Should SAF Set Up 1 or 2 All-Women Volunteers Battalions?
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Two years of National Service is needed for better and more effective training. Since SAF is a predominantly citizens' force, this length of service is reasonable. Perhaps it should also be made compulsory for girls to do NS for 2 years as well. Girls should also be PES classified and vocationalised suitably, just like the guys.
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How about female also serve NS in non combat roles while overall NS reduced to 1.5 years?
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URL: www.StrengthenNS.sg
Participate Now!
Want to make a real difference in the National Service experience? Do take a moment to share with us your feedback on how to strengthen National Service.
You can also take part in an online discussion on how you can contribute in a meaningful manner to strengthen National Service.National Servicemen can expect new measures to better motivate, support, and recognise them, as well to help them balance their NS commitments with their family and career commitments.
These aims were revealed by the Committee to Strengthen National Service on Wednesday, after it held its first meeting at the Basic Military Training Centre on Pulau Tekong. Over the next six months, the committee will gather ideas from servicemen and the public through focus group discussions and town hall sessions.
The public may also air their views on a new website www.strengthenNS.sg or through e-mail at [email protected].
The 20-member committee is chaired by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, and includes Members of Parliament, senior military personnel, employers, and NSmen. It was set up during this year's Committee of Supply Debate in March, which saw robust debate over how to better recognise National Servicemen in light of continued immigration and the need to preserve a Singapore core. In recent months, members of the public have responded to the news by calling for greater monetary incentives, including subsidies for transport, education and health, and time-off to rest after reservist in-camp training.
Over the next six months, Singaporeans will be asked for feedback on how to beef up National Service.
The Committee to Strengthen National Service, announced in March, will lead focus group discussions and town hall sessions while also conducting online consultation sessions via a new website, www.strengthenNS.sg
The Committee meeting for the first time today, expects its work to be done within a year.
Made up of 20 members, including Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Members of Parliament,military top brass and private sector employers, the committee will use the feedback gathered to recommend measures to enhance National Service as a critical institution for Singapore's continued survival and success.
The measures are meant to motivate servicemen to give their best in serving, help them balance their duties with family and work commitments, enhance support from families, companies, new citizens and the broader community, and promote recognition of servicemen's efforts.
Focus Group Discussions on Strengthening National Service (Phase 2)
In the last few months, we held a first phase of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) where different people came together to share their experiences with NS, the strengths of NS and areas to be strengthened, as well as their aspirations for NS. We thank our participants for taking the time to share their ideas and experiences.
For Phase 2 of the FGDs, we will go into more specific discussions on these following topics.
Recognising and Appreciating the Contributions of NSFs and NSmenThe contributions of our National Servicemen ensure the peace and stability which Singapore has enjoyed. We have heard calls for greater recognition, and more importantly, appreciation and respect for our National Servicemen from the community. What else can we do for our NSFs and NSmen? In this topic, let’s come together to discuss what are the ways different segments of the broader community, such as our family members, employers, the government, and members of the public can better recognise and show their appreciation for the contributions of our NSmen.
Managing Demands of NS, Work and Personal LifeWe have heard many of you highlight the challenges faced in juggling NS duties with other commitments. Juggling In-Camp Training and IPPT can be challenging. Some have also shared their worries about falling behind in terms of education and when they eventually enter the workforce. In this topic, share with us what you think are the ways in which we can help address these challenges and competing demands that our National Servicemen face.
Providing Opportunities for the Broader Community to Contribute to DefenceNS is a national institution based on critical need, and our National Servicemen play an important part in national defence by serving NS. Beyond our National Servicemen, can the broader community, such as women, play their part in contributing to defence? How can they offer their expertise, knowledge and skills? Should volunteering in the SAF be an option?
Optimising the Contributions of NSFs and NSmenEvery National Serviceman has an important role to play in Singapore’s defence and wants to have a meaningful NS experience. Some servicemen want to do more and increase their contributions to NS. How can we better meet our servicemen’s personal aspirations through their deployment, while ensuring operational needs are met? In this topic, we will come together to discuss ways we can strike this balance.
To gain a deeper sharing on these topics, FGDs will be held for different groups of stakeholders. For each session, participants will be divided into small groups of 6-8 participants for the small group discussions before everyone gathers for a large group sharing. The estimated duration of each session is between 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
How to Participate
Keen to participate in an FGD? Simply register below and we will get in touch with you shortly. Do note that session slots will be filled on a first-come-first-served basis. Confirmed participants should receive an email within 3 working days.If you are unable to join any of the sessions, we welcome you to share your views at our online feedback form.
We look forward to your participation!
