Confusion, confusion .... To T/S: Your first instinct is
correct, lah. Notify your unit is enough, as long as you're still a
NSF.
Enhancing Convenience -
Revisions to Exit Control Measures Governing National
Servicemen
National Servicemen can look forward to more convenience when they
travel overseas with effect from 1 Aug 2006.
The revisions to exit control policies were recommended by the
Fourth Committee to Recognise the Contribution of
Operationally-Ready NSmen to Total Defence (RECORD IV) to enhance
convenience for servicemen when they travel overseas.
These recommendations were accepted by the Government during the
Committee of Supply Debate on 6 March 2006.
-- Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will henceforth be exempted
from applying for exit permits for short overseas trips of less
than 3 months.
-- Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) will no longer
be required to surrender their exit permits upon their return to
Singapore.
-- NSmen who have completed their Operationally-Ready National
Service (ORNS) training cycle will be exempted from notifying the
MINDEF Notification Centre (MNC) of their overseas trips.
-- Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will only be required to
apply for an exit permit for overseas trips of 3 months or longer.
This will allow NSFs to go overseas over the weekend or after
office hours without being subjected to the inconvenience of
applying for an exit permit.
-- Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) issued with exit
permits will no longer be required to surrender their exit permits
upon their return to Singapore. MINDEF will use the Immigration and
Checkpoint Authority's Exit-Entry Control Upgraded System (EECUS)
to monitor the return of NSmen.
-- NSmen who have completed their Operationally-Ready National
Service Training Cycle and have been phased into the MINDEF Reserve
(MR) will no longer be required to notify the MNC of their overseas
trips of more than 24 hours and less than 6 months. However, they
will continue to be subjected to exit permit controls for overseas
trips of 6 months or longer.
http://www.getformesingapore.com/previous2006/280706_exitpermitrulesrelaxedfornationalservicemenfrom1august2006.htm
Exit permit rules relaxed
for National Servicemen from 1 Aug 2006
A summary of the present and revised exit control measures is given
in the following table.
Comparison of Current and Revised Exit Control Measures
Exit Permit (for
NSFs)
Current -- Required for each overseas trip.
Revised -- Required only for overseas trips of 3 months or
longer.
Exit Permit (for
NSmen)
Current -- Required for overseas trips of 6 months or longer. NSmen
must surrender their EPs upon their return to Singapore.
Revised -- Required for overseas trips of 6 months or longer. NSmen
not required to surrender EP upon their return to Singapore.
MINDEF Notification
Centre (for NSmen)
Current -- Required for overseas trips of more than 24 hours but
less than 6 months.
Revised -- Required for overseas trips of more than 24 hours but
less than 6 months. NSmen who have completed their ORNS training
cycle and have been phased into the MR will be exempted from
notifying the MNC.
...Q8: Why did MINDEF
decide to relax EP controls for NSFs and will this affect the
operational readiness of the SAF?
A: MINDEF has decided to relax exit controls for NSFs as there are
already sufficient controls in place to ensure that they fulfil
their full-time NS obligations. NSFs are subject to disciplinary
controls under the SAF Act and would be liable for the offence of
AWOL or desertion if they fail to report for duty. NSFs are
also subject to leave policies and will be required to fill in
their contact details during leave application. As such,
MINDEF is able to exempt NSFs from EP for short trips of less than
3 months. This will enhance convenience for NSFs making short
overseas trips over the weekends or whilst on leave.
http://www.getformesingapore.com/previous2006/280706_exitpermitrulesrelaxedfornationalservicemenfrom1august2006_more.htm
