NSman of the Year helped streamline reservist recalls

Mr Derrick Goh, 46, is better known as the head of local bank POSB, but he is also a passionate reservist police officer in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) who holds the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

DSP (NS) Goh has made such an impact that he will be conferred the NSman of the Year award tonight during the Annual Police Dinner 2015 at the Istana.

To most Singaporeans, national service evokes images of the army, but for the SPF, the role of NSmen and full-time national servicemen (NSFs) in bolstering the regular force is equally essential, said DSP (NS) Goh.

He played a key role in piloting a new scheme for handling reservist recalls in his unit.

"A police reservist is typically recalled three times a year: once for a physical fitness test, once for a shooting test, and once for two weeks of in-camp training," explained DSP (NS) Goh.

Being recalled three times a year was highly disruptive to NSmen, so DSP (NS) Goh and his regular counterparts worked together to streamline the process.

"We brought the physical fitness tests and the in-camp training together, so that an NSman who is recalled for ICT can complete his physical fitness test at the same time," he said.

The initiative saw an improvement in fitness test participation rates and results. It was well received by NSmen as more efficient, and is being rolled out to other units in the SPF.

Mr Muhammad Azhar Haj Mohamed, 20, completed his full-time national service earlier this year, and is one of the five recipients of the newly introduced SPF NSF of the Year award.

"My officers respected us and recognised the integral role NSFs play in the SPF," he said.

"They gave me the opportunity to play a meaningful role and really serve the nation. That's what made my NS experience good."

This year also marks the launch of the Voluntary Extension of Service (VES) scheme for former SPF NSmen who wish to stay on after passing their statutory ages of 40 years for junior officers and 50 years for senior officers.

For Mr Charles Ng, chief financial officer of luxury chain Club 21, the scheme allows him to continue contributing to the SPF in an official capacity.

Even before it was introduced, Mr Ng, 51, had chosen to continue being a part of HomeTeamNS past his 50th birthday, as a member of its finance committee.

"We have much to offer in terms of experience and expertise in various areas. I hope this scheme will allow the younger generation to tap that," he said.

This article was first published on June 3, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.