GE 2016 Manifesto: Cut NS Period. Serve NS Efficiently.
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http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-to-reduce-national-service
Content of petition :
National defense is important for Singapore. However, we should review our approach to make sure that the budget and resources are effectively used to produce the desired outcome.
Our defense budget is high as a proportion of GDP in relation to other countries. We also require our male citizens to spend two years full time for military training and to be called back for reservist training over a period of up to 15 years.
Two years is too long. In many countries that have conscription, they are able to achieve their training within 12 months.
Many conscripts said that the actual military training could be completed within 12 months. They spend a large part of the remaining period idling, doing general cleaning, being involved in National Day Parade preparations, and waiting to be discharged. Their effectiveness would not be compromised, if they are discharged earlier.
Some conscripts are selected to be trained as officers and need to spend more time on their training. These conscripts should have to serve an additional 6 to 12 months, but they should be paid a higher allowance to make it worth their time.
If there are insufficient NS men who are keen to be selected as officers, this role should be performed by career soldiers. It is costly to train an officer and this investment can get better results when they are given to career soldiers.
We also need to review the regular call-up for reservist training. This is a heavy strain on the work and family life of the NS men. It is also a disadvantage to them, when they have to compete for jobs against non-citizens who do not have to be called up. Many employers do not like to see the disruption to their work schedule and prefer to employ non-citizens.
We also need to review the remedial training (RT) that NS men have to do for failing the physical proficiency (IPPT) test. It is unfair that non-regulars have to meet the same passing requirements as professional soldiers. Professional soldiers use working hours to keep fit but the non-regulars cannot ask their employer to give them time within working hours to keep fit.
CALL TO SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT
This is a call to the Singapore Government to reduce the duration of full time conscription from 24 months to 12 months, and to reduce the call-up for reservist and remedial traininghttp://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-to-reduce-national-service
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In the last few months, we held 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.
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 were held for different groups of stakeholders. For each session, participants were divided into small groups of 6-8 participants for the small group discussions before everyone gathered together for a large group sharing. The duration of sessions were between 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
How to Participate
Keen to participate?We welcome you to share your views at our online feedback form.
We look forward to your participation!
Registration for Focus Group Discussions has ended. We thank you for your interest! The summaries of the sessions can be found here.
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By Kok Xing Hui08 October 2013
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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And we need more GI Jane in National Service. Now is the best time to prove that the era of gender equality is coming.
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Reservist got 15 years meh? Maybe for those who like to defer lah. My time it was 13 years but dropped to 10.
Those country with only 12 months conscription, reservist confirm longer than 15 years one, anybody can go find out Israel reservist how long?
If got reservist coming up, they send out the ICT dates 6-9 months ahead of time, so to say it will disrupt work schedule is really a poor excuse.
If don't spend the chunk of our GDP on defence, then we rather see it spent on YOG games meh?
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Originally posted by charlize:
Why not reduce population instead?
till almost all people on this island all Singaporeans, so that the noise would dim down? is that what u mean? Seriously , there are many people who just simply hate anything military.
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Originally posted by Mr Milo:
we could have Terminators as soldiers
good, good
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Reservist got 15 years meh? Maybe for those who like to defer lah. My time it was 13 years but dropped to 10.
Those country with only 12 months conscription, reservist confirm longer than 15 years one, anybody can go find out Israel reservist how long?
If got reservist coming up, they send out the ICT dates 6-9 months ahead of time, so to say it will disrupt work schedule is really a poor excuse.
If don't spend the chunk of our GDP on defence, then we rather see it spent on YOG games meh?
pro status quo-er spotted. you have your thinking i have mine. Go and sign your name on the petition for NS to remain status quo then.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/maintain-status-quo-for-national-service
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Originally posted by M the name:
And we need more GI Jane in National Service. Now is the best time to prove that the era of gender equality is coming.
Participate Now!
Want to make a real difference in the National Service experience? Do take a moment to share with us your feedback on how to strengthen National Service.
You can also take part in an online discussion on how you can contribute in a meaningful manner to strengthen National Service. -
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.