline rush! And I evidently wasn’t the only one who thought so — everyone seemed to be abuzz with excitement as they awaited their turn to go down the slide.
The experience really reinforced our team’s strong bonds. I saw officers encouraging one another to try out the various activities, while laughing and joking around amid a jolly atmosphere. It was nice to see the team let their hair down after several busy months where we were occupied with our National Day Parade and Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix commitments. Overall, it was good that the cohesion activities allowed us to interact in groups, which helped to establish rapport beyond our own units. In future, I hope to see more of such sessions that are thoroughly organised in consideration of factors such as the weather, accessibility and activity mix. For those who are about to attend a cohesion event, I’d advise you to come with an open mind. Most importantly, enjoy the time with your fellow NSmen.”
IDEAS FOR YOUR NEXT COHESION
Planning your unit’s next round of cohesion activities? We’ve got you covered.
Tchoukball: Gather two 12-player teams to try your hand at this fast-paced sport that has been growing in popularity in Singapore, ever since our women’s tchoukball team beat Chinese Taipei and topped the world rankings. Available at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier and Bukit Batok.
Archery Tag: This unique activity that combines dodgeball with archery will test your group’s agility, teamwork and precision. Available at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier and Bukit Batok.
Art Jamming: Slow things down and get in touch with your creative side. You can even create a painting together as a team to showcase your collaborative flair. Available at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier and Bukit Batok.
Check out other cool cohesion activities you can try with your peers at our clubhouses!
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