1,500 women regulars in SAF: Dr Ng Eng Hen

SINGAPORE - Seven per cent of the regular corps in the SAF are women, and they are deployed in diverse vocations ranging from combat and military expert roles in infantry, artillery, combat engineers, pilots and naval officers, amongst others.

Dr Ng Eng Hen noted that many servicewomen have taken on senior command and staff appointments at the Brigade and Battalion levels, in response to MP For Chua Chu Kang Mr Alex Yam's questions on SAF servicewomen numbers, career progression and recruitment practices.

SAF overseas deployments, such as tsunami relief efforts in Aceh and multinational peace support operations in Afghanistan and the Gulf of Aden have seen the active participation of servicewomen.

Flexible work arrangements are also in place to account for specific events where servicemen and women may require added support, such as marriage and pregnancy.

Women are also eligible for scholarships in the SAF, such the the SAF Merit Scholarship, and the prestigious SAF Overseas Scholarship, which was awarded to a lady, LTA Sharon Tan in 2010.

grongloh@sph.com.sg