Precision Drill Squad (Singapore)

An NCC PDS Performance

Precision Drill Squad (PDS, Chinese: 精准步操队, Malay: Skuad Dril Kepersisian Senyap, Tamil: அமைதி துல்லிய துரப்பணி குழ) is a form of exhibition drill practised in Singapore which involves the execution of rifle drills in complex series of movements with great co-ordination and precision. The natures of these drills exhibit a plethora of diversity; they may be sharp and quick, graceful and flowing, or include a wide variety of tossing and spinning techniques. During performances, performers move in unison through choreographed patterns with the rifles moving under their control, always synchronised with the rhythm of the music. Drills are executed without command and the only sound that is heard is the snap and pop of the rifles on every step, in perfect synchronisation and with precision.

PDS is mainly performed and executed by the Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command and a few privileged National Cadet Corps units, National Police Cadet Corps units and National Civil Defence Cadet Corps units in Singapore, usually at school events, inter-unit competitions or open houses.

Origin

PDS is derived from rifle exhibition drill, which originated from United States' various drill teams such as the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and have since spread to many other countries such as Norway, Australia, Slovenia and Taiwan. PDS is identical to the Silent Precision Drill Squad (SPDS) of the SAFMPC.

Introduced in 1984, SPDS is performed in the Changing of Guard Ceremony at the gates of the Istana on the first Sunday of every month and in major events like Singapore National Day Parades and Chingay Processions, and was adopted in its present form by the National Cadet Corps, where it is performed by NCC school units which have adopted PDS in their training syllabus by 1999, with an initial participation of only about 20 school units. Due to its rarity and difficulty, the element of PDS in NCC units and NPCC units is considered a great privilege.

Equipment

Rifles

The Lee–Enfield Mk IV

PDS is most commonly executed with either the 4 kg (8.8 lbs) Lee–Enfield Mk IV rifle, or the many variations of the Mk IV fiberglass or wooden replica rifles, which are 105.5 cm long, 3.2 cm thick at the muzzle, and weigh from 1.6 kg to 5.0 kg. Variations include the Performance rifle or the heavier Competition rifle. The dummy rifles are black by default, but come in various colours and designs to match the nature of the performance. Some versions include metal bases, tips or other additions to enhance the 'feel' of the performance. M-16 rifles are also sometimes used, and on occasion, with bayonets fixed.

Attire

The official attire for PDS stipulated by HQ NCC is the Smart No. 4 or Half No. 4 uniform for all cadets, although air or sea units are permitted to wear their respective No. 3 uniforms without badges. Since male cadets in Land units only receive their No.3 uniform upon graduation from the Cadet Officer Course, No. 3 uniforms are sometimes borrowed for the sake of performances. In this case, the No. 3 uniform is worn with white stable belts, white polyester laces and combat boots with trousers tucked into garters, in imitation of the Military Police No. 3 Uniform. Modified versions of the attire can be worn to increase the aesthetic appeal of the performance, notable examples being Half No. 4 with Jockey Cap, Half No. 3, No. 3 with Brassards labelled "PDS", "Precision Drill" or with ranks embroidered, also in imitation of the SAF Military Police No. 3 Uniform. White gloves can also be worn for performances.

Participating schools

Centre of Excellence

The NCC PDS Centre of Excellence was set up to allow NCC units that wish to introduce Precision Drill as part of their training curriculum but do not have the necessary expertise may send their specialists and cadet officers for training at the centre. As a Centre of Excellence, the unit's Centre of Excellence Council is given the autonomous right to train key stakeholders of NCC units of other schools and issue them Basic PDS badges and patches on their course completion, the first unit awarded the title being Hwa Chong Institution in 2007.

List of Training Centers

To qualify as PDS training centre, the NCC school unit must, on a regular and yearly basis, conduct PDS training for different NCC units in their respective District.

• Catholic High School
• Hwa Chong Institution
• Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)
• Anglican High School
• Deyi Secondary School

NCC PDS Committee

The NCC PDS Committee was formed on 25 May 2012 by a group of PDS Auxiliary Instructors, intended to improve and maintain the standard and prestige of PDS in the National Cadet Corps. The PDS Committee assists HQ NCC in running the Basic PDS Certification and any other PDS-related HQ Courses.

Training courses

Basic Course and Certification

Cadets from NCC PDS units have the opportunity to attend the Basic PDS course, held at the NCC campus at Amoy Quee Camp or the five NCC PDS Training Centres quad-annually. During the 3-day course cadets are instructed in the execution of basic PDS drills, more commonly referred to as the basic 21 and the conduct of PDS Rifle Physical Training (PT). Cadets are tested based on two categories, Drill Execution and Presentation. Upon passing of the test, cadets will attain the Basic PDS badge, Basic PDS patch and a certificate. Units that include Basic PDS in their training syllabus may skip the course entirely and send their cadets for Basic PDS certification directly.

Auxiliary Instructor Course

Upon passing of a stringent selection test, outstanding cadets will have the privilege of attending the PDS Auxiliary Instructor Course. Cadets may enroll in the Enhanced PDS Auxiliary Instructor Course, held in HQ NCC (Amoy Quee Camp) and conducted by SPDS instructors from the SAF Military Police Command SPDS unit. The 5-day course will cover 7 advanced arm drills and train participants on the conduct of PDS as an instructor and cadets will be tested based on MOI (Method-of-Instruction), which is how the cadets teach the drills, and execution of the 7 Drills. Upon graduation from the course, these cadets are qualified to conduct PDS trainings in their respective school units, as well as attaining the PDS AI badge, the PDS AI patch and a certificate.

Inter-unit competition

The inaugural 1st NCC Silent Precision Drill Squad Competition was held on 12 June 2010, and has since been held annually at HQ NCC in Amoy Quee Camp, although it was held at St Gabriel's Secondary School's Parade Square in 2019, SCAPE at Orchard in 2023, and at the Singapore Sports Hub in 2024. The Competition gives the various school units the opportunity to present their choreographing skill and drill standard, giving recognition to the best drill squads. Every year, the Challenge Trophy, the Golden Rifle, is entrusted to the winning team for a year. Should any team emerge as champions for three consecutive years, the Golden Rifle is theirs to keep. Hwa Chong Institution, Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School (Girls) and Crescent Girls' School are the only units to have achieved this.

The Competition includes an inspection of appearance and bearing and an evaluation of the squad's performance.

The following is the scoring criteria for the PDS competition:

Evaluation criteria	Total points
Appearance and bearing (Evaluated for tie breaker)	20
Six basic drills	40
Performance	60
Total	100

Penalties

A deduction of 5 points will be made for every cadet under the minimum squad size of 10, 2 points for boundary violations during the performance, 2 and 3 points respectively for slipping or dropping of rifles, and 1 point for every second the performance fails to meet the criteria of being restricted within 4 to 6 minutes in length.

List of champions

Boys' Category

Year of Competition	Unit
2010	Hwa Chong Institution
2011	Yishun Town Secondary School
2012
2013	Hwa Chong Institution
2014
2015
2016	Woodlands Ring Secondary School
2017	Deyi Secondary School
2018	Woodlands Ring Secondary School
2019	Beatty Secondary School
2020	Competition cancelled due to COVID-19
2021
2022	Woodlands Ring Secondary School
2023	Nan Chiau High School
2024	Fu Hua Secondary School

Girls' Category

Year of Competition	Unit
2014	Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School
2015
2016
2017	Raffles Girls' School
2018
2019	Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School
2020	Competition cancelled due to COVID-19
2021
2022	Crescent Girls' School
2023
2024

Types of performance

PDS performances can be generally classified under two major types, Stage Performances and Field Performances.

Stage performances

PDS Stage performances are smaller-scaled performances, generally with 10–20 performers on stage. Unlike the larger-scaled Field Performances, stage performances usually include more spectacular, advanced PDS drills. Stage performances have also been known to include special lighting effects into its performances.

Field performances

PDS Field performances are the largest-scaled performances, generally with 28–40 performers on a grass field or courtyard. Unlike the smaller-scaled Stage Performances, Field Performances can be displayed to a significantly much larger crowd of spectators. Pyrotechnic devices such as sparks or fireworks could be included in its performances.

Drill syllabus

PDS drills can be classified into the Basic 21 (Marching Arm Drills, Salute Arm Drills, Dressing Arm Drills, Performance Arm Drills) and the Advanced 7. The Advanced 7 are taught during the PDS Auxiliary Instructor course. All drills are done in counts of 8 as a way to help choreographers synchronize with accompanying music.

The list of advanced drills is non-exhaustive, given the infinite possibility of drills that can be invented or modified for the purpose of performances, and many reflect increasing influence from the Rifle Exhibition Drill in the United States.

References

• Sin, Tino (2006) Pride, Discipline, Honour SAF Provost Media Department, Ministry of Defence, Singapore
• Estrop, Peter (2006) Our Army: Customs and Traditions, Ministry of Defence, Singapore

External links

• NCC Supernumeraries Website