After reaching your Operationally Ready Date (ORD), you will transition from full-time National Serviceman (NSF) to Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman). ORNS refers to the NS training phase that NSmen undergo with their NS unit. It is typically a 10 year training cycle which comprises 3 main phases:

To complete an ORNS year, you need to participate in an ORNS activity within your work-year, which starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March of the following year. For this period, you may be called up for not more than 40 days of ORNS activities annually. It is your responsibility to inform your employer in advance of any ORNS activities you need to attend.

Throughout your ORNS, you must update MINDEF on your contact details via Update My Profile on the NS Portal.

Note: Any changes to your contact details will take up to 3 working days to be reflected in the system.

As part of your ORNS, you could be called up to fulfil the training requirements for the following ORNS activities:

Participate in In-Camp Training (ICT)
In a work-year, you may be called for:

You will be notified of your ICT via MINDEF notification channels which you are required to acknowledge. Furthermore, you will receive a softcopy of the official notice, i.e. SAF100, via Manage Call-Ups & Manning on the NS Portal. Your SAF100 will have your ICT details, like the reporting date, time, venue, attire and instructions for your call-up. If you are unable to attend, you must apply for deferment via Manage Call-Ups & Manning on the NS Portal.

Note: Being absent from your ICT without approved deferment may subject you to disciplinary action.

To prepare for your ICT, you can replace and replenish your personal equipment at the SAF eMarts or via Shop At eMart on the NS Portal. Credits will be allocated to you once every 2 years.

Be Ready for Manning
You could be placed on Manning, and must be ready at any time to report to your Mobilisation Centre upon mobilisation. Notification can occur through 2 ways:

Pass Your Annual Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT)
You need to attempt and pass your annual IPPT, with a score of at least 51 points out of 100, with a minimum of 1 point in every IPPT station. This has to be done within your IPPT Window – a 12-month period. The first window starts on your birthday after your ORD and ends a day before your next birthday.

As IPPT requirements are gazetted under the Enlistment Act, you will not receive notification via SAF100 to attend any IPPT activities. It is your responsibility as an NSman to track and fulfil your IPPT requirements within your annual IPPT Window. To assist you, an SMS notification could be sent upon the commencement of your IPPT Window.

You can also fulfil your IPPT requirements by completing 10 sessions of IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT) with at least 1 IPPT attempt within your IPPT Window.

You will be required to take up to 20 sessions of Remedial Training (RT) in your next IPPT Window if you have any of the following statuses by the end of your IPPT Window:

For overseas travel that is more than 14 days and less than 6 months, you need to inform the MINDEF Notification Centre (MNC) prior to your trip. But if you are travelling for 6 months or longer, you will need to apply for an Exit Permit (EP). All these can be done via the eService– Manage Overseas Trips on the NS Portal.

Note: Informing MNC of your intention to travel within your Manning period does not excuse you from mobilisation. You will still need to seek approval from your unit's Commanding Officer on the travelling details. If you do not, you may be called back for investigation and be subjected to disciplinary action.

You will receive NS Pay for the duration of any ORNS activities you attend. This is to ensure that you will not suffer a loss of income as a result of attending these activities while employed. Your NS Pay is typically made up of your Service Pay and Make-Up Pay.

Different schemes have been designed to recognise your contributions throughout your ORNS. You will receive this in the form of annual tax relief of $1,500, MINDEF/SAF Group Insurance coverage during your ORNS training, and Celebratory Gifts to commemorate your special occasions.

You can also receive awards when you reach the different milestones in your ORNS, like the National Service HOusing, Medical and Education (NS HOME) Awards and Service Medals. NSmen with exemplary performances may also be eligible for other forms of awards and recognition, like the NS Excellence Award (NSEA).

You will be deemed to have completed your ORNS training cycle and be phased into the MINDEF Reserve (MR) when you have fulfilled 10 ORNS years of which 7 are HK ICTs.

Note: For Key Appointment holders, you have to fulfil 13 ORNS years of which 8 are HK ICTs.

Upon phasing into MR, you will not have to:

However, you will still need to apply for an EP if you are travelling overseas for 6 months or longer. You should also maintain your personal equipment as you may still be activated for operational service up to your statutory age – 50 and 40 years old for Officers and WOSEs respectively.

Upon reaching your statutory age, you will be considered an Ex-NSman. You have fulfilled your NS duty. You are no longer required to participate in any ORNS activities and notify MINDEF on your overseas travel.

You may dispose your personal equipment by returning it to any SAF eMart outlet or the Army Logistics Base. You may also dispose of it on your own, as long as it does not result in the unauthorised usage of your equipment by other persons.

For example, you should cut your SAF uniforms and SAF helmet liner suspension assemblies and retention straps into small pieces, and remove all tags with the label "Property of SAF" before discarding them into the waste bin.

Note: Non-compliance with these instructions may amount to a criminal offence, and result in criminal charges against you.

The Reservist on Voluntary Extended Reserve Service (ROVERS) and NS Volunteer schemesoffer opportunities for you to do so. However, these are subject to approval. If you have civilian expertise in operationally relevant niche areas, like law, medicine, engineering, and psychology, you may also be recommended to join the Expertise Conversion Scheme (ECS).