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A steady hand. A sharp eye. And the ability to stay composed when the pressure sets in.
These were the qualities put to the test at the Johore Shield, an annual shooting competition that brings together officers from across the Singapore Police Force (SPF). First presented to the SPF by the Johore Police in 1953 in appreciation of the Force’s support during the communist insurgency, the Johore Shield today stands as a symbol of bilateral ties between the two forces and the ultimate mark of marksmanship excellence within the SPF.
Held at the Home Team Academy (HTA) shooting range, the competition challenged officers to put their shooting skills to the test across different distances. Beyond accuracy, it demanded discipline, adaptability and the ability to remain focused under pressure.
This year, two officers took on the challenge from different starting points. Sergeant (Sgt) Jasmine Zeng from Jurong Police Division’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) returned after a year away, while Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ho Wee Wan from the Security Command (SecCom) drew on years of experience as he prepared for another Johore Shield.
Returning to the Range
This year marked Sgt Zeng’s third time participating in the Johore Shield. Her journey in the competition began in 2023, when she was selected as a reserve participant. The following year, she represented her Division in the Women’s category before sitting out the 2025 competition after giving birth.
Returning to the range this year was especially meaningful. “Sometimes our journey may take a pause, but that doesn’t mean it has to stop,” she said.
However, a year away also meant that some of her skills and familiarity with certain processes had become rusty. Sgt Zeng knew that extra effort would be needed to find her rhythm again.
Finding Her Footing Again
She returned to the fundamentals of shooting, working to rebuild her consistency while also preparing herself mentally for the competition. Rather than pressuring herself to immediately perform at the same level as before, she reminded herself to trust what she’d learnt.
“The biggest difference this time was learning to be patient with myself,” she said. “I may have taken a year away, but I didn’t want to see it as starting from ground zero. I saw it as picking up from where I left off and working my way back.”
That mindset helped her regain her confidence as she prepared for the competition. It also reflected one of the many lessons she’d learnt through her work with the ERT – staying calm and focused even when things don’t go as planned.
“Shooting is very much about keeping calm and being consistent, and I try to bring the same mindset into the competition,” she said.
Rather than being distracted by the shooters around her or the outcome, she focused on what she could control, taking each shot as it came. “For me, it's about competing with myself rather than comparing myself with others,” she said.
For Sgt Zeng, her Johore Shield experience could be summed up in one word: growth. Returning after a year away gave her the opportunity to learn from more experienced shooters and, most importantly, taught her to trust her intuition.
Trusting the Training
For experienced shooter ASP Ho, this year marked his 4th year competing. ASP Ho first became active as part of the shooting committee in the Johore Shield from 2015 till 2022. The following year, he stepped into the range as a shooter while continuing his role as part of the committee.
He’s witnessed not just the evolution of the competition, but also the growth of shooters who returned to the range year after year.
“I remember many of these shooters when they were younger and just starting out in their respective Divisions,” he shared.
Over the years, some have progressed into leadership positions, taking charge of their teams while continuing to represent their Divisions at the competition. Seeing that progression has been one of the most rewarding parts of his involvement in the sport.
His years of experience have also shaped his approach to the competition. For ASP Ho, preparation boils down to one thing: trusting the training.
“Once I step onto the range, I remind myself to trust the training and simply enjoy the process of shooting,” he said.
Helping Others Find Their Mark
As the Police Sports Association’s Shooting Assistant Convenor, ASP Ho also hopes to create more opportunities for SPF officers to develop their marksmanship. He sees shooting as a way for officers from different Divisions and backgrounds to gain exposure to the sport, train consistently and challenge themselves through competition.
His advice to fellow shooters is simple. “Always remain calm in the range. Run through what you’re going to do in your mind. Rehearse again and again, so when the target flips, your marksmanship training will take over.”
ASP Ho’s experience showed on the range. He attained a score of 470 out of 480 in the elimination round – the highest score recorded at this year’s Johore Shield.
SecCom went on to clinch the Overall Champion title, while Jurong Police Division finished second in the non-specialist category.
More Than the Score
At the Johore Shield, every shot counts – but so does the journey behind it.
For Sgt Zeng, returning after a year away was a chance to rebuild her confidence and rediscover her rhythm. For ASP Ho, his experience through the years has reinforced the value of preparation and given him the opportunity to witness the growth of other shooters.
For both officers, the mark they leave goes beyond the target.
