SINGAPORE : Operationally Ready National Servicemen can look forward to more cash incentives in the future, if a proposal by the committee set up to recognise the contributions of NSmen gets the nod.
Manpower Minister and Second Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who also chairs the committee, says this suggestion will be firmed up in January 2006.
Chemical defence equipment for Singapore's National Servicemen would have been unthinkable 15 years ago; today it is standard training for all NSmen.
During a visit, some 50 civilian employers said they were impressed by the high training standard in the SAF and most felt it was now more prepared than ever before.
But transforming SAF into the third generation also means heavier demands on soldiers.
Said Dr Ng, "You need leaders who can explain to the men and help them use the tech, so it requires change in leadership thinking and management style; more is expected from them. Each soldier will be asked to deliver more, so we will look into more financial incentives for this group."
And that is not all.
De Ng said, "The 40th anniversary of SAF is coming. We ought to use that occasion, next time we do a surplus sharing, to give more to those who built up the SAF, to recognise their contribution."
During its dialogue with the committee, most employers wanted to learn even more about the SAF.
The committee will now expand its community outreach programmes to include more civilian visits for spouses, families and the general public.
Said Ricky Sim, chief operating officer, Suntec Investment, "I came here 30 years ago as a trainee.There's a tremendous change. This place is so different from when I was here, especially 'Peng Kang' hill. I hope more employers can come and see for themselves, to see what their NSmen are doing. Otherwise we thought they are just wasting their time, and wasting the company's time."
Another recommendation is to have a historical record of a changing SAF, which means a museum could be set up to give a fresh perspective to a younger generation of how far the SAF has come. - CNA /ct