What Army Cohesion Taught Me About Singapore’s National Pillars

Recently, our unit had a cohesion activity called Guardian Quest, and it turned out to be more than just games and fun — it was a meaningful lesson on the pillars that hold Singapore together.

The activity was structured like a team challenge. We were split into groups, and each group had to complete a series of tasks related to the National Pillars — from Civil Defence to Racial and Religious Harmony. The faster we completed the tasks, the more points we earned.

Some of the tasks were really creative:

• Taking a photo with an AED or a fire engine to represent Civil Defence.
• Snapping pictures with people from different ethnic backgrounds to showcase Racial and Religious Harmony.
• Filming short videos that reflect the meaning behind each pillar.

It was exciting and honestly more impactful than I expected. These weren’t just random activities — they helped us connect with the core values Singapore stands for, in a hands-on and relatable way.

Even though my group didn’t take home any awards, we gave it our best shot and had a lot of laughs along the way. More importantly, we walked away with a better understanding of what we’re really defending as part of the SAF.

It’s easy to take these values for granted — but through this cohesion, I’ve come to appreciate them a lot more. 🇸🇬