Modest NS Changes to Reflect the Sacrificial Spirit for NS!

FireIce SG

SINGAPORE - Polytechnic students are likely to start their national service in May or August next year, a month earlier than usual, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament yesterday.

The proposed change, which will affect an annual intake of some 11,000 polytechnic students, is one of 30 recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS), which released its report last week.

Their implementation, including enhanced benefits for NSmen, is expected to cost about $4.5 billion over the next decade, Dr Ng said. It is a move that will have a "huge administrative impact" and require "significant investment" from the Defence Ministry, he said. About 24,500 servicemen are enlisted annually.

"My SAF commanders are sweating over this... Each batch is about five, six, seven thousand, and they're wondering how do we do this."

But enlisting these students earlier means they get into the workforce earlier. For those who enlist in September and are bound for local universities at the end of their two years in August, they will no longer need to disrupt their NS, he said, speaking at the debate on the President's Address.

Junior college and Institute of Technical Education students will also benefit from a shorter waiting time, as the Singapore Armed Forces aims to enlist 90 per cent of its incoming recruits in a four-month window, up from 45 per cent now.

If these suggestions are accepted, they could take effect as early as the middle of next year, said Dr Ng, who chaired the CSNS. Such changes will bring "substantial" benefits to servicemen and Singapore, he noted.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Ng also highlighted the importance of NS to building a credible SAF, since national servicemen form the bulk of the fighting force.

He observed that Singapore is one of the few countries that has sustained its conscript system - for 47 years, as other states gradually phased them out, due to waning public support or to reap peace dividends. He attributed Singapore's success to the NSmen who had discharged their duties, and high levels of public support.

Despite that, the CSNS pressed on with its work, to ensure that NS remains "responsive and relevant to a new generation of millennial national servicemen".

"Better to hear them now and adjust policies, rather than wait and assume previous policies will work even when circumstances have changed," said Dr Ng.

For instance, family sizes have shrunk, work life is more hectic and more Singaporeans aspire to higher education. "Motivating national servicemen will have to change. Especially when this new generation has no direct experience of our early struggles."

He also welcomed positive feedback on the committee's work and explained the rejection of certain suggestions. "For example, priority places in primary schools... if we give priority to all NSmen then nobody gets priority."

On the additional benefits the committee recommended, he noted: "The benefits we give must reflect the right values of service... (they) must never dilute the spirit of service - that is for duty, honour and country."

charlize SG

claudialovespink SG

A Strong NS Training System

More Opportunities for National Servicemen to Contribute

The SAF Volunteer Corps

Recognition and Benefits for National Servicemen

Expand Community Support for National Servicemen

A Positive NS Experience: Easing Administrative Restrictions

eac SG

The debate on the President's Address moved to the theme of "Safe and Secure Singapore" on 29 May and Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen shared on the recommendations put forth by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) and the warm reception they have received.

"Overall, the response has been positive and the Committee is thankful for this. Some have said that we struck the right tone, by capturing the wide range of sentiments and ideas from the focus group participants.

"Indeed, we reproduced some of their direct feedback in our report because we wanted to capture the essence of what they said and their main points. The Committee was careful not only to recommend actions that were easy to implement," said Dr Ng.

Some of the Members of Parliament who welcomed the recommendations earlier in the week included MP for Sembawang GRC Ellen Lee, who said: "The proposed changes show more than due consideration towards Singaporeans who defend us and our homes.

"They are proof that the nation places great priority on furthering options that will increase their well-being as well as their family's well-being which in turn strengthens their sense of belonging to our nation." Ms Lee is a member of the CSNS working group which looks into recognition and benefits for NS. The other working group looks into boosting support for NS.

MP for Potong Pasir GRC Sitoh Yih Pin, the newly appointed Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs also voiced his support earlier this week: "The CSNS... is making some very far-reaching proposals that will strengthen Singaporeans' support for NS.

"I am glad that the Government is not content with what it has achieved and continues to strive to make NS even more relevant and to secure more support and buy-in from not just Singaporeans, but... (also) employers and companies that hire Singaporeans."

If accepted by the Government, the CSNS recommendations will bring about substantial recognition to national servicemen, and more importantly, boost Singapore's defence. The recommendations will cost about $4.5 billion over the next decade to implement.

One of the recommendations called for 90 percent of all future NS cohorts to be enlisted within four months of leaving school. The remaining will be enlisted within six months.

This is a significant commitment from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said Dr Ng in Parliament on 29 May. "Such recommendations have a huge administrative impact."

He noted: "If accepted by the Government, this could be implemented as early as the middle of next year." Every year, the SAF typically calls up NS-liable males in June and September. These will be brought forward to May and August, respectively.

The recommendations also included a call for the SAF to better match the skills of enlistees to their eventual vocations. "For the first time, we will ask NSFs (Full-time National Servicemen) to indicate their preferred vocation," said Dr Ng.

"This is another headache which my commanders are grappling with. Similarly for the SPF (Singapore Police Force) and SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force)," he said.

But Dr Ng cautioned: "Any time we give choice to everyone, not all will get their first or even second choice."

He elaborated: "The Committee deliberated this, said even though some, not all, will get their first and second choice... this should not deter us. Because giving choice will better match aptitudes to vocations and allow people who want to contribute in areas that they think they have strength in to do so."

Speaking for the continued importance of NS in Singapore's fabric, Dr Ng said: "Singapore remains one of very few countries able to sustain an NS system... Others have dismantled their NS systems, not because threats disappeared but because public support waned.

"NS support (in Singapore) has been built on the service of 900,000 national servicemen who have discharged their NS duties. Everyone faithfully, dutifully, did his duties."

Dr Ng also paid tribute to all NSmen. "Here we want to place on record the appreciation of this House for all the national servicemen who have served, and recognition of their contributions."

digimonfan2008 SG

Yup very minor changes nia, like no change almost.

btw I read 2 years to clear IPPT, does this mean I only need to serve once RT (20 RT sessions) for 2 years? This part they never mention.

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