Singapore Red Cross Youth

The Singapore Red Cross Youth (RCY) is a uniformed group for primary and secondary school students. It has a membership of about 1500 links (primary school students) and about 2500 cadets (secondary school students) as of January 2015. There are currently 41 link units, 43 cadet units and 10 chapter units. A non-uniformed wing – RCY Chapters & Youth Members are inclusive of the RCY.

Singapore Red Cross Youth
AbbreviationRCY
Formation1952 (1952)
TypeUniformed Group
HeadquartersRed Cross House
Location
  • 15 Penang Lane Singapore 238486
Director
Durga Naidu
AffiliationsSingapore Red Cross Society
Websitehttps://www.redcross.sg/red-cross-youth/about-red-cross-youth.html
Singapore Red Cross Youth 60th Anniversary Logo. Celebrating 60 years of Spirit and Service Video
Red Cross Training Campsite. 62, Jalan Khairuddin, Singapore 457524

History

The Red Cross Youth was formed in 1952, with Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) having its first cadet unit. The Red Cross runs school-based youth programmes and is a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) recognised by the Ministry of Education as an avenue for Character and Citizenship Education in Singapore schools. The Red Cross Youth has two programmes – one for the Primary School children (Link Programme) and another for Secondary School youths (Cadet Programme). The organisation of youth activities under this approach has produced good results with both the Link units and Cadet Units, enthusiastically pursuing a series of activities ranging from social/recreational to community programmes.

Red Cross Youth Chapters (RCYC or RCY Chapters), previously known as the Red Cross Humanitarian Network (RCHN) was incorporated into Red Cross Youth from 1 July 2011.[1]

Structure

The Singapore Red Cross Youth comes under the command of Singapore Red Cross Society with the following appointments:

Appointment Incumbent
Patron President of the Republic of Singapore
Chairman Mr. Tan Kai Hoe
Secretary General / CEO Mr. Benjamin William

The Singapore Red Cross Youth Steering Committee is also organised in a National Headquarters level with the following appointments:

Appointment Incumbent
Director Ms. Durga Naidu
Head of Department Ms. Durga Naidu
Deputy Director (Governance, Risk & Compliance) Covering Youth Members @ Districts Ms. Daphne Goh
Deputy Director (Uniformed Group) Ms. Tai Wai Peng
Deputy Director (Chapters & Red Cross Junior) Mr. Amos Kow
Deputy Director (Project Management) Mr. Dennis Mark
Coordinating Assistant Director (Uniformed Group, Operations) Mr. Ong Sin Wee
Coordinating Assistant Director (Links) Ms. Chow Yin
Coordinating Assistant Director (Cadets) Ms. Bertha Kwok
Coordinating Assistant Director (Youth Members @ Districts) Ms. Daphne Goh
Coordinating Assistant Director (Chapters) Mr. Amos Kow

Incentive Badges Scheme

The objective of the Incentive Badge Scheme is to encourage Link and Cadet members to take an interest in subjects outside their normal academic curriculum and to widen their interests by carrying out these activities during training. Such activities may also be organised by their respective Zones. Certain activities are also organised by Red Cross Headquarters.

The different badges are as follows:

Achievements
  • President's Youth Award
  • Director's Award

Proficiency badges
  • First Aid (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Youth Ambassadors' Blood Programme (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Red Cross Knowledge (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Red Cross Service Learning (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Disaster Management (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Youth Leadership (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Service Learning (Bronze, Silver, Gold)

National Education badges
  • Total Defence (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • National Heritage
  • National Ambassador *Meeting minimal attendance in any one (1) of the three (3) National Events such as National Day Parade, Singapore Youth Festival, National Camp qualifies as a National Ambassador.

Fundamental badges
  • Foot-Drill

Enrichment badges
  • International Friendship
  • Link-Cadet
International Exchange Programme to Japanese Red Cross, Hyogo. Visit to a Red Cross Hospital in Hyogo

Core Subjects
  • Basic First Aid (Foundation, Formative)
  • Basic Red Cross Knowledge (Foundation, Formative)
  • Youth Ambassadors' Blood Programme (Foundation, Formative)
  • Red Cross Service (Foundation, Formative)

UG Fundamental Subjects
  • Basic Outdoor Activities (Foundation, Formative)
  • Basic Foot-Drill (Foundation, Formative)

Achievements
  • Director's Award

Non-Core Subjects
  • Environment Education (Foundation, Formative)
  • Health Education (Foundation, Formative)
  • International Friendship
  • Performing Arts (Foundation, Formative)
  • Sports Education (Foundation, Formative)

Annual Events

Red Cross Youth hosts a variety of major events, performances, competitions and programmes. The events are as follows:

Type Programme/Event
Competitions First Aid Championship, Fostering Leadership And Resilient Endeavours (FLARE), Disaster Risk Reduction Competition (DRRC), Ambassadors of Blood Competition (ABC), Trailblazers Championship (TC)
Training Modular Workshops, Unit Leaders' Programme, Unit Specialists' Programme, Volunteer Instructors' Programme, Unit Officers' Programme, Volunteer Officers' Programme
Celebration/Recognition RCY Awards Day, World Red Cross Day Celebrations
Others Red Cross Youth Challenge, Linkamania Camp, Youth Officers' Sharing Session, Overseas Humanitarian Programme, International Youth Exchange Programme

Uniform


Male Cadet
Female Cadet

Rank structure
Appointment Ranks
Insignia
Title Director[note 1] Deputy Director[note 2]
Appointment Ranks & Staff Officers (Secretariat)
Insignia
Title Head Staff Officer[note 3] Senior Staff Officer Staff Officer Auxiliary Staff Officer Senior Assistant Director[note 4] Coordinating Assistant Director[note 5] Assistant Director[note 6]
Divisional Officers[note 7]
Insignia
Title Senior Divisional Officer Divisional Officer Assistant Divisional Officer
Youth Officers & Zone Volunteer Officers
Insignia
Title Head Of Zone[note 8] Assistant Head Of Zone[note 9] Senior Youth Officer[note 10] Youth Officer[note 11]
Volunteer Instructors & Volunteer Officers
Insignia
Title Senior Volunteer Officer[note 12] Volunteer Officer Assistant Volunteer Officer[note 13] Principal Cadet Officer Senior Cadet Officer Cadet Officer Assistant Cadet Officer[note 14]
Cadet Members
Insignia
Title Warrant Officer (ceased to issue) Warrant Officer (WO)[note 15] Staff Sergeant (SSG) Sergeant (SGT) Corporal (CPL) Lance Corporal (LCP)
  • Link Gold Star
    Link Gold Star
  • Link Silver Star
    Link Silver Star
  • Link Bronze Star
    Link Bronze Star

Volunteer Instructors (VI)
Volunteer Instructors

Volunteer Instructors (VIs) are usually graduated cadets of various RCY units who wish to continue rendering service to the organisation, at the school and/or headquarter level. Volunteer Instructors are required to undergo the Volunteer Instructors' Programme (VIP) organised by Red Cross Youth Headquarters. Trainees will undergo training to equip them with knowledge and skills to be an instructor in Red Cross Youth. All Instructors are required to obtain the Standard First Aid Certificate. When trainees successfully pass out from VIP, they will be appointed the rank of Assistant Cadet Officer.

Duties of a VI includes:

  • Assisting the Youth Officer (YO) in preparing the unit's training work plan.
  • Assisting in conducting training and organising of activities within the core curriculum of the RCY.
  • Assisting in the organisation of activities for the respective district.
  • Providing proper guidance and counselling to cadets and links, as well as to take charge of their welfare.
  • Attending meetings at unit committees as a co-opted member to provide advice and expertise.

Awards and recognition

Cadets' Lanyards
A Cadet's Lanyard

Lanyard are awarded to cadets with outstanding performance in terms of leadership and/or skills in the following programmes/events. Lanyards are usually worn on the left shoulder as shown above. However, if a cadet attains more than one lanyard, he/she can only wear one.

ProgrammeDuration % of cohort
Unit Specialists' ProgrammeNov–Dec10
Unit Leaders' ProgrammeMay–June10
Red Cross Youth ChallengeDec10

Long Service Awards

Long Service Medals & Ribbons are awarded to Red Cross Youth Volunteers as an appreciation for their active contributions in Singapore Red Cross Youth.

  • Red Cross Diamond Star (25 Years Medal)
  • Red Cross Platinum Star (20 Years Medal)
  • Red Cross Gold Star (15 Years Medal)
  • Red Cross Silver Star (10 Years Medal)
  • Red Cross Bronze Star (5 Years Medal)
Long Service Ribbons (15 years)

Medals are worn on the left side of the uniform, in accordance with the order of precedence. Full-sized medals are worn with the Red Cross Full Uniform. The medals are worn centrally on the left side of the uniform showing the obverse face. The base of the medals should be just above the pocket button. If more than one medal is worn, they are shown full-faced and suspended side by side in precedence order with the highest award placed first from the right (nearer to the heart) of the wearer. If more than 4 medals are worn, the highest award is shown full-faced while the others are overlapped.

Long Service Ribbons (20 years)

Ribbons are worn without the orders, decorations and medals. They are worn immediately above the left chest pocket flap. The latest rewarded ribbon is worn on the wearer's right (nearer to the heart) and in the top row when more than one row is worn. Ribbons are worn to a maximum of three in a row. Ribbons in excess of this number are to be worn centrally above the completed row.

School Units

Schools are categorised into 4 zones. Below are the zones and their respective schools.

RCY Chapters

    List of RCY Chapters in Singapore

    Notes
    1. These are Appointment Ranks appointed by The Singapore Red Cross Society Council.
    2. These are Appointment Ranks appointed by The Singapore Red Cross Society Council.
    3. These are Appointment Ranks appointed by The Singapore Red Cross Society Council.
    4. These are Appointment Ranks appointed by the Red Cross Youth Steering Committee.
    5. These are Appointment Ranks appointed by the Red Cross Youth Steering Committee.
    6. These are Appointment Ranks appointed by the Red Cross Youth Steering Committee.
    7. These are often Senior Officers who are no longer holding appointments in office or conferred an Honorary Officer role, e.g. former ADs, Coordinating ADs, Senior ADs, DDs and/or Director.
    8. Granted to Teacher-Officers In Command, or Volunteer Officers who have exhibited competent leadership. This is the highest possible rank an Officer can be promoted to.
    9. Granted to Teacher-Officers In Command, or Volunteer Officers who have exhibited competent leadership.
    10. Granted to Teacher-Officers In Command, or Volunteer Officers who have exhibited competent leadership.
    11. Granted to Teacher-Officers who have completed the Unit Officers' Programme (UOP).
    12. Granted to Teacher-Officers In Command, or Volunteer Officers who have exhibited competent leadership. This is the highest possible rank an Officer can be promoted to.
    13. Granted to Volunteer Instructors, aged 21 and above in the year of promotion, who have completed the Volunteer Officers' Programme (VOP).
    14. Granted to Volunteer Instructors who have passed the Volunteer Instructors' Programme (VIP).
    15. This is the highest possible rank a RCY Cadet can be promoted to. The insignia for the Warrant Officer rank is changed to that for the Old Senior Warrant Officer insignia.

    References
    1. "Singapore Red Cross Society". redcross.sg. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
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