National Police Cadet Corps


The National Police Cadet Corps is the largest uniformed group for youths in Singapore. As of 2011, the organisation has 16,185 members, with 14,850 of them being cadets. With the support of two ministries, namely the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the latter of which the Singapore Police Force is part of, the organisation has grown from being a relative newcomer compared to other uniformed groups, to being one of the more well-established ones in terms of reputation, standards, and acceptability among the youths of Singapore and their parents.
The current Commandant of NPCC is Superintendent of Police Hoo Poh Heng. The Chairperson of the 16th HTC Council is Associate Professor Stephen Phua Lye Huat from the Law Faculty of the National University of Singapore.

Uniform

As NPCC is affiliated with the SPF, the different dresses of NPCC is similar to the SPF's, which is as follows:
Dress TypeDescriptionRemarks
No. 1 White long-sleeved tunic and black long pants / skirt – Usually reserved for events such as the NPCC Annual Parade.
– An embroidered NPCC crest is fitted to the beret.
– No badges are to be attached to the tunic for Cadets and Cadet Inspectors.
– Male Cadet Inspectors and Officers wear a peak cap, while females wear a bowler hat.
No. 3 Dark blue shirt and long pants / Dark blue blouse and skirt – Worn by the majority of NPCC units.
– A metal NPCC crest is fitted to the beret.
– Badges are attached above both of the chest pockets.
– Station Inspectors wear a yellow flash on their beret.
– Male Cadet Inspectors and Officers wear a peak cap, while females wear a bowler hat.
– A bush jacket version is issued to Officers.
No. 4
Dark blue long-sleeved shirt and trousers– Worn by the minority of NPCC units.
– An embroidered NPCC crest is fitted to the beret.
– Badges are attached above the right chest pocket and pasted and attached above the left chest pocket.
– All members wear a beret and jockey cap, regardless of rank.
– Station Inspectors, Cadet Inspectors and Officers wear a yellow flash on their beret
No. 5 White long-sleeved shirt, NPCC tie and dark blue trousers/skirt– Issued to Officers only.
– Commonly worn during Cadet Inspectors' Basic Training Course investiture and Officers' Basic Training Course investiture.

Ranks

As NPCC is affiliated with the SPF, the ranks of NPCC are similar to the SPF's. However, it is important to note that NPCC ranks have the suffix 'NPCC' on it, to distinguish these ranks from the ranks of the SPF's. The ranks of NPCC are as follows:

Cadets

The following ranks are the ranks that NPCC cadets can attain as a secondary school student. The criteria for promotion to the next rank are decided differently among units. After a cadet has gone through his unit's Cadet Leader Camp, the cadet will be appointed as a Cadet Leader in his unit All cadets will step down after going through their Area's Passing-Out Parade before they take their GCE 'O' Level Examinations or equivalent.
RankAbbreviationRemarks
CadetCDT – Secondary One cadets officially receive this rank when they are sworn in at their Area's Swearing-In Ceremony.
– Some NPCC units name this rank as 'Private'.
– Has no rank insignia.
Lance CorporalLCP - Has an insignia of one chevron.
CorporalCPL - Has an insignia of two chevrons.
SergeantSGT - Has an insignia of three chevrons.
Staff SergeantSSGT - Has an insignia of one Singapore coat of arms, and three chevrons.
Station InspectorSI – Cadets who attain this rank wear a yellow flash on their beret.
– Has an insignia of two inverted chevrons, one Singapore coat of arms and a garland.

Cadet Inspectors

Cadet Inspectors are secondary school graduands who wish to voluntarily contribute more to their school unit. Cadet Inspectors have to undergo a Cadet Inspectors' Basic Training Course before they attain the rank of Probationary Cadet Inspector. They are involved in events like the NPCC Annual Parade, the Singapore Youth Festival opening ceremony, area camps, the Singapore National Day Parade and school unit training sessions.
RankAbbreviationRemarks
Cadet Inspector TraineeCIT – Ex-cadets who are going through the 3-week-long Cadet Inspectors Basic Training Course will hold this rank.
– Has an insignia of one white stripe.
Probationary Cadet InspectorP/CI – Cadet Inspector Trainees who successfully completed their Cadet Inspectors Basic Training Course will attain this rank.
– Has an insignia of one pip and one white stripe.
Cadet InspectorCI – Probationary Cadet Inspectors who have successfully passed their probationary period will attain this rank.
– Same insignia as Probationary Cadet Inspector.
Senior Cadet InspectorSCI – Cadet Inspectors who have served for more than 2 years are eligible for promotion to this rank.
– Has an insignia of one pip and two white stripes.

Officers

Promotion of NPCC Officers and Honorary Officers is based on availability of vacancy and performance.
Honorary Officers
Honorary Officers are voluntary adult leaders who contribute to NPCC in either training or administration matters and have the letter 'H' in their rank to distinguish them from Teacher Officers. They are mostly undergraduates from Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore, but some are working adults who have served the Corps for a long time. Honorary Officers must also go through an Honorary Officers' Basic Training Course, and must also have at least a Diploma or its equivalent.
Teacher Officers
Teacher Officers are teachers who have been appointed by the Principal of their school to take charge of their school's NPCC CCA. They must first undergo a 2-week-long Officer's Basic Training Course before attaining the rank of Probationary Inspector.
RankAbbreviationRemarks
Officer Cadet TraineeOCT– New rank implemented in 2017.
– Teachers/volunteers who are going through the 2-week long OBTC or HOBTC will attain this rank.
– Has an insignia of two white stripes.
Probationary InspectorP/INSP P/H/INSP – Officer Cadet Trainees who have successfully completed their OBTC or HOBTC will attain this rank.
– Honorary Officers have the letter 'H' before their rank to identify themselves as HOs.
– Has a rank insignia of two pips.
InspectorINSP
H/INSP
– Probationary Inspectors who have successfully passed their probationary period will attain this rank.
– Same insignia as Probationary Inspector.
Acting Assistant Superintendent of PoliceA/ASP– Inspectors whom have not attained the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police but have been appointed to be the Officer Commanding of their unit will hold this rank.
– Has a rank insignia of one Singapore coat of arms.
Assistant Superintendent of PoliceASP
H/ASP
– Officers holding ASP rank and above will have a single row silver braid on the visor of their peak cap/bowler hat.
– Same insignia as Acting Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Acting Deputy Superintendent of PoliceA/DSP – NPCC HQ appointment holders who have not attained the rank of DSP
– Has a rank insignia of one Singapore coat of arms and a pip.
Deputy Superintendent of PoliceDSP
H/DSP
– Highest rank attainable by a NPCC officer.
– Same insignia as Acting Deputy Superintendent of Police.

Honorary Instructors

Honorary Instructors are adult leaders of at least age 21 who contribute to NPCC mostly in the area of training. They are not required to go through any training course, though male Honorary Instructors must have completed their National Service. instructors formerly held the now-defunct rank of Senior Station Inspector or Senior Cadet Inspector, regardless of whether they were formerly Cadet Inspectors. However, from 2006, the Honorary Instructor scheme was changed to a non-uniformed scheme.
RankAbbreviationRemarks
Honorary InstructorHI
Senior Honorary InstructorSHI – Honorary Instructors who have served for more than 6 years are eligible for promotion to this rank.
Master Honorary InstructorMHI – Senior Honorary Instructors who have served for more than 6 years are eligible for promotion to this rank.

Activities

Unit level

Training may be held once or twice a week, depending on the unit.
Cadets undergo warm up first before they engage in exercises like crunches, push ups and jumping jacks and running. Cadets are required to change to their Physical Training Kit before doing PT.
Foot drills are taught to cadets to instill discipline and build teamwork. Drills taught are foot drills, baton drills and rifle drills.
Classroom lectures are organised by Teacher Officers or Police Officers to give cadets an insight of Police work, NPCC and National Education. These lessons includes Total Defence, Crime Prevention, Police Procedure and Basic Law. Classroom lectures are meant to equip the cadets with a basic knowledge of the Singapore Police Force and also basic crime prevention skills, which is very useful in their daily life.
Cadets will get the opportunity to fire the.22 Smith & Wesson revolver and the Colt M16 rifle in Secondary 3, as part of Marksmanship training. During weapon training sessions, cadets are always accompanied by Field Instructors from NPCC HQ who are police officers and Teacher Officers from the units involved with the day's weapon training course. This ensures the safety of cadets involved in the shooting sessions. NPCC Cadets shooting the.22 Smith and Wesson Revolver will have a chance to attain the Marksmanship Proficientcy Badge which displays a target and a revolver. Officers have the opportunity to fire the.38 Taurus Model 85 revolver, the standard issue revolver used by the Singapore Police Force.
Other courses such as the Kayaking, First Aid, Swimming and Life Saving badge programmes are not compulsory for units to take part in, but helps to develop the cadets holistically.
As a result of going for courses, cadets can attain proficiency badges.

Area level

The Camp Resilience was opened officially on 10 August 2004 on Pulau Ubin. It comprises two camps, Kampong Noordin and Kampong Bahru which are used for area Adventure Training Camps for Secondary 2 cadets, Survival Training Camps for Secondary 3 cadets and High Rope Challenges for Secondary 4 cadets.

School/Headquarters/National level

OEVs are held at the Headquarters level.
- Brunei
A 5-day educational visit for selected secondary 2 cadets which includes exchanges with the Royal Brunei Police Cadet Force and the Royal Brunei Police Force. The cadets from both sides will have the opportunity to meet, interact and learn from each other.
- Hong Kong
A 5-day educational visit for selected secondary 3 cadets which includes visits to police establishment in Hong Kong and exchanges with Hong Kong Junior Police Call.

Awards

Cadets

The SPF-NPCC Badge was first launched in 1997 to give recognition to cadets with good leadership qualities and outstanding achievements. It is the highest award badge that cadets can vie for.
The Best Unit Cadet award badge is awarded to two cadets for a mixed gender unit and one cadet for a single gender unit.

Cadet Inspectors and Officers

  1. Individual Commendation
  2. Individual Testimonial
  3. Team Commendation
  4. Team Testimonial
  1. NPCC Service Medal
  2. NPCC Long Service Medal
A Clasp may be awarded to recipients of the NPCC Long Service Medal on the completion of each further 5‑year period of continuous and unbroken qualifying service subsequent to the date of completion of qualifying service for the NPCC Long Service Medal.

Milestones

Laying the Groundwork
1959 – A pilot scheme was launched whereby a Police Cadet Corps Unit was set up on an experimental basis. Bartley Secondary School formed the first unit with 30 cadets and a teacher officer.
2 June 1961 – The Police Cadet Corps Ordinance was enacted. All schools were given the approval to set up PCC units. Siglap Secondary School and Serangoon Garden Government High School were the first to form such units.
1963 – The PCC and the National Cadet Corps came under the administration of the Ministry of Education with the Director of Education as the Director of Cadet Forces and in the following year, the PCC recruited girl cadets. Two new units were formed in the Raffles Girls' School and Sang Nila Utama Secondary School.
1968 – Formation signs were introduced for unit identity.
1969 – With the integration of PCC, Army, Air & Sea, the PCC was renamed National Cadet Corps.
Consolidating The Ground
1970 – Cadet Inspectors' unit was formed from students in pre-university classes.
1971 – The NCC was renamed National Police Cadet Corps. The NPCC band was also formed in the same year.
1972 – The "grey and khaki" uniform was changed to the present all-blue.
1974 – The NPCC Council was established by an Act of Parliament.
1 April 1975 – The NPCC Council was inaugurated by the Minister for Education.
1976 – The NPCC Band recruited girl cadets.
1979 – The NPCC service medals and clasps were introduced for officers and a year later, Proficiency Badges for cadets were introduced.
Manoeuvering The Ground
1980 – This period of time saw many initiatives being introduced to the Corps: the proficiency badges were introduced in 1980 in the hope of generating greater interest and opening up avenues to challenge cadets to achieve and excel.
1982 – The NUS NPCC Unit was established in 1982 to allow ex-cadets to continue their involvement in the Corps. These ex-cadets are known as "Honorary Officers".
1983 – The NPCC Pledge and NPCC March were introduced in 1983 and 1984 respectively to nurture a distinct NPCC Culture.
1984 – The objectives of the Corps was modified in 1984 to reflect the intellectual dimension and national concerns while retaining the traditional emphases.
1987 – The NPCC Pulau Ubin Camp Site was officially declared open in 1987.
Soaring Above The Ground
1991 – NTU NPCC Unit was established in 1991. In the same year, the training wing of NPCC HQ assisted in the training of police officers in campcraft who were scheduled to go on their first UN Peace Keeping Mission in Namibia.
1994 – The Corps came closer to realise its dream to develop an NPCC Camp that could accommodate 750 campers when the Urban Redevelopment Authority leased to it a 26-hectare piece of land in Pulau Ubin in 1994.
1996 – The NPCC Mission Statement and Core Beliefs were formulated and adopted in 1996 to root the Corps in a strong and purposeful philosophy.
1997 – The most prestigious of the NPCC Badges – the SPF-NPCC Badge – was unveiled in 1997 and was awarded to 10 cadets in that same year during the NPCC Day Parade.
September 2000 – The idea to explore the set-up of the NPCC Unit first surfaced during a meeting on the progress of the new NPCC campsite at Pulau Ubin. The meeting involved Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chairman NPCC Council and Commandant NPCC.
27 November 2001 – NPCC council gave in-principle approval to start the NPCC Unit in two schools namely; Anglo-Chinese School and Springfield Secondary School.
January 2002 – The two schools initiated recruitment of cadets for the sea units.
20 April 2002 – The new NPCC Ceremonial Flag was launched during the NPCC Day Parade.
15 January 2003 – The two sea units were launched on together with the ground -breaking ceremony for the Loyang Regional Base.
2005 – Pioneer batch of Non-Commissioned Officers took over as the new leaders of the NPCC units in Singapore.
2006 – Raffles Girls' School initiated recruitment of girl cadets for its all girls sea unit, the first in Singapore.
2006New Town Secondary School and Hwa Chong Institution become the first two units to receive the Unit Excellence Award for ten consecutive Unit Overall Proficiency Gold Awards at the annual NPCC day parade 2006.
2008Maris Stella High School NPCC Unit received their Unit Excellence Award for ten consecutive Unit Overall Proficiency Gold Award at the annual NPCC day parade 2008, thus making them the third unit in Singapore to receive this award.
18 April 2009 – NPCC marked its 50th anniversary at its annual NPCC day parade celebrations at the Home Team Academy. Victoria School and Cedar Girls' Secondary School NPCC Unit received their Unit Excellence Award for ten consecutive Unit Overall Proficiency Gold Award at the annual NPCC day parade 2009, thus making them the fourth and fifth unit in Singapore to receive this award. This also marks Cedar Girls' as the first all girls unit to be awarded the Unit Excellence Award for ten consecutive Unit Overall Proficiency Gold Award.
8 January 2011 – NPCC and National Civil Defence Cadet Corps, which form the Home Team Cadet Corps, held the Farewell Parade for NPCC Council Chairman Charles Chong. This event marks the end of the term of the current NPCC Council, which governs both NPCC and NCDCC.

People

Commandants

Commandant, Volunteer Special Constabulary/Police Cadet Corps
Commandant, Police Cadet Corps
Commandant, National Cadet Corps
Commandant, National Police Cadet Corps