NDP 2025: Soaked after jump, Red Lion says 'I feel like I just ran 5km'

After executing a perfect landing on a large open field in Bishan, Red Lion Leonard Tan was drenched from head to toe.

- Nadine Chua

When asked if he was soaked because he went through clouds while free-falling through the sky, Master Warrant Officer Tan said: "Most of it is sweat. The stress and fatigue level of one jump is equivalent to a 5km run. Mentally and physically, I feel like I just ran 5km."

MWO Tan was speaking exclusively to The Sunday Times on July 30 after a practice jump in Bishan. He is one of seven Red Lions taking part in the 2025 National Day heartland celebrations, and will jump from about 1,830m and land at the open field beside Junction 8 in Bishan at 4pm on Aug 10.

Despite being the most experienced Red Lion this year, with the highest number of jumps - 3,020 jumps over a 25-year career - MWO Tan, 48, said he reminds himself to never be complacent and to always keep focused on the jump ahead.

"The jump itself is around six minutes, but we have to prepare ourselves for around six hours. A lot goes behind the scenes," he said.

For instance, to prepare for the 9.15am jump on July 30, MWO Tan woke up at 3am.

"I had a small bite, attended several safety briefs and returned to our base camp to prepare our equipment. Then we headed to the airbase to coordinate with the pilots on how our jumps will be," he said.

"In the aircraft, I would visualise how I would exit the plane and execute the canopy moves, all the way until I landed.

"So by the time I land, I would always feel a lot of relief because of the humongous amount of stress there was before jumping out of the aircraft," he added.