Give Feedback on Strengthen NS/Ask More NS Benefits/Welfare!
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URL: www.StrengthenNS.sg
National Servicemen can expect new measures to better motivate, support, and recognise them, as well to help them balance their NS commitments with their family and career commitments.
These aims were revealed by the Committee to Strengthen National Service on Wednesday, after it held its first meeting at the Basic Military Training Centre on Pulau Tekong. Over the next six months, the committee will gather ideas from servicemen and the public through focus group discussions and town hall sessions.
The public may also air their views on a new website www.strengthenNS.sg or through e-mail at [email protected].
The 20-member committee is chaired by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, and includes Members of Parliament, senior military personnel, employers, and NSmen. It was set up during this year's Committee of Supply Debate in March, which saw robust debate over how to better recognise National Servicemen in light of continued immigration and the need to preserve a Singapore core. In recent months, members of the public have responded to the news by calling for greater monetary incentives, including subsidies for transport, education and health, and time-off to rest after reservist in-camp training.
Over the next six months, Singaporeans will be asked for feedback on how to beef up National Service.
The Committee to Strengthen National Service, announced in March, will lead focus group discussions and town hall sessions while also conducting online consultation sessions via a new website, www.strengthenNS.sg
The Committee meeting for the first time today, expects its work to be done within a year.
Made up of 20 members, including Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Members of Parliament,military top brass and private sector employers, the committee will use the feedback gathered to recommend measures to enhance National Service as a critical institution for Singapore's continued survival and success.
The measures are meant to motivate servicemen to give their best in serving, help them balance their duties with family and work commitments, enhance support from families, companies, new citizens and the broader community, and promote recognition of servicemen's efforts.
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Ho say liao, chop seat, i gathering infomration and suggestions.
But first round of fire:
i think the recent NS45 safra membership and vouchers are a good start as recognition to our servicemen.
Every year like that once is good, though i think if more vouchers over the option of selecting safra membership is even better..
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Concession fare for NSF is good. i remmeber last time i serve once a period of several months posted to a stay out unit. have to pay adult fare. every night stay out although we applied to the camp commander to stay in becasue our homes are at the other extremem end, kenna rejected.
so our monthly pay about 190 bucks minus everyday about 4 dollars transprt for 6 days in a week pay month end is no more.
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(NSF and NSmen) pay - still very little.
should be pegged to private sector.
can grade by vocation.
ministers all pegged by private sector becasue they are talents?
our NSmen and NSF soldiers' sweat and tears and blood worth lesser lah?
SOC should have monetary incentives.
IPPT monetary incetives also shoudl be reviwed and increased.
transport fares every year review, minister pay also review increase.
NSF and NSmen?
what if a NSmen jobless and hae to go back army serve ICT? cannott be still pay like last time he NSF right?
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last time i remember during my NSF days the cooks are like SHIT!
teh food go sands and taste like SHIT!
late on as i ORD and serve my ICT through the years things got better.
i feel if when the time comes a soldier deserve the break or rest time, can be on off day or during meal breaks, there should not be any inhumane hardsh add on trainings like tekan or sabo from officers or specilist. such things happen in the pass during my NSF days at tekong.
cooks giv lots of rice to skinny people and little rice to fatter people. we must finish our food in the past when the BOSS or DO will stand at the rubbish bin to wait and catch ppl.
now privatize cook house at least better can ask auntie auncle to give more or less of rice this and that.
unless its stated in a traingin sechuled on tekan session, a soldier should nt be deprive of the humanity and right to rest or recuperate.
of ourse of its ranger or commando and stated in their training then such trainings can commence.
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first generation new citizens should serve NS. but not in the army navy and airforce or police.
depending on their age and gender, tehy can serve at civil defence, hospitals or as volunteer workers over all our institutions and governemnt organization (not decision making and non administrative), or non profit organizations.
second generation new citizens children and chiildren of PR who become new citizens can serve in the army navy zirforce or police.
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Total defence starts at every individual level.
We can have the best technology and the strongest soldiers with best trainings.
but the heart of the soldier is the core of allhe is worth to the nation.
before we talk about training a soldier to serve a nation, we instill a boy with the right ideas, principle and way of life at a tender age before he joins the army.
a minister of parliament, like the one quoted in the above article, probably had not in the course of his life been instiled or directed to the right principles and ideals. espcially when he holds acertain decision powewr and say i our governance. such a bad fruit that is seen to surface and might have a certain degree of rotting in the mind has to be eliminated and eradicated.
this post is not out of point. but please use this as an example to tell our soldies how wrong it is a person;s mind can be and how dangerous it is to have them in our ranks of soldiers or politician govermance of the country.
the training of a good true soldier, starts at the heart.
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For ORNS who receive less than $100, but had complete his full NS cycles or transfered to other formation like CDF, but still completed till age 39/40, you are entitle to the full benefit. My brother read from a forum (nvr ask where) and he call up. He was in the Army but when he completed his NS cycle, he was posted to Civil Defence till age 39. He received only $80 NS voucher. The CDF made a mistake by only taking the years he was with CDF but nt before when he was in the Army reservist. The Officer he called promised he will be paid for the balance $20 + 1 yrs membership in Hometeam Club. He checked online and indeed his online info was updated with the full amount! The Officer told him that they have updated thousands of ORNS personnel when one ORNS write in to highlight the errors and might have overlooked my brother detail n slip thro the net. My brother was even ask to spread the news and if he came across anyone with the same problem, just call him up. So anyone having the same issues, pls pm me n will get my bro to passed you the pone nos..
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SINGAPORE – About two-thirds of Singaporeans surveyed said they are receptive to first-generation Permanent Residents (PRs) contributing to national defence as volunteers.
This survey of 1,251 citizens, which was commissioned by the Committee to Strengthen National Service, found that more than 43 per cent of respondents felt that first-generation PRs should serve two-year full-time National Service (NS); and more than 60 per cent agreed that PRs could serve in a professional role in the defence of Singapore or as a volunteer at NS events.
“There is strong endorsement for that. Seventy-seven per cent said first-gen PR should be allowed to contribute to defence as a volunteer,” said Dr Leong Chan-Hoong, the Institute of Policy Studies researcher behind this survey on attitudes towards NS.
The survey, which was conducted between July and September, this year, also probed attitudes on women in NS. Over 70 per cent of respondents – both men and women – support having women serve in the defence force in a professional role and/or having women serve as volunteers to help out at national events.
Overall, 35.8 per cent of women said that women should serve NS and nearly one out of 10 of the women said they will take up a voluntary two-year NS option themselves.
“Interestingly, among the women, the endorsement for the four different options (on how women can contribute to NS, whether in a two-year full-time capacity or volunteering at ad-hoc events) are quite similar to the men,” said Dr Leong. “If you look at just women who are below 30 years of age … its 13.6 per cent who said they would serve a two-year full-time NS themselves.”
While most survey findings were positive – showing that Singaporeans believe NS is necessary for Singapore to develop and prosper, and that there is strong public support for NS as an institution – the ability of NS to improve one’s civilian employment prospects ranked the lowest out of 10 benefits of the NS. Overall, respondents would like to see better matching of servicemen’s personal skills and abilities to NS vocations. This would lessen the perceived opportunity cost of serving two-year full-time NS, according to the researchers.
“Issues relating to employment prospects, relating to how your skills are used, whether they can be applied in NS vocations, whether you can actually learn something from your two years of service – I think those kind of items tend to score lower compared to the rest of the basket consistently,” said Dr Leong. “At least from that point of view, that is something that is worth looking into.”
Over eight in 10 (84%) of those surveyed felt that the current two-year duration of full-time NS is “just right” in fulfilling its defence mandate – a sentiment that cuts across socio-economic class. Only 15 per cent of respondents think that NS is too long.
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The Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) says the Singapore Armed Forces should seriously consider making provisions for first-generation Permanent Residents to contribute as volunteers.
SINGAPORE: The Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) said the Singapore Armed Forces should seriously consider making provisions for first-generation Permanent Residents (PRs) to contribute as volunteers.
It was responding to a survey on National Service conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
In the survey, the majority of Singaporeans said they are receptive to first-generation PRs contributing to defence as volunteers.
The committee which is reviewing the support network around National Service met at the Home Team Academy on Tuesday.
Committee members were briefed by IPS on the findings of the recent survey.
The survey showed two-thirds of Singaporeans are supportive of first-generation PRs to contribute as volunteers in the defence of Singapore.
However, only less than half say first-generation PRs should serve the two-year full time National Service.
CSNS' steering committee member, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, said: "What you realise from this survey is that majority are not asking them to serve the same two years system. In fact, serving the same two years system is a privilege. I'm glad that many people realise that, and that should be a privilege that belongs to Singaporeans. So far as PRs, they acknowledge that 'Yes, we should give them the opportunity to serve but let them serve in a volunteer basis'."
The committee also felt there is a disconnection in the perception of how employers are supporting National Service.
The IPS survey showed that more than four out of five servicemen said employers are supportive of their In-Camp Training.
However, two out of five servicemen pointed out that employers prefer to hire people who do not have National Service commitments.
Wong Wei Peng, steering committee member in CSNS, said: "For companies, our objective is very clear - maximise profits. Sometimes, depending on individual companies they might choose to have preference over others who pose less of a challenge in terms of work arrangements. I find that not hard to accept.
"I think the challenge right now moving forward is how to mitigate that kind of challenges in a way that we find a right balance."
Dr Lim said a ground-up approach is needed.
He said: "There are a lot of suggestions that are coming forward. Some of which we consider transactional, in the sense that if you do this, then I will give you this. I think what we are trying to do is to avoid that.
"We are hoping for more ground-up initiatives like Burger King offering special deals for NSmen. We hope this will be a ground up approach rather than something which is government driven."
The committee said more engagement with employers is needed to get a better buy-in from them on National Service. The key thing is to look at what their concerns are and how to encourage more employers to be National Service-friendly.
In the IPS survey, 98 per cent of respondents regarded National Service as necessary, providing security for the country.
The committee said the report reaffirmed the belief that National Service is a well-supported institution among the population.
- CNA/fa
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Reduce voting age and raise conscription age to 19.5.
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Focus Group Discussions on Strengthening National Service (Phase 2)
In the last few months, we held a first phase of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) where different people came together to share their experiences with NS, the strengths of NS and areas to be strengthened, as well as their aspirations for NS. We thank our participants for taking the time to share their ideas and experiences.
For Phase 2 of the FGDs, we will go into more specific discussions on these following topics.
Recognising and Appreciating the Contributions of NSFs and NSmenThe contributions of our National Servicemen ensure the peace and stability which Singapore has enjoyed. We have heard calls for greater recognition, and more importantly, appreciation and respect for our National Servicemen from the community. What else can we do for our NSFs and NSmen? In this topic, let’s come together to discuss what are the ways different segments of the broader community, such as our family members, employers, the government, and members of the public can better recognise and show their appreciation for the contributions of our NSmen.
Managing Demands of NS, Work and Personal LifeWe have heard many of you highlight the challenges faced in juggling NS duties with other commitments. Juggling In-Camp Training and IPPT can be challenging. Some have also shared their worries about falling behind in terms of education and when they eventually enter the workforce. In this topic, share with us what you think are the ways in which we can help address these challenges and competing demands that our National Servicemen face.
Providing Opportunities for the Broader Community to Contribute to DefenceNS is a national institution based on critical need, and our National Servicemen play an important part in national defence by serving NS. Beyond our National Servicemen, can the broader community, such as women, play their part in contributing to defence? How can they offer their expertise, knowledge and skills? Should volunteering in the SAF be an option?
Optimising the Contributions of NSFs and NSmenEvery National Serviceman has an important role to play in Singapore’s defence and wants to have a meaningful NS experience. Some servicemen want to do more and increase their contributions to NS. How can we better meet our servicemen’s personal aspirations through their deployment, while ensuring operational needs are met? In this topic, we will come together to discuss ways we can strike this balance.
To gain a deeper sharing on these topics, FGDs will be held for different groups of stakeholders. For each session, participants will be divided into small groups of 6-8 participants for the small group discussions before everyone gathers for a large group sharing. The estimated duration of each session is between 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
How to Participate
Keen to participate in an FGD? Simply register below and we will get in touch with you shortly. Do note that session slots will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Confirmed participants should receive an email within 3 working days.If you are unable to join any of the sessions, we welcome you to share your views at our online feedback form.
We look forward to your participation!
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After over 40 years, National Service is now woven tightly into the fabric of our nation. As we look to the future, to maintain if not strengthen this commitment to NS, we asked Singaporeans for their views and ideas.
From May to August 2013, over 10,000 participants responded with their feedback and suggestions on NS to the website (www.strengthenNS.sg), through emails or attended focus group discussions. They came from different walks of life and included operationally-ready national servicemen, full-time national servicemen, regular servicemen, parents, women, grassroots volunteers, employers, students and members of the public.
In this section, we sum up their conversations which affirm that NS is necessary and critical to Singapore’s security and prosperity. We want to thank all participants for the many lively discussions on their NS experience, the practical suggestions on what could be improved, and good ideas on what should be strengthened so that NS remains meaningful for the future generation.
Four broad themes covering a range of insights and perspectives have emerged:
These four themes will guide the next phase of public consultation in 2013, where we will discuss more specific ideas and initiatives.
To participate in the second phase, please register here or email your feedback to [email protected].For those interested, detailed feedback for the Focus Group Discussions can be found here.
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Town Hall Session on Strengthening National Service
Over the last few months, focus group discussions were held to gather ideas and feedback from Singaporeans on ways to strengthen National Service. We thank all our participants for taking the time to share your thoughts and viewpoints with us.
The conversation on NS continues and we would like to invite you to a Town Hall session where you can share your views on some recommendations distilled from the discussions.
The session will begin with a short briefing on the policy proposals. Participants will then discuss the proposals in small groups before taking part in the large group sharing, to be led by Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing. The Town Hall will conclude with a Q&A session with selected panellists. The session is expected to last for about 3 hours.
How to Participate
Keen to join us? Simply register below and we will be in touch with you shortly. Do note that slots will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Confirmed participants should receive an email within 3 working days. Online registration will close on 13 Nov 13.
Walk-ins are also welcome, but do remember to bring along some form of photo identification (NRIC or passport) for on the spot registration.
If you are unable to join us, we welcome you to share your views at our online feedback form.
We look forward to seeing you at the Town Hall session!(1) Proposal for a SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC)
Participants in the “crowdsourcing ideas” phase of the CSNS public consultation suggested that there should be more opportunities for the broader community to contribute to National Defence. Some suggested that MINDEF should establish a SAFVC for women, New Citizens and 1st Generation Permanent Residents to encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of NS.
This topic has attracted widespread discussion, and we invite the interested members of the public to give further inputs into a preliminary proposal for the SAFVC.
Should we put in place a basic training course? How long should the obligation period for a volunteer be? How do we encourage individuals to volunteer? Join us as we discuss these policy ideas at the Town Hall.
(2) Expanding Opportunities for National Servicemen
A consistent theme across all the CSNS feedback channels is the desire to play a bigger role in NS. Ideas include providing more opportunities for leadership, and allowing some preferences for vocational deployment.
We would like to invite you to share your views on the preliminary proposals on expanding opportunities for our National Servicemen to contribute.
Schedule:16 Nov 2013 (Saturday)
1.15 – 4.00pm(Lunch provided from 12.30 to 1.15pm)The Chevrons
Hibiscus Room
48 Boon Lay Way, Singapore 609961 -
I've served and completed my full-time NS and Reservist. During my time of NS, it was different. Time has changed and probably MINDEF need to review the NS policy. Perhaps reduce the full-time period to a year and also the duration of Reservist active service after their NS. Switzerland too is reviewing their NS policy and perhaps Singapore should too.
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The Defence Ministry is looking into the possibility of establishing a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Volunteer Corps, which allows new citizens, permanent residents (PRs) and women to serve in the military.
Revealing this in a media interview yesterday, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the idea of a volunteer corps has gained widespread support based on public feedback, and is a "serious" issue the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) will examine.
While details - such as service duration, training and roles - will have to be worked out, Dr Ng said the volunteers will not be "administrative" but "part of the SAF", and have a military function.
He added that military volunteers must have a "certain basic level of motivation, physical well-being and security clearance".
Dr Ng was giving an update on the progress of the CSNS, which has completed public consultation on how to improve NS and better recognise servicemen's contributions.
Following a trip last week to Finland and Switzerland to study their national conscription systems, he said volunteers in both countries' militaries are subject to discipline, rules and mission requirements - which are a serious undertaking.
Noting that young new citizens and PRs are liable for NS here, Dr Ng said the volunteer corps will open up opportunities to older new citizens and PRs, like those in their 30s and 40s.
There is currently a volunteer scheme in the SAF, which allows, for example, experts from different industry sectors to sit on Mindef's boards and committees. Nurses and doctors can also volunteer to serve in the SAF's medical corps.
National servicemen can also volunteer to extend their service after they have completed their NS training cycle.
Besides a volunteer corps, Dr Ng said the CSNS will study how to make training more efficient and effective, and make better use of the time in NS.
It will look at how to facilitate the transition from school life to full-time service for enlistees, and the transition from active service to institutes of higher learning. This could mean allowing servicemen to make better use of the waiting time.
Dr Ng has tasked a working group led by Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing to look into this, together with the SAF and educational institutions.
Minister of State for Defence Mohamad Maliki Osman, who was also at the interview, said that in Finland and Switzerland, military officers earn credits which they can use towards their university education.
Dr Ng said the committee may work with the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) to see how skills picked up during NS can be ported to the workplace.
But he cautioned that there are limits to this and said expectations must be managed.
"So if I teach you how to fight as a combat soldier, are there modules that you can, for example, work with WDA on?" Dr Ng said. "Obviously, the answer is probably not."
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Town Hall Session on Strengthening National Service
Over the last few months, focus group discussions were held to gather ideas and feedback from Singaporeans on ways to strengthen National Service. We thank all our participants for taking the time to share your thoughts and viewpoints with us.
The conversation on NS continues and we would like to invite you to a Town Hall session where you can share your views on some recommendations distilled from the discussions.
The session will begin with a short briefing on the policy proposals. Participants will then discuss the proposals in small groups before taking part in the large group sharing, to be led by Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing. The Town Hall will conclude with a Q&A session with selected panellists. The session is expected to last for about 3 hours.
How to Participate
Keen to join us? Simply register below and we will be in touch with you shortly. Do note that slots will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Confirmed participants should receive an email within 3 working days. Online registration will close on 13 Nov 13.
Walk-ins are also welcome, but do remember to bring along some form of photo identification (NRIC or passport) for on the spot registration.
If you are unable to join us, we welcome you to share your views at our online feedback form.
We look forward to seeing you at the Town Hall session!(1) Proposal for a SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC)
Participants in the “crowdsourcing ideas” phase of the CSNS public consultation suggested that there should be more opportunities for the broader community to contribute to National Defence. Some suggested that MINDEF should establish a SAFVC for women, New Citizens and 1st Generation Permanent Residents to encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of NS.
This topic has attracted widespread discussion, and we invite the interested members of the public to give further inputs into a preliminary proposal for the SAFVC.
Should we put in place a basic training course? How long should the obligation period for a volunteer be? How do we encourage individuals to volunteer? Join us as we discuss these policy ideas at the Town Hall.
(2) Expanding Opportunities for National Servicemen
A consistent theme across all the CSNS feedback channels is the desire to play a bigger role in NS. Ideas include providing more opportunities for leadership, and allowing some preferences for vocational deployment.
We would like to invite you to share your views on the preliminary proposals on expanding opportunities for our National Servicemen to contribute.
Schedule:16 Nov 2013 (Saturday)
1.15 – 4.00pm(Lunch provided from 12.30 to 1.15pm)The Chevrons
Hibiscus Room
48 Boon Lay Way, Singapore 609961