Dad Thinking of Converting from EP to PR: Must I Serve NS?
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Hello everyone :)
I am sort of confused regarding something.
I am currently 19(going to turn 20 in Feb 2014) and i have been accepted here in Singapore at a local university in a bachelors program which is due to start in April 2014.Currently I am on a dependants pass on my fathers employment pass.My parents, However are thinking of getting a PR for the whole of the family.My questions is that will i have to go through national service if i am granted PR at this moment?.Im asking because i am beyond the basic age of 18 at which everyone else is required to start NS and i also am enrolled into a university.So despite all of this would i still be eligible for NS?.
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NS facts
National Service (NS) was introduced in 1967, shortly after Singapore’s independence, to defend our nation. Since then, 700 000 sons of Singapore have served their NS.
Every son is important to Singapore. NS will transform our boys into men, a path trodden by many sons of Singapore and more to come. Your son is no different. Your son’s potential will be put to test in a challenging environment that will strengthen his mental and physical abilities. Living together with peers from different ethnicity and backgrounds, he will also appreciate the importance of teamwork and unity.
NS, is the responsibility of every male Singapore citizen and permanent resident (PR) when they reach the age of 18. This is compulsory, governed under the Enlistment Act.
If your son is a male Singapore citizen or a PR, he is liable for NS when he reaches 16½ years old. He is to enlist at the first opportunity upon reaching 18 years old.
Your son will serve in one of the 3 Uniformed Services:
NS requires 2 years in active service as a Full-Time National Serviceman (NSF). After the 2 years of NS, your son will serve as an Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman) up to the age of 40. Officers or those with special skills may serve until the age of 50.
Follow these links to learn more about NS:
- NS essentials: start here if you are new to NS.
- Pre-enlistment: check out the pre-enlistment activities that your son has to go through.
- Enlistment day : this is the first day of NS and as a parent you have a part to play.
- Life as a recruit: get a good glimpse of what your son will be going through as a recruit.
- Welfare & Benefits: from monthly NS allowances to leave schemes and from medical to financial assistance, view this section to learn more.
- NS then & now: see how NS has changed and evolved over the years.
- Glossary: stumped by some acronyms or definitions that you’ve come across? You’ll most likely find these and more in the glossary.
Benefits of NS
NS isn’t just about serving the nation—NS benefits you as well.
Firstly and obviously, your physical fitness will improve. You will be stronger and tougher. You may even look better!
NS training doesn’t just toughen up your body; it toughens your mind too. You will become more confident and capable.
NS brings together people from all walks of life—different races, different religions, some rich, some poor, some educated, and some not so educated—you will also learn to live and work closely with those who are different from you.
At the end of it all, you will notice changes in you. You will become more mature and independent—no longer the boy you once were.
You will become a man.
Why NS?
NS was introduced in 1967, just 2 years after Singapore’s independence to ensure the peace and stability of our nation.
We are a 'little red dot'.With a population of 4.4 million and a land of 699 square km, Singapore is amongst the 20 smallest countries in the world. Singapore is too small to change the world. Instead, we must adapt as the world changes around us.
Importance of NS
We must be able to defend Singapore ourselves. No one else is responsible for our security and we cannot depend on others to come to our defence.
Our defence is predicated on deterrence. That is why we invest heavily and consistently in building up a strong defence force to provide that deterrence.
At the same time, we seek to be friends with as many countries as possible in the region and beyond. By having friends who can help us in our times of need, we enhance our security.
Need for NS
NS is our only viable option to building up a credible defence force to ensure our survival. A conscription force by law which obliges all eligible people to enlist would create a sizeable standing force ready to guarantee our security.
The SAF maintains itself in a high state of operational readiness at all times so that it is able to react swiftly to any threat.
To meet the defence challenges in the 21st century, the SAF is upgrading and transforming itself into a highly sophisticated, well-integrated fighting force.
The Third Generation SAF will be a network-centric organisation. Our forces will be interconnected, equipped with electronic information systems, and be able to fight cooperatively, and in an integrated manner, on land, in the air and on the sea.
Within the nation itself, the SPF upholds the law and maintains order, keeping the streets safe for family and friends.
And in case of any crisis or emergency, such as a major accident or a terrorist attack, the SCDF will be there to rescue and save the lives of fellow citizens.
All together, the SAF, SPF and SCDF play a key role in Singapore’s Total Defence—Military Defence, Civil Defence, Economic Defence, Social Defence and Psychological Defence.
Supporting your son
NS is a crucial phase in your son’s life. He will be moving from a cosy home environment to one that requires him to be independent, disciplined and fit.
These are big changes for your son and you can do your part by supporting him during NS. The support and encouragement that you provide will help make his transition from a boy to man an easy and enjoyable one.
Here are a few simple things you can do as a parent:
- Before NS
- Prepare: a sure way to help your son is to prepare him for NS life. This can be as simple as encouraging him be independent and fit. The earlier he learns these traits the better he will be able to cope with NS life. You can also encourage him to talk to friends or family members who have been through NS to learn from their NS experiences. So start early with this.
- The first days
- Observe: The first few days or initial weeks of NS are the most crucial. This is the time where your son will most likely feel the impact of the change. Talking to him during this period will give him encouragement to take the change in his stride.
- Regular weekends
- Converse: NS has much to offer in terms of rich experiences—new people, new practices, new words and new friends. Be a part of your son’s NS life by having a conversation about his NS experiences. This is a good opportunity for you to bond with your son.
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National Service
Under the Enlistment Act, all male Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, unless exempted, are liable to register for National Service (NS). Following the completion of full-time NS, they will be required to serve up to 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) per year for the duration of their ORNS training cycle till the age of 50 years (for officers) or 40 years (for other ranks).
Male children who are granted PR status under their parents' sponsorship are liable for NS under the Enlistment Act. They are required to register for NS upon reaching 16½ years old and will be scheduled for enlistment at the earliest opportunity upon reaching 18 years old. If they are pursuing full-time studies, deferment from full-time NS may be granted only if they meet the deferment conditions stipulated by the Ministry of Defence which can be found at www.ns.sg. All NS-liable males aged 13 years old and above, are required to obtain an Exit Permit (EP) when travelling overseas for 3 months or more.NS-liable PRs are expected to serve NS. Renouncing or losing one's PR status without serving or completing full-time NS would have an adverse impact on any immediate or future applications to work or study in Singapore, or for Singapore citizenship or PR status.
Males who are granted Singapore PR, and who were previously Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents, are liable to be called up for NS regardless of the type of PR status they have been granted.For further enquiries, please write to:
Central Manpower Base
CMPB Podium
3, Depot Road
Singapore 109680
Tel : 1800-3676767 (local)
65-65676767 (overseas)
Email: [email protected] -
Source: www.ns.sg
Deferment for Full-time Studies
Under the Enlistment Act, NS-liable persons are enlisted at the earliest opportunity upon turning 18 years old. For those who are studying, MINDEF does allow some flexibility for them to complete their full-time studies up to the GCE 'A' Levels or Polytechnic Diploma (or their equivalent), both locally and overseas, before enlisting for NS. Those who have already embarked on their full-time studies but who do not meet the deferment conditions, will have to disrupt their studies and be enlisted for NS at the earliest opportunity scheduled by the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), including those who take up Singapore Permanent Residency in the midst of their studies.
Local Studies in Government Schools
GCE 'A' Level Studies and International Baccalaureate (IB) Studies
NS-liable persons will be granted deferment for GCE 'A' Level and IB studies (and their equivalent) at Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ Integrated Programme (IP) schools if they are able to commence the course* before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
* For NS-liable persons who are pursuing their GCE 'A' Levels or IB in the IP schools, the deferment cut-off age will apply to the 5th year of study.
Exceptions may be considered for students who do not meet these deferment cut-off ages, but are able to gain admission into Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ IP schools.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue studies in Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ IP schools must seek prior approval from CMPB. They must do so before applying through the Ministry of Education (MOE)'s School Placement Exercise for Returning Singaporeans - Junior Colleges and Millennia Institute (SPERS-JC/MI), or before applying directly to the Junior Colleges/ Millennia Institute/ IP Schools. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
Persons who have failed their General Paper (GP)/ Knowledge & Inquiry (KI) or obtained less than 3 H2 passes (excluding KI) in one sitting of the GCE 'A' Level examination will be considered for further deferment to repeat their GCE 'A' Level studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only. Persons who have failed to attain the IB qualification will also be considered for further deferment to repeat their IB studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only.
Polytechnic Diploma Studies
NS-liable persons will be granted deferment for Polytechnic Diploma studies (including Polytechnic Diploma through the Polytechnic Foundation Programme) and its equivalent qualifications (e.g. courses at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) or the LaSalle College of the Arts) if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
NS-liable persons who graduated with NITEC/Higher NITEC qualification from ITE Colleges will be granted deferment for Polytechnic Diploma studies and its equivalent qualifications if they are able to commence the course before 21 years old as at 1st January of the course commencement year. Applications for deferment from ITE graduates who are above 21 years old as at 1st January of their course commencement year will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue Polytechnic Diploma studies and its equivalent qualifications must seek prior approval from CMPB before applying for their intended course of study. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Diploma Studies
NS-liable persons who completed NITEC or Higher NITEC studies at ITE Colleges, will be granted deferment to pursue the Technical Engineer Diploma (TED) or Technical Diploma (TD) programmes at ITE Colleges if they are able to commence the course before 21 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. They will be granted deferment to complete the academic phase only, and will be enlisted for full-time NS at the earliest opportunity upon completion of the academic phase. Deferment will not be granted for work attachments and internships. Applications for deferment from ITE graduates who are above 21 years old as at 1st January of their course commencement year will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue ITE Diploma studies must seek prior approval from CMPB before applying for their intended course of study. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
NITEC and Higher NITEC Studies
NS-liable persons will be granted deferment for NITEC or Higher NITEC courses at ITE Colleges if they are able to commence the course before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
NS-liable persons who graduated with NITEC qualification from ITE Colleges will also be granted deferment for Higher NITEC courses if they are able to commence the course at ITE Colleges before 20 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year.
NS-liable persons who are returning from overseas and who wish to pursue NITEC or Higher NITEC studies at ITE Colleges must seek prior approval from CMPB before applying for their intended course of study. Persons who are deemed to have already attained a first education bar qualification (defined as GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications), be it locally or overseas, will not be granted deferment to pursue another first education bar qualification or another qualification below first education bar.
GCE 'O' and 'N' Level Courses
NS-liable persons will generally be granted deferment to pursue GCE 'O' and 'N' Level studies at government, government-aided or independent secondary schools.
An extension of deferment may be granted for those who wish to repeat their GCE 'N' or 'O' Level studies on a full-time basis, subject to one repeat only.
Local Private Courses
NS-liable persons who graduated before September 2011 may be granted deferment to pursue full-time studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications) at private institutions registered with the Council for Private Education (CPE), if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. NS-liable persons graduating from September 2011 onwards may be granted deferment to pursue full-time studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or equivalent qualifications) at private institutions registered with the CPE, if they are able to commence their courses before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 & ITE students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year. The higher cut-off age will apply to courses commencing from 1st January 2012 onwards.
Deferment for private courses will be considered on a stage-by-stage basis (i.e. a Certificate course and a Diploma course, if packaged together, will be treated as separate courses for the purpose of granting deferment). A new application for deferment must be made before the commencement of a new stage of studies. Deferment for the new stage of studies will be subject to the same cut-off age stated in the preceding paragraph.
Overseas Studies
NS-liable persons who graduated before September 2011 may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. NS-liable persons graduating from September 2011 onwards may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if they are able to commence their courses before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 & ITE students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year. The higher cut-off age will apply to courses commencing from 1st January 2012 onwards.
NS-liable persons will be required to apply for an exit permit for overseas trips of 3 months and longer and will be required to furnish a bond of $75,000 or an amount equivalent to 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher.
Application for Deferment
NS-liable persons may apply for deferment online at the NS portal (http://www.ns.sg) during NS registration and pre-enlistment documentation.
Those applying for deferment to pursue local studies may be required to furnish documentary proof for verification upon CMPB's request. Upon CMPB's request, they will be required to submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study, as well as their course commencement and completion dates.
Those applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies must submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study as well as their course commencement and completion dates. In addition, they must submit their parents' Income Tax Notices of Assessment (both local and overseas) for the preceding year.
Those who subsequently wish to pursue or switch to a new course or institution must seek prior approval from CMPB.
Notes: The information provided in this website are general guidelines. For further details, you may wish to contact the NS Call Centre at [email protected] or Tel: 1800-3676767 (eNSNSNS). -
Published on June 30, 2012
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said one of the biggest challenges facing the future of the SAF concerns the demography of the country. He said National Service enlistment is expected to dip to about 19,500 in 2025.
Last year, there were about 26,000 Singaporeans and PRs serving NS.
Dr Ng said even with the reduction in enlistment, the Singapore Armed Forces will still be credible.
In an interview ahead of SAF Day on Sunday, Dr Ng notes that after 45 years of National Service, the public has consistently affirmed that NS is necessary.
Hari Krishnan migrated to Singapore from India 15 years ago. The 23-year-old is now a Singapore citizen and is currently doing National Service.
"Having entered NS, I've met different people, I've learnt to work as a team to help each other. I now treat this as the place I want to be, the place where I want to have my kids and get married," he said.
Since 1967, successive generations of NSmen, over 900,000 thus far, have served their duties.
Dr Ng pointed out that National Service is key to Singapore's security.
He also said that Singaporeans will stand up and fight to defend their way of life and protect the country's sovereignty.
Dr Ng said Singapore's fertility rate has come down and the SAF has been preparing for this demographic change.
"So, moving forward we have to continue to find ways to optimise the contributions of each NSman. It's not only in terms of the skills and capabilities which we have to enhance our systems, to be able to train them, it's also about how the SAF functions," he said.
The SAF is moving from a hierarchical to a flatter command and control structure. Rank and file soldiers will be able to make important decisions quickly.
The SAF is also not dependent on the inflow of new citizens nor permanent residents to grow the number of enlistees. New citizens and second generation PRs must serve National Service.
Dr Ng also commented on the issue of permanent residents and National Service.
"Better don't take up the PR if your children are not going to do NS. It's as simple as that. In our system if you don't fulfil your NS liabilities, even if you choose to give up your PR, there are harsh penalties," said Dr Ng.
"I have received many letters from families that are separated and they cannot come back to Singapore," he added. -
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"Better don't take up the PR if your children are not going to do NS. It's as simple as that. In our system if you don't fulfil your NS liabilities, even if you choose to give up your PR, there are harsh penalties," said Dr Ng.
"I have received many letters from families that are separated and they cannot come back to Singapore," he added. -
@eac and ditzy
Thanks for the information. That was very helpfull :) .