SINGAPORE – A photo of American actor Sylvester Stallone as Rambo sticking up both his thumbs is being used to train the next generation of Home Team officers.
The meme, also known as Thumbs Up Rambo, is a reminder to officers that travellers use both their thumbs to clear biometric scans at immigration.
It is one of several memes being used at the Home Team Academy (HTA) to keep training relevant for younger officers, as well as help them better remember and develop the skills they need.
The memes used to train officers in immigration clearance can be scanned using an app to provide officers more information on how clearance should be done, and also how to spot suspicious characters at checkpoints.
These were unveiled on Tuesday at HTA’s workplan seminar, where Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo also launched the second iteration of the Home Team Learning Management System.
The system, which was first used in 2016, has been enhanced to bring together training, assessment and social collaboration onto one platform.
Artificial intelligence-assisted assessment will also be used.
The plan is for the system to eventually become the primary training platform for more than 68,000 officers across the Home Team.
Mrs Teo said the HTA, as the corporate university in homefront safety and security, plays a crucial role in ensuring Home Team officers are future-ready.
She said: “Competency-building through training and learning will enable our officers to tackle emerging and future challenges effectively, and achieve our mission of keeping Singapore and Singaporeans safe and secure.”
Virtual and augmented reality have also become key training tools at HTA. These were showcased in many of the training initiatives presented at this year’s seminar, held at the academy’s premises in Old Choa Chu Kang Road.
Virtual simulations of scenarios such as fires and explosions feature interactive elements based on actual locations such as Changi Airport’s terminals.
They also provide immersive experiences for officers, whose eye movements and reactions are tracked during training.
Such training in the virtual environment is meant to better prepare them for real-life situations they may come across when they are responding to incidents.
Mrs Teo commended HTA for its “dare to try” attitude in exploring different learning methods and technologies.
“It helps us adapt and stay ahead of changes in the security landscape,” she said.
“Let us embrace opportunities to learn and develop so that we can build a stronger Home Team and continue to keep Singapore and Singaporeans safe and secure.”
Mr Anwar Abdullah, chief executive of HTA, said that as a leader in simulation-based training, the academy will continue to invest in new training technologies.
He said HTA was invited to a police summit in Dubai in March to share its use of simulation technologies in training.
“We have continued to receive requests, both locally and overseas, to find out more about our simulation capabilities,” he said.
“I am proud that HTA flies the Home Team flag high by demonstrating how we are a leader in simulation-based training.”
Mr Anwar added that HTA has been transforming itself to become the centre of excellence in training and learning beyond just the Home Team, serving the whole of government and even at international levels.
He said: “As the Home Team embarks on our next lap of transformation, the Home Team Academy will lead the way in exploring and adopting new techniques, practices and technologies to elevate the quality and effectiveness of training and learning undertaken by Home Team officers.”
