Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team

The Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) is a team of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) that specialises in complex incidents such as technical rescue and prolonged firefighting. It was formed in May 1990, and has participated in many international humanitarian missions.

History

DART was formed in May 1990.[1] Its first commander was LTC Poon Siow Hai. In the initial phase, DART participated in several aid missions overseas to gather experience and learn from other countries.[2]

DART has been involved in several disaster relief missions, including the 1993 Highland Towers collapse in Malaysia,[2] the 1999 Jiji earthquake in Taiwan,[2] the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake in Indonesia, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan,[3] the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China,[4] and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand.[5]

Selection and training

Only regulars of the SCDF are allowed to apply to DART. Candidates must first pass a 30-hour selection test.[6] Test components include a 7-kilometre run, 18-kilometre casualty evacuation, and confidence tests in the water, at height, and in confined spaces. The test is highly selective; in 2018, only seven out of fifteen candidates passed selection.[7] After passing selection, the candidates then undergo a ten-week training course including a 36-hour mission before graduating as DART specialists.[8]

See also

References
  1. "1888-1990". scdf.gov.sg. Singapore Civil Defence Force. Archived from the original on 2019-11-06. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  2. Lim, Michelle, ed. (2015). "Rescue 995: Walking Down Memory Lane". Rescue 995. Singapore: Singapore Civil Defence Force. ISSN 0219-2098.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2005-10-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "S'pore sends rescue team to quake-hit China". Channel NewsAsia. 2008-05-16. Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2011-03-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. Zaihan Mohamed Yusof (2018-05-13). "Gruelling 10-week course stands in the way of selection to SCDF's elite Dart unit". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  7. Zaihan Mohamed Yusof (2018-02-25). "30 hours of torture to get into SCDF's Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team course". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  8. Zaihan Mohamed Yusof (2018-05-14). "The last 36 hours: Final stretch for trainees to earn elite Dart tabs". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
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