National Service – A brief look
With the recent blog post on university admissions, we must not leave out the next stage of life for the boys! After tertiary education (or in some cases after secondary school), boys (above the ages of 16.5 and under the ages of 40) are made to enrol and fulfil their duties towards the nation. The National Service has been an important part of Singapore’s history since its inception in 1967. The NS aims to instil a sense of national identity and pride, develop self-discipline, and inculcate values such as teamwork, resilience and endurance. Till now it has helped shape generations of young men into responsible and committed citizens. Let us take a brief look into the details.
What is National Service?
NS is the mandatory conscription for Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent citizens to do their part for the country. You can serve as part of the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), or Singapore Police Force (SPF). It is compulsory for all male citizens and second-generation permanent residents above 18 years to serve.
The term of serving in the active service as a full-time National Serviceman (NSF) is 2 years. On completing that you will become an Operationally Ready National Serviceman (NSman) and are obligated to 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) per year. Your service will end at the age of 40 unless you are an Officer or have special skills, then for such individuals, the service ends at the age of 50. It is a rite of passage for all Singaporean men.
History
The National Service Act was passed on March 14, 1967, and turned 55 this year. Even before that, during British rule, Singapore experienced a national service act enacted in 1954, which faced severe opposition from Chinese middle schoolers and others who rioted against it. After its Independence in 1965, Singapore wanted to strengthen its military to protect its sovereignty. The NS act was passed in 1967 as a part of it, and the first batch of servicemen was enlisted to serve. It was made into full-time service in 1970. The conscription period was reduced to 2 years in 2004.
Things to know
Training Period
The initial phase is the Basic Military Training (BMT) which lasts from 9 to 19 weeks depending on the fitness level of the recruits. They are confined to their camps during the first 2 weeks so that the recruits can establish a close rapport and relations with each other. It also helps shape their mindset to adapt to their new conditions. After the training, they will attend a passing out parade, after which they are sent along to their allotted units.
Defaulters
National Service is vital to Singapore’s safety and protecting its sovereignty. So, defaulters are dealt with punishments. You would have come across in the news about the man who was absent from the national service (NS) duties for more than 17 years and was sentenced to prison for five years and eight months. A sentencing framework was introduced by the high court in 2017 with 4 tiers of punishment for those failing to enlist based on the period of absence.
Deferment
The service allows deferment provided proper circumstances occur. You can request a deferment on submitting the required documents. You will be notified of the outcome of your deferment application via SMS and email within 14 working days after the submission of the completed application.
One of the debates going on regarding this is whether athletes and sportspersons should be granted deferment so that their career doesn’t suffer. But so far, there have only been 3 cases of deferments. The authorities argue that such a consideration would be unjust towards other people who enlist during their prime years.
Future?
With several countries across the globe that have a compulsory national service easing their norms and allowing more deferments, we should also look forward to how the Singapore government responds. The National service is a matter of pride for all Singaporeans. With the recent tensions and crises between countries all over the world, it seems that Singapore needs to strengthen its armed forces, and the National service plays a crucial role in that. Authorities are planning on introducing more benefits and improving the wages, equipment, and looking into making the assignment more flexible. A lot of effort is also being put into effect to improve the understanding and support towards NS amongst the common public.
Also, new divisions and operational roles are being introduced to make better use of the pool of talents and to protect against new threats. One such effort is the formation of the new Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) formed to fight and protect against digital threats. Other reformations will also soon be visible in the coming years to adapt to the changing nature of threats faced by the country.Preparing for NS?
If you are going to enlist soon, we have some tips for you:
- Prepare physically. You can start exercising regularly.
- Make sure you buy necessary supplies to bring with you to camp
- Talk to your friends or family if you are nervous or unsure. Generally, anyone can feel anxious being in an unknown environment. Try to prepare yourself mentally for such a situation.
- Learn how to hand wash your clothes and take care of your basic things if you don’t already know them
We wish all those who are embarking on this journey all the best, and thank those who have already done their part to protect this island we call home! 🙂
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