| Every Singaporean Son | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Singapore |
| No. of episodes | 18 episodes |
| Production | |
| Running time | 6 to 8 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Youtube National Geographic Channel |
| Original run | July 7, 2010 – November 1, 2010 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Every Singaporean Son is a Singaporean documentary released in 2010. It serves as an education tool for all pre-enlistees during their Basic Military Training in Singapore. Most of the episodes were filmed at Pulau Tekong. 18 episodes were released. The first episode airs on 7th July 2010 on Youtube, subsequent episodes were released on every Tuesday, each clip lasted for 6 to 8 minutes.
National Geographic Channel ordered the series and it will be aired in a six part episodes(30 minutes per episodes) from 8th March 2011.
In August 2011, the season branched out to another 6 part series named: Every Singaporean Son – Epilogue.
The documentary was nominated for "Best Cross-Platform Content" at the 16th Asian Television Awards 2011[1], but the series lost to the Indian series The CJ Show[2].
Contents |
In nine weeks, 15 young men from different backgrounds came together for the rite of passage that every Singaporean son must experience, which is to survive the 9 weeks of Basic Military Training. The documentary is split into 18 episodes allowing all pre-enlistees and parents understand the life in BMT.
Here are the cast in this documentary:
| Episode No. | Episode Title | Original air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "My Buddy[3]" | July 7, 2010 |
| This is where it all starts. From Pasir Ris to Tekong, we follow the recruits as they begin their National Service journey. Amidst the busy-ness of this first day, we see how the recruits quickly adapt to life in the military, most crucially by making friends of strangers. | ||
| 2 | "Where I Stand[4]" | July 12, 2010 |
| So you think you are fit? You won't really know where you stand until you measure yourself against a common benchmark - the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). Watch former school sportsmen Danial and Dudley, and your average guy Qingwei put themselves to the test. | ||
| 3 | "Strip[5]" | July 19, 2010 |
| Before a recruit is allowed to shoot, he must learn how to handle a rifle. Through the eyes of recruits Douglas and Syabil, we discover that there is nothing routine about the "courtship" when taking the Singapore Assault Rifle 21 as your "wife" | ||
| 4 | "R&R - Run & Rehab[6]" | July 26, 2010 |
| It's no secret that there is a lot of physical training, especially running, in BMT. But just when Daryl, Dewei and Danial think that they have had too much of it, they go running again - this time in the swimming pool! | ||
| 5 | "How Far?[7]" | August 2, 2010 |
| It's the first time the recruits have to carry all their personal combat gear in a route march. On Guoquan's shoulders rest not just the weight of his fullpack but the responsibility of lifting the morale of his mates with his singing. On the sidelines, Shawn watches his section soldier on as he is restricted to light duties for a month. He misses out on the camaraderie, but does what he can to help them along their journey. | ||
| 6 | "Sharpshooter[8]" | August 9, 2010 |
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Shooting. What's BMT without it? Nabil and Daryl are both stressed about shooting, but for very different reasons. Join them as they deal with their emotions of pulling the trigger. |
||
| 7 | "Field Discipline[9]" | August 16, 2010 |
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The instructors tighten up on discipline as they gear the recruits for the rigours of the field camp. Barked at by sergeants under the hot sun and subjected to relentless drills, do Dewei and Kenneth have the mental strength to be soldiers? |
||
| 8 | "Cover Me[10]" | August 23, 2010 |
|
Buddies Qingwei and Justin learn how to cover each other's backs in the fire and movement drill. With section mate Thiaghu as their leader, they put their recently acquired skills to the test in a paintball shoot-off against their rival company. |
||
| 9 | "Breaking Point[11]" | August 30, 2010 |
| After three days of continuous training in the Tekong jungle, the recruits find a nemesis in the hard ground as they dig in for the first time. Scorched by the sun, challenged by their instructors and mocked by the earth that will not loosen, can buddies Shaoquan and Lemuel survive the day? | ||
| 10 | "Grenade![12]" | September 6, 2010 |
| Syabil has sweaty palms, but only when he is nervous. He flits between calmness and tension as he waits for his chance to throw a live grenade. In the throwing bay, platoon sergeant Hanafee waits to take Syabil through the paces of a potential life-and-death situation. | ||
| 11 | "Step Up![13]" | September 13, 2010 |
| Do you have what it takes to be a leader? The Situational Test (SITEST) may provide some answers. Watch Kenneth, Nabil and Thiaghu awake from a fitful night's sleep on muddy ground to a day of fresh challenges. | ||
| 12 | "The Not-So-Low Wall[14]" | September 20, 2010 |
| SOC and its mere mention can cause unease in many a mind of Singaporean soldiers. Guoquan and Lemuel tackle the course with gusto but find nothing low about the low wall or low rope. | ||
| 13 | "Too Fast Too Furious[15]" | September 28, 2010 |
| Some things don't seem to change much over the years; recruits still run in circles around the parade square. But with sports science and old-fashioned hard work, Syabil and Qingwei look back and see how far they have come in terms of fitness. | ||
| 14 | "Book Out![16]" | October 4, 2010 |
| We leave Tekong for a moment and follow Douglas and Dudley on their weekend excursions. Besides their renewed appreciation of non-Army food, they become more aware of the difference between soldier and civilian. | ||
| 15 | "Personal Triumphs And Defeats[17]" | October 11, 2010 |
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The recruits have one more chance to take the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). A pass is a pre-requisite for selection to command schools. Watch Dewei, Guoquan and Qingwei give their all to make the cut. |
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| 16 | "Island Party[18]" | October 18, 2010 |
| The SAF Music and Drama Company show - a tradition of Basic Military Training (BMT) - comes again to Tekong. But who will emerge as the real stars of the night? Hint: it's not Singapore Idol 2009 winner Sezairi Sezali. | ||
| 17 | "Brothers In Arms[19]" | October 25, 2010 |
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The recruits rate and speak frankly about one another. Some are stronger, some are funnier and some may be better leaders; but all will end up friends, and brothers. |
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| 18 | "We Are Soldiers[20]" | November 1, 2010 |
| 24 kilometres - a little more than the distance between Sembawang and Sentosa - is all that stands between the recruits and their ticket out of BMT. It's a time for the recruits to reflect upon and to celebrate their own personal journeys. | ||