Shape the face of
Total Defence

1. NS BUDDIES ARE BUDDIES FOR LIFE

During my army days, I wasn't the strongest physically and I would fall sick often. I also had instances of chest pains and fainting spells. As I entered my unit, I had so many negative and paranoid thoughts like, "How am I supposed to finish the rest of this journey?"

Being an only child, the thought of having no other siblings to care for my parents if anything happened to me just made me spiral even more.

However, as the days went by, I realised that the guys in my unit were always there for me. One guy in particular never gave up on me and was there to help me throughout the entire army journey without any complaints.

During route march, when I felt so weak that I couldn't move, he would carry my rifle. During exercises, he would do as much as he could to lighten my load. When I felt like I couldn't do it, he was there to encourage me. He was the main reason I even managed to get through the toughest two years of my life.

Till today, no matter what I ask of him, he will try to help me to the best of his abilities without asking for anything back. I feel blessed every day, knowing that I have a friend like him.

- Daniel Teo, 27, information technology

2. UNITY IN DIVERSITY

Growing up in Jurong, there was definitely a lot of kampung spirit because we came from actual kampungs. When we settled there, we brought that culture with us.

My sister and my brother married Chinese people, and my other sister married a guy from Pakistan.

Even now, when I visit my sister in Jurong, I see that they all mix around — Chinese, Indian, Malay. They don't see any colour.

I really think that my family is my inspiration. Even though my brothers-in-law and sister-in-law have converted to Islam, they didn't throw away their culture. It is still part of their life. For example, my sister will cook Chinese food for her husband. Mixing around with them, we end up having so many blended cultures in our family.

My brothers-in-law cannot speak much Malay but we still understand each other. They also make the effort to follow Muslim laws like fasting.

I think the key is to be patient with each other.

- Mazlan Samihon, 43, shopkeeper

3. THE STRANGERS ON THE BUS

Sometimes it's the random acts of kindness that really restore my faith in humanity.

I remember one incident a couple of years back when I was in university. I had boarded a bus but my EZ-Link card was out of money. The bus had already moved off and there I was, still struggling with my coins. As a firm believer in the cashless movement, I didn't have any cash on me and barely scraped together a few coins that weren't enough to pay my fare. I felt so bad.

But out of nowhere, this young, well-dressed guy came up to me and asked me if I needed help. Another office lady also offered to top up the money that I was missing.

The amount that they gave me was probably less than a dollar, but it meant a lot to me that two complete strangers were nice enough to get up from their seats to check on me. It's inspired me to try to do the same for others.

- Chew Huiling, 25, customer success

4. PUT IT ON MY TAB

I have been living in Bishan since my block was first built - that's about 30 years - and I love it here. This place will be my home for life.

It's not exactly like the kampungs in the past where people keep their doors open but it's peaceful and the neighbours here are good. I really have no complaints.

Over the years, I have gotten to know everyone as friends, even the stall owners in the nearby market. Sometimes I go to the market and end up not having enough cash on me. They will say: "Never mind, next day return also okay!"

- Audrey Wong, 59, housewife

5. PROUD TO BE SINGAPOREAN

I think being able to travel the world, and to come back and look at just how much Singapore has grown in comparison to neighbouring countries makes me feel proud to be a Singaporean.

In the military, I served as a Close Combat Instructor, so I travelled pretty much all over the country to teach other soldiers the basic, intermediate and advanced techniques they would need to protect themselves in hand-to-hand combat should anything happen.

As for who inspired me in the military, I'd have to say anyone who gave it their all. I think anyone who is able to turn a negative into a positive, and is able to go into things with an open mind and learn things deserves respect and they inspire me to be better.

- Surej Singh, 26, music writer

PUTTING TOTAL DEFENCE IN ACTION IN OUR LIVES

Over the years, Singapore has changed a great deal and faced different threats but one thing has stayed the same — the need for every Singaporean to play a part in defending our home.

As the stories above underscore, we are stronger together and we can face any challenges.

Total Defence reminds us that together we can increase Singapore's resilience through the Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Psychological and the new Digital Defence pillars.

Now that the Total Defence logo is changing to include the sixth pillar, you can do your part by helping to pick the new logo. Select your favourite logo design below by Dec 29 and win exciting prizes!

This post is brought to you in partnership with the Total Defence Logo Design Competition.

kimberlylim@asiaone.com

Local singer-actor Cavin Soh said it best: "How can a mascot retire?"

The loss of mascots, logos and even places cuts deep, particularly so for millennials, who are known for being a nostalgic bunch.

Celine Low, 23, is one such sentimental person.

She brought up Sharity Elephant when asked for particularly memorable logos from her childhood.

Sharity, the face of Community Chest Singapore, was created to teach kids about sharing and caring. While he's still an overalls-wearing pink elephant, Sharity no longer hugs a big red heart.

Rather than the traditional pen-and-ink style, the mascot has also been rendered into a more modern and animated-looking cartoon.

While recounting how she used to send donation envelopes in the name of the elephant, Low realised she didn't know how Sharity looked like now.

After spending a minute searching up photos of the updated mascot, she said: "He looks so much cuter, but I miss the heart."

Sharity Elephant isn't the only mascot to have undergone a makeover. Captain Green, the mascot that promoted a clean and green lifestyle, was originally just a regular-looking frog before he was supercharged into a humanised frog with superpowers.

Chin Yulin told us she couldn't be less bothered with how he looks like now.

That's not to say Captain Green was not part of the 23-year-old's childhood. In fact, the frog was a recurring motif.

Unlike Low, Chin moved house no less than five times between the ages of 11 and 18.

One constant during that period of her life was Captain Green - her mother had provided her with books and CDs starring the amphibian to keep her busy.

"At that age, the internet wasn't so much of a thing, so I would just entertain myself by reading the books over and over again and listening to the songs over and over again," she related.

However, why is she so unattached to Captain Green's image change, despite his obvious significance in her life?

"People will always find a way to make their own individual memories about the mascots and logos and it will come to mean different things to people," she responded.

"Embrace the change."

When asked if she knew that even the Total Defence logo was changing, Chin revealed that she and her friends knew of the competition to redesign it.

A new pillar - digital defence - was added to the original five in February given recent threats from the digital domain.

The original logo has been the iconic red hand ever since the late freelance graphic designer Berwin See won the first Total Defence Logo Design Competition back in 1985.

In order to incorporate the new pillar into the logo, Nexus, Mindef's department responsible for Total Defence and National Education, organised the second-ever Total Defence Logo Design Competition.

Many Singaporeans have shared their ideas for what the new logo should look like. Over 600 designs were submitted and the public can vote for their favourite from the shortlisted 10 entries by Dec 29.

Unsurprisingly, Chin was unperturbed about the change of another famous logo.

"Digital defence is definitely important, given the digital landscape," she commented. "If we need a defence pillar to remind people that it's important, then sure, why not?"

Though slightly reluctant to see the old logo go, Low shared the sentiment.

"Our lives are very dependant on the digital. I can see why it would be important.

"But now there are six fingers to the hand?"

The Total Defence logo is changing! Click here to choose your favourite one now!

rainercheung@asiaone.com

Participants are required to design a new Total Defence logo that represents all six pillars.

Five of the best entries will be shortlisted and put up for public voting at the end of the year.

Here's the best part: the creator of the winning design will walk home with $5,000 while the other four shortlisted designers will each receive $500 worth of prizes.

This isn't the first Total Defence Logo Design Competition in Singapore. In 1985, over 1,700 designs were submitted to the theme of "There's a part for everyone in total defence of Singapore".

After a public vote involving more than 20,000 people, the iconic logo in the shape of a hand by freelance graphic designer Berwin See won.

Given this is the first time a new pillar has been added since the launch of Total Defence 35 years ago, a new logo design is due.

Here's how to participate:

• Each person can submit only one entry, with a maximum of two logo designs.
• For their entry to be eligible, participants must submit:
  (i) Logo design(s) with digital resolution of at least 600 dpi; a minimum of 900 pixels per side; and a minimum size of 80mm x 80mm; and
  (ii) A description(s) of the design concept(s) in not more than 500 words.
• Participants must fill in this forms in one sitting because they will not be able to save a draft.
• All fields in the form must be completed. Only completed forms will be considered for judging.
• Open to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents.
• Late entries will not be considered.

The competition ends on Sept 30.

claralim@asiaone.com