Quoted from: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/040615/5/singapore90049.html
Full-time NS to be cut to 2 years from Dec 2004 intake:
Defence minister
SINGAPORE : Singapore is shortening its full-time National Service
by six months.
NSmen, who are 18 years of age and promoted to the rank of
corporals or higher, will only serve two years instead of
two-and-half years.
This takes effect from the December 2004 intake.
There will also be a graduated reduction in NS stints for batches
enlisted earlier.
In a ministerial statement to Parliament on Tuesday, Defence
Minister Teo Chee Hean assured the nation that the operational
readiness of the Singapore Armed Forces and its ability to carry
out its mission will not be affected.
Rear-Admiral Teo explained that two key factors have come together
to allow for this change - the transformation of the SAF into a
third generation fighting force and a projected surge in the NS
intake over the next 10 years.
There will be a 15 to 20 percent increase in the annual intake of
full-time NS men over 10 years from 2006.
This is because of a higher birth rate from the Dragon year in
1988, which lasted till 1997.
There will be no change for those serving two years full-time
NS.
The Home Affairs Ministry will make similar cuts for those serving
NS in the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence
Force.
Mindef is also working with local universities to realign their
intakes from 2007 to be in line with the shorter NS stints. -
CNA
