NSFs or NSmen, all will be compensated at same rates as regular soldiers if they're killed or injured during service
By Soh Wen Lin
FULL-TIME national servicemen (NSFs) and operationally ready NS men (NSmen) who get injured or killed during service will now be compensated at the same rates as regular soldiers.
Thus, they will get an additional lump-sum pension of at least one year's pay of an equivalent regular, on top of the current compensation rate, if they die due to service.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean announced the new scheme in Parliament yesterday when he gave an update on the review of the national service training safety system.
He was responding to concerns about military training and safety expressed by several MPs, in light of three servicemen dying last year during training.
After a full review, the system was deemed robust. Improvements centred on taking more preventive action.
In the works are a knowledge management system for safety information, trend forecasting methods to anticipate and address potential safety problems. Near-accidents are thoroughly investigated to glean lessons.
Other measures taken include providing better resuscitation equipment and better-trained medical staff at training centres, introducing safety hotlines to encourage feedback, and stepping up audits and senior commanders' visits.
On the issue of compensation, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) is formalising a framework for compensation to make the guidelines clearer.
Currently, basic compensation is based on provisions in the Workmen's Compensation Act. Mindef also has the flexibility to pay up to 30 per cent in extra compensation on a case-by-case basis. In some cases Mindef paid more than the 30-per-cent cap.
Additional sources of benefits include the SAF Benevolent Fund, a dependants' pension, and an insurance scheme which provides coverage of up to $400,000 at a premium of $16 a month for every $100,000 of coverage.
Said Rear-Adm (NS) Teo: 'Mindef knows that no amount of compensation or benefits will alleviate the grief or make up for the loss of the serviceman's family.
'However, with these improvements... we will be in a better position to compensate our serviceman's families as fairly as possible.'