THE man at the helm of this year's National Day Parade (NDP) is gunning for, in his words, that 'hair-stand moment', when everyone says the national pledge.

Brigadier-General Tan Chuan-Jin, 40, said preparations started last year and rehearsals to stage the perfect show, involving about 3,000 participants, began last month.

The general is also the commander of the army's Third Division.

BG Tan said planning the nation's big day has been a challenge, though his stint as commander of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) humanitarian assistance support group in 2004 will stand him in good stead.

Then, he led more than 500 SAF personnel who were sent to the tsunami-devastated town of Meulaboh in Sumatra, Indonesia.

Being also a fan of new media, he has detailed the process of organising NDP in his first blogpost on www.ndp.org.sg, which documents his views about his year-long gig.