I think if we all want to be helpfull not give suggestions that
are not really feasible.
I have served in NS and i don't think that it can or should be
reduced any further, unless the situation has changed and it really
is feasible to do so. Some countries can afford to have shorter
National Service, then thats good for them. But you have to see
what trainings the soldiers receive. IF there are all rifle men,
foot soldiers, then i say a year of intensive training can produce
you a decent foot soldier. However, our NSFs are given training
beyond that, for command school, to operate Tanks, Artillery, some
Command Control and Communication systems and
other specialized vocations that require additional
training.
So One year is definitely not enough. If you extend or shorten
the liablity based on the vocation, then some people won't want to
be posted to certain vocations or command school as OUR systems
require.
You have to understand that the needs of Singapore Militarily is
very different then that of other countries.
It can be done la....Most of what the vocations learn can be
completed within one year. The rest of the NS is just repeating
what one has learned during training / specialized training.
Perhaps if shortening to 1 year is too much, then have a graduated
reduction to 1 1/2 years...learn from the progress and eventually
shorten it to 1 year.
If you say "You have to understand that the needs of
Singapore Military is very different then that of other
countries.", then may I ask u: what are the militaries of
other countries with conscription and how fundamentally different
is ours from theirs?
