NS changes: 30 proposals to boost buy-in for NS, salute national servicemen

NS changes: 30 proposals to boost buy-in for NS, salute national servicemen

SINGAPORE - Sweeping changes are afoot to give national servicemen more leeway when serving National service, while at the same time, saluting those who have done, or want to do, their part for the country's defence.


Get the full story from The Straits Times.

Here are the list of 30 recommendations by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS):

CSNS Recommendations

A Strong NS Training System

1. Strengthen the NS training system by employing an additional 1,100 Regulars in the SAF, and 230 Regulars in the SPF and SCDF, to improve training and inculcate values more effectively. These Regulars will be well-versed in the latest training methods and technology. They can also better emphasise and enforce training safety. As role models, regular trainers will provide our servicemen with a better appreciation of why they train and what they are defending.

More Opportunities for National Servicemen to Contribute

2. Increase leadership opportunities for our servicemen by raising the proportion of officers and specialists from 30 per cent to 40 per cent, to meet new operational needs.

3. Increase deployment flexibility for NSFs by taking into account skills and preferences when deploying servicemen. This would maximise the contributions of NSFs, provide them with a better NS experience and meet our operational requirements.

4. Provide more leadership opportunities and deployment options for servicemen in service vocations (i.e. non-combat vocations) to enable them to contribute more.

5.Enhance the value proposition of NS by accrediting skills that NSFs gain during NS, and enhancing the Certificate of Service to highlight the competencies and skills gained during full-time NS.

6. Provide opportunities for NSFs to contribute as SAF, SPF and SCDF Regulars on short contracts after they have completed their full-time NS. This will enable NSFs to continue to contribute to the defence and security of Singapore while honing important life skills.

7. Provide scholarships to develop talents in engineering and science who will be able to contribute to the 3rd Generation SAF.

8. Expand opportunities for NSmen with relevant civilian expertise to contribute to national defence and security in their areas of expertise.

The SAF Volunteer Corps

9. Establish an SAF Volunteer Corps to enable the broader community, especially women, first generation PRs and new citizens, to contribute to defence and strengthen support for NS.

Recognition and Benefits for National Servicemen

10. Revamp the NS Recognition Award into the NS HOME (HOusing, Medical and Education) Awards to support servicemen in housing, healthcare and education with an additional Medisave component.

11. Provide life and personal accident insurance coverage for our servicemen, to cover incidents during their full-time NS and the period of their ORNS call-ups.

Expand Community Support for National Servicemen

12. Increase recognition for the families of servicemen, such as through an extension of the Family Recognition Voucher (FRV) scheme. The number of NSmen who are awarded FRVs could be increased from the top 10 per cent to the top 30 per cent of ICT performers. The quantum for the top 10 per cent can also be increased.

13. Introduce small gifts to servicemen at significant milestones of their lives, such as marriage or the birth of their child. Just as NS has become a part of NSmen's lives, we care for them and celebrate joyous moments in their lives too.

14. Restructure the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence to comprise (i) an Educational Institutions Council; (ii) an Employer and Business Council; and (iii) a Family and Community Council, to deepen stakeholder engagement.

15. Enhance awards for employers and individuals supportive of NS. These awards include the "NS Mark" which recognises companies with pro-NS policies and human resource practices, and could be a factor for consideration when companies bid for MINDEF/SAF and HomeTeam contracts.

16. Strengthen National Education efforts through the SAF Veterans' League and HomeTeam Veterans, to impart core national values to the younger generation and boost community support for defence and security.

17. Expand SAFRA and HomeTeamNS recreational facilities for our servicemen and their families.

18. Improve community recognition by supporting community-led initiatives that recognise servicemen and raise public awareness of NS.

19. Facilitate NSFs' transition to employment and further studies after they complete full-time NS by expanding the range of companies and institutes of higher learning at career fairs.

A Positive NS Experience: Easing Administrative Restrictions

20. Partner NSmen to improve their fitness by giving them more time and flexibility to meet their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), IPPT Preparatory Training and Remedial Training requirements.

21. Increase incentive awards for the attainment of Gold, Silver and Pass with Incentive for IPPT, to recognise servicemen who put in the extra effort to keep fit.

22. Engage schools and educational institutions to help pre-enlistees build up their fitness prior to full-time NS.

23. Reduce enlistment wait-time for pre-enlistees to between four and six months after the completion of post-secondary education.

24. Work with tertiary institutions to explore ways to reduce transition time after full-time NS.

25. Change the MINDEF Notification Centre and HomeTeam Overseas Notification Centre requirements, such that notification will only need to be given for overseas trips of more than 14 days. This will increase convenience for NSmen.

26. Implement Make-up Training for high-key ICTs, which will allow NSmen to keep pace with their ORNS training cycle.

27. Allow NSmen to use electronic devices such as tablets and laptops during their ICT, in non-sensitive areas within their camps like accommodation blocks and cookhouses. This will help NSmen remain connected to their family and work during ICT.

28. Deepen engagement and communication between commanders and servicemen, to achieve better unit cohesion.

29. Establish NS Relations Offices in the SAF, SPF and SCDF to assist NSmen with complex administrative issues.

30. Harness technology to improve NS-related touch points, such as the NS Portal, to make NS administration more efficient and user-friendly.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.