SINGAPORE: From April, the allowance for all
servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force
and Singapore Civil Defence Force will be increased by S$60 across
all ranks.
The allowance was last reviewed in 2009, when it was increased by
S$20.
With the latest change, a recruit will receive a monthly rank
allowance of S$480, up from the current S$420.
In Parliament on Tuesday, MP Ong Teng Koon had called on the
Ministry of Defence to better recognise the contributions of NS
men.
Mr Ong said: "The SAF owes much of its success to the conscript of
young men from the age of 18, and regular reservist call-ups,
throughout their adult lives.
"However, our modern lifestyle has necessitated the need for our
servicemen sacrifice a meaningful part of their adulthood often
find themselves two years late to the party, when they compete for
universities or on the job market globally."
After factoring in combat allowances, which can range from S$100 to
S$300, a typical NSF enlistee who is a rifleman (LCP) in an
Infantry Battalion will receive S$650 per month in
allowances.
A typical NSF officer holding the rank of second lieutenant (2LT)
will receive S$1, 150 per month.
Minister of State Lawrence Wong said the raise "goes one step
further in signalling our acknowledgment of our servicemen's
commitment and service", noting that the government has other
recognition schemes in place.
They include the National Service Recognition Award (NSRA) to
recognise national servicemen through their training cycle.
The ministry is also looking at further ways to extend professional
development opportunities to regular servicemen.
For example, the Singapore Armed Forces has joined hands with
Nanyang Polytechnic to introduce a Certificate in Business
Management programme for Warrant Officers, Specialists and Military
Experts.
This is a bridging programme that provides these officers with a
foundation in the study of business management and equip them with
skills such as communications, computing, basic accounting and
marketing.
Upon successful completion of the certificate programme, servicemen
would qualify for direct entry into the Diploma in Business
Management.
In Parliament, several members of the House including
Non-Constituency MP Lina Chiam, asked for a review of the duration
of NS.
"My main reason for advocating the shortening of NS is that since
the government has welcomed such a large number of foreigners into
our workforce in the past decade, Singaporean males urgently need
to close the gap as to when they start their working life," said
Mrs Chiam.
In 2004, the duration of conscription was cut, from two and a half
years to two years.
In 2006, the duration of Operationally Ready NS - where NSmen were
required to serve reservist training - was shortened from 13 years
to 10 years.
These changes, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, were made in view
of the transformation to a 3rd Generation armed forces, and the
increasing adoption of technology.
The reduction in NS duration also corresponded with the surge in NS
intake from 2006 to 2015.
But Dr Ng noted that from 2016, the cohort size will fall.
Hence, the duration of training will remain at the current periods
till further review.
"Our NSmen are not the second line of defence," said Dr Ng.
"They don't go behind somebody. When there's a need, they are the
first responders to protect Singapore when our survival is
threatened. So in that eventuality, we have to have sufficient
numbers, we need to train them, we need adequate time to train and
prepare them for their role effectively."
