News article: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/committee-reviews/910678.html
SINGAPORE: More than 22,000
participants have contributed feedback and ideas to strengthen
National Service in the nation-wide public engagements conducted
from May to December 2013.
The suggestions were reviewed by the
Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) at its 5th Steering
Committee Meeting at SAFRA Toa Payoh on Thursday.
Improving the full-time National
Service (NS) training system through the development of a
professional training cadre was one of the main
suggestions.
The meeting, chaired by Defence
Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, also discussed the possibility of reducing
transition periods to and from full-time NS, so as to optimise the
time commitment required of NSmen.
Members affirmed that NS continues to
be necessary and critical to Singapore's security, and that any
change must not compromise the operational readiness of the
Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil
Defence Force.
The meeting also deliberated on
proposals to strengthen support for NS from various stakeholders --
like encouraging greater ownership by restructuring the Advisory
Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD).
They discussed how ACCORD could be
expanded from a feedback and advisory platform, to councils with
linkages to constituencies like employers, families and the
community.
There were also suggestions to
provide more support for NSmen in the area of healthcare through
the National Service Recognition Award, and measures to enhance the
efficiency and effectiveness of NS administration -- such as
improving the MINDEF notification centre process, upgrading the NS
portal and facilitating make-up training for NSmen who miss their
in-camp training.
Members agreed it was important to
make NS administration processes more convenient, so that NSmen can
perform their duties effectively.
- CNA/ac