Your Employees as NSmen
People are the assets of Singapore. Our NSmen, your employees, make up 80% of our military defence and form the backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces. Every male citizen in Singapore is enrolled into National Service around the age of 18. They represent the collective will of our nation to stand up for itself and to ensure the security of the nation.
Within 6 months after an NSman ORDs, he will be assigned to a NS Unit. As an Operationally Ready NSman, your employee is required to undergo regular training to ensure that he is in optimal condition when called upon for the defence of our country. He is required to continue his active unit training cycle, for which a typical time frame will be 10 years, in appropriate areas deemed by Singapore Armed Forces.
Support for Employers
MINDEF/SAF relies on partnerships with employers in enhancing the operational readiness of the SAF. Your support for our NSmen does not go unnoticed and is important to us. In appreciation of your continual support, MINDEF introduced the Total Defence Awards (TDA) in 1986. This is one of our ways to recognise your strong support for our NSmen in fulfilling their NS commitments.
Be A Supportive Employer
Whether as individuals, corporations or organizations, we all have a part to play in Total Defence In committing to playing an active and constructive role in our society, you are demonstrating not only corporate social responsibility, you are showing commitment to and action for Total Defence.
We appreciate your partnership with us and encourage you to publicly pledge your support for National Defence. Simply submit your Declaration of Support!
For assistance or further enquiries, please contact National Service Affairs Department:
NS Affairs Department
Tel: 6373 3214
The Total Defence Awards comprise of the following:
Minister for Defence Award
Distinguished Defence Partner Award
Meritorious Defence Partner Award
These awards are presented annually in July at an awards banquet hosted by Minister for Defence. Employers who have at least 5 NSmen in their employment are eligible to participate in the awards. They are either nominated by their NS employees, or they can apply to participate in the awards directly.
If you are a recipient of the Minister for Defence Award, you will be inducted into the MiDAs (Minister for Defence Awards) League for a five-year tenure. You will then serve as advocates of national defence for others to emulate. Strong advocates will be appointed as Honorary Members of the MiDAs League.
For more information of the Total Defence Awards, visit our Total Defence Awards section.
The CRC is conducted once a year on SAF Day during office hours and it gives employers the opportunity to publicly pledge their support for defence. At the same time, it allows NSmen an opportunity to rededicate themselves to the defence of Singapore.
This ceremony can be held either in-house, where you can gather with fellow NSmen colleagues and pledge your commitment to defence together.
Or it can be a combined effort with other supporting employers, where all NSmen from different companies residing in the same area, namely CBD and South, East, North/North-East, and West, pledge your commitment together.
In recognition for your company’s efforts to organise the ceremony, MINDEF will provide you with the necessary items, which include:
A Singapore flag and the National Anthem CD (on T-loan basis); and
A copy of the SAF Day Video and SAF Day Message.
For assistance, please contact:
Tel: 6373 3208
Fax: 6373 3215
To see more details of the CRC, visit our Events section.