Consider personality profiling for NS enlistees

SINGAPORE- The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) should consider personality profiling as part of its national service pre-enlistment screening routine.

Instead of focusing on only the enlistee's medical history and physical fitness, Mindef should also consider his personal background, interests and skills.

My Israeli friend worked in the pre-enlistment screening department when she served in the Israel Defence Forces. She was trained to conduct personal interviews with the pre-enlistees, and do a personality profile for each of them.

One of the objectives of the interview was to identity significant traits in the enlistees, for instance, leadership, aggression or creativity. During the interviews, some enlistees revealed personal issues such as anger problems, anxieties and phobias.

A similar screening process for the Singapore Armed Forces would be helpful in determining the vocation that best suits an enlistee's capabilities and interests.

NS is a necessary part of nation building, but not every national serviceman can say that he had a fulfilling stint.

It is Mindef's responsibility to ensure that every soldier is able to make the most of his two years of NS.

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.