SINGAPORE, 10 April 2021 – HomeTeamNS officially opened today its newest five-storey clubhouse at Khatib, spanning 21,000 square metres. It is the first ’smart’ clubhouse in Singapore, equipped with digital capabilities, and features eco-friendly innovations and several first-of-its-kind facilities.
The launch was officiated by Guest-of-Honour Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Home Affairs and for Law, who is also Chairman of the HomeTeamNS Board of Governors.
HomeTeamNS Awards Ceremony
20 HomeTeam national servicemen (NSmen) received their Meritorious and Long Service Awards at a ceremony held at the clubhouse for the first time, immediately after the launch of HomeTeamNS Khatib. The HomeTeamNS Awards Ceremony recognises the contributions and commitment of Home Team NSmen.
This year, HomeTeamNS is presenting a total of 54 awards to 46 Home Team NSmen at two separate ceremonies. Minister Shanmugam and Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State for Home Affairs and for National Development, and also President of HomeTeamNS, presented the awards to 20 recipients at the ceremony on 10 April. The other 26 other award recipients will receive their awards at another ceremony on 17 April. More information on the HomeTeamNS Awards is at Annex.
About HomeTeamNS Khatib
HomeTeamNS Khatib was progressively opened to NSmen and the public from 1 August 2020, in accordance with the phased relaxation of COVID-19 safe management measures. The new clubhouse is just one of the many ways that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recognises and shows appreciation for the contributions of NSmen from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) in keeping Singapore safe and secure.
Since the ground-breaking ceremony in 2018, various HomeTeamNS committees, including the Development Committee and Advisory Panel, have been heavily involved in the planning and development of the Khatib Clubhouse. The clubhouse aims to promote camaraderie, pride and bonding among Home Team NSmen, and help them maintain their physical fitness. The HomeTeam’s history, mission, and contributions to keeping Singapore safe and secure are reflected in the clubhouse’s architecture and design.
Adventure HQ T-Play Khatib TactSIM Arena
The clubhouse boasts a number of firsts in the history of Singapore’s clubhouses, including:
- Adventure HQ, Singapore’s largest multi-installation indoor hub;
- T-Play Khatib, the only Peranakan-themed indoor playground in Singapore; and
- TactSim, Singapore’s first indoor player versus player airsoft arena.
The new Khatib Clubhouse offers a range of other recreational facilities and F&B outlets to cater to the needs of the Home Team community and their families, including Singapore’s largest Fitness Workz premium gym spanning 1,500 square metres, the first eMart located outside of SPF and SCDF premises, as well as four ManCaves decked out with the latest entertainment gadgets and a private BBQ patio each.
“HomeTeamNS Khatib is the first of the modern, new-look Home Team clubhouses. We wanted the best in design, facilities, and technology. We appreciate our national servicemen who have given a lot to ensure the safety and security of Singapore,” said Minister Shanmugam. “This clubhouse was designed by NSmen for NSmen, It is family-friendly, great for kids and great for adults. It is going to be a very popular addition, to both the Home Team and Nee Soon.”
“The opening of Khatib Clubhouse has been very well received by our members, scoring well above the industry norm in customer satisfaction,” said Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, President of HomeTeamNS. “We have seen a marked increase in membership sign-ups and renewals among members residing in the North from October 2020 to March 2021, compared to the same period a year before,” he added.
Clubhouse 3.0 – Digitalisation in a Pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last year, HomeTeamNS had to bring the traditional clubhouse experience online. HomeTeamNS staff adapted quickly and launched virtual initiatives such as eSPORTS – home-based e-gaming, REAL @ Run Solo, livestreamed Trivia Nights, to name a few.
The HomeTeamNS mobile application was also developed and launched in the midst of the pandemic, to enable members to book facilities remotely, and to provide digital, contactless access to enter the facilities.
Ms Agnes Eu, Chief Executive of HomeTeamNS said: “We focused our efforts on enhancing the HomeTeamNS experience for our NSmen, bridging their online and offline journey seamlessly through this app. They are able to check the capacity of our various facilities in real time, create instant bookings, and upon arrival, scan their QR codes for entry. Through backend integration, we are able to analyse the data gathered to better understand their preferences and thereafter improve the way we engage them.”
“Having a tenacious team who was determined to make things work really brought out our creativity and resourcefulness. We received overwhelming support from our NSmen who not only participated enthusiastically in our online activities, but also stepped in to help out with our digitalisation efforts.”
Bringing Greater Convenience to Home Team NSmen
In late September 2020, HomeTeamNS launched its first Virtual Fitness Training (VFT), a joint initiative with the Ministry of Home Affairs. This initiative allows Home Team NSmen to undergo fitness training, guided in real-time by trained instructors, at any suitable place with internet connectivity and just a smart phone. This makes it much more convenient for Home Team NSmen who no longer need to rush to a designated Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) Preparatory Training (IPT)/ Remedial Training Centre. As of 31 March 2021, over 8,000 NSmen have taken part in 170 VFT classes. The initial two classes per week have since been increased to eight classes of up to 50 pax per week to meet growing demand.
Home Team NSmen who prefer to physically work out using gym equipment will be able to use HomeTeamnNS Fitness Workz gyms for their IPT sessions from May 2021, and for the NS Fitness Improvement Training (FIT) programme, from June 2021.
Both the VFT and gym sessions are recognised and count towards IPT sessions for annual IPPT requirements.
What’s Next for HomeTeamNS
Next year, members can look forward to the opening of the “Waterfront”-themed HomeTeamNS Bedok, located in Bedok Reservoir Park and surrounded by lush greenery. The HomeTeamNS Tengah Clubhouse, with its “Great Outdoors” theme, will be completed between 2030 and 2035.
