NS: AWOL >10 Years, Called Deserter? If Caught, Go DB/ Jail?
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Source: www.ns.sg
Military Justice System in the SAF
1. Overview
The military justice system in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is expected to treat every service personnel fairly and equally, regardless of race, rank or vocation.
2. Multi-levelled ApproachThe military justice system is based on the SAF Act, which was implemented in 1972. All servicemen are subjected to the SAF Act, SAF Regulations, and orders of whatever form issued pursuant to them.
While discipline is paramount in the military, not all offences committed by SAF servicemen are dealt with by formal investigations and charges. Essentially, offenders can be dealt with either by way of informal or formal punishment systems.
3. Informal Punishment System
Commanders are empowered to mete out informal punishments like push-ups and weekend confinement to servicemen who have committed disciplinary breaches, like being late, sluggish, or improperly dressed.4. Formal Punishment System
If the offence that a serviceman committed is of a more serious nature, he may be formally dealt with by his disciplinary officer by way of a summary trial, or brought before a subordinate military court (more commonly known as the General Court Martial or GCM).(a) Summary Trial
The offences that can be dealt with by summary trial are essentially military offences, such as absence without leave (AWOL), non-compliance with lawful orders or insubordination.
Depending on the rank of the serviceman in question, and the type of the disciplinary body hearing the case, the possible sentences that may be imposed can vary, and these can include fines or detention.
The summary trial is carried out in accordance with relevant SAF regulations, and the records of the summary trial are sent to the office of the Director, Legal Services of the SAF.
(b) General Court Martial
The General Court Martial exists as a separate forum from that of the summary trial. Unlike the summary trial, the GCM can deal with a wider range of offences, and can impose a wider range of punishments including imprisonment and discharge, on top of sentences like detention and fines. The GCM is also a more public and open forum, and its proceedings are conducted using similar legal rules and procedures as those used in a civil criminal court.
Generally, only serious offences investigated by the Military Police Command, and which are referred to the office of the Director of Legal Services, will result in the accused serviceman being charged in a GCM. In such a case, a military prosecutor will draw up a formal charge sheet and present it before the GCM.
General Courts Martial can be further sub-divided into two categories, namely the Panel Courts Martial - consisting of a President and usually two other members, and Judge Courts Martial - consisting of a single President only.
Currently, the practice is for military offences to be heard by Panel Courts Martial, while civil offences like misuse of drugs and penal code offences may be dealt with by a Judge Court Martial.
The current policy is also for an NSman, who is or was a District Judge in the Subordinate Courts, to preside in a GCM. There are currently 10 NSmen who have been appointed by the Armed Forces Council to perform duty as President of a court martial. They are rostered by the Registrar of the Subordinate Military Court to hear cases during their in-camp training. In the case of a Panel Court Martial, the other two members are rostered from among some 155 military officers appointed by the Chief of Defence Force.
5. Ways to Seek RedressThere are numerous safeguards and avenues set out in the military justice system for an SAF serviceman to seek redress if he is unhappy about the punishment imposed on him.
Generally, a serviceman who is dissatisfied with an informal punishment meted out to him may request a higher level commander to review the punishment, or request for formal disciplinary dealing.
In the case of a summary trial, a serviceman brought before the disciplinary officer may elect instead to be tried by a court martial. Alternatively, an aggrieved serviceman may request that his conviction or punishment imposed at the summary trial be reviewed by MINDEF's Director Manpower (a delegated authority of the Armed Forces Council).
In the case of a GCM, a serviceman may choose to be represented by a lawyer or an SAF defending officer if his case will be heard by a court martial. The SAF has about 200 trained defending officers. While an SAF defending officer comes free to the serviceman, he has to bear the cost of engaging a lawyer. At the end of the trial, a serviceman who is dissatisfied with the decision of the court martial may petition the Reviewing Authority (the AFC or a committee of its members) for a review of his case. The serviceman can also appeal to the Military Court of Appeal (MCA) for a reconsideration of his conviction, or his sentence, or both.
The MCA, when convened to hear an appeal, sits as a panel of five members. Heading the MCA is a President, who is appointed by the Chief Justice. By law, he must be a person qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court. The current President of the MCA is Justice Choo Han Teck. Four other members - two civilian members who are qualified legal practitioners with at least five years experience each, and two senior military officers - make up the rest of the MCA. The MCA is the highest court in the military justice system.
6. Impartial Hearings
It is important to recognise that the GCM and the MCA are tribunals headed by presidents who are outside the SAF chain of command.Being an "outsider", the president of these forums will hear the case impartially like any other civil criminal case. The proceedings in the GCM and the MCA are also heard in a public forum, and these military courts adopt many of the same legal procedures and safeguards as that used in the civil criminal courts. All servicemen formally charged with an offence can bring their case to these forums.
Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command
(SAFMPC/ æ–°åŠ å�¡æ¦è£…部队宪兵å�¸ä»¤éƒ¨)The formation is headed by the Command Headquarters which oversees its daily operations, and supported by four units specialising in the various specific operational responsibilities of the SAF MPC.
The four units are:
Military Police Enforcement Unit (MPEU): The unit consists of the Law Enforcement and Ceremonial Company (LECC), the Security Operation Unit (SOU) and the Special Security and Protection (SSP) Branch. It is the active wing of the SAF MPC and executes most of the operational and ceremonial duties and roles carried out by the SAF MPC.
The LECC was formed by combining the former Active Provost Company (APC) and the former Zone Provost Company (ZPC). Its duties include most of the important ceremonial duties required within the SAF as previously handled by the APC, and a traffic platoon which ensures the compliance of traffic regulations by military personnel on the road as well as performing escort duties. It also performs regular raids for contraband and/or miscreants on various camps of the SAF as was conducted by the ZPC. Enforcement Platoon (also known as Platoon 2) performs regular operations in residential areas, workplaces, and many public places such as shopping centres, clubs and eating outlets to apprehend deserters, AWOL offenders, drug addicts and other military criminals. They work closely with the Singapore Police Force and are often in very dangerous situations and are extremely well trained for handling the varied scenarios that they find themselves in. This is also the platoon that enforces the public image of the SAF by booking offenders who smoke in uniform and commit other offences in uniform while in the eye of the public. It is worth noting that they perform undercover security operations for high-key events like the National Day Parade and the Youth Olympic Games. The security of Mowbray Station is overseen by a platoon who is also in charge of registering and detaining suspects and offenders of military crimes in holding cells. The station is similar to a civilian police station and it is usually the first stop for detainees before their transfer to the detention barracks after conviction in military courts, or a temporary holding cell for servicemen placed under Closed Arrest. The investigative branch for the SAF, the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) investigates higher-order military crimes that requires specialised handling. Since 31 December 8, MPEU has heralded the inclusion of a new branch within its ranks. The Security Support and Protection (SSP) Branch is involved in sensitive operations so no further information is available.
SAF Detention Barracks (SAFDB): Headed by a commandant, DB consists of MPs in charge of supervision of detainees of the SAF who have been convicted in military courts.
Military Police Training School (MPTS): Formerly known as the School of Provost, MPTS is in charge of equipping trainees with necessary and fundamental military policing skills as well as instilling in them a high standard of discipline through the vocational courses and specialised courses such as the Silent Precision Drill Courses. MPTS also legislation courses for senior commanders all over the SAF. In addition, the SAF Military Working Dog Unit is a wing under MPTS and it is in charge of all dog training and doctrine matters of the SAF.
SAF MP Command Head Quarters (HQ): The Head Quarters of the Command comprises various branches, namely the Human Resource (HR), Intelligences and Security Branch (ISB), General Staff Branch (GS), the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) and Logistic Branch. Each branch is headed by a branch head who serves concurrently as the Command's Manpower, Intelligence, Ops and Training and Logistics Officer.
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FAQs
SAF Detention Barracks
1. Are the detainees being medically taken care of?
Primary health care of detainees is of utmost importance to us. All detainees will be given adequate medical care during their incarceration. Our medical services are also supported by the Tengah Airbase Medical Centre, NUH and also Changi General Hospital if the need arises.
2. Can I write a letter to a detainee?
Yes.
3. I have just received a Visit Notification Letter, but the schedule visit date stated therein has already lapsed. How can I visit the detainee?
You can contact the Records Office at 6424 6666 to arrange for another appointment date.
4. Can anyone besides the parent unit of the detainees pick up the detainee on the day of their release?
At no time shall the detainee/military prisoner be released from the detention barracks/military prison as the case may be, to his family or any other party.
5.. Can the detainee write letters while serving detention in Detention Barracks?
Every detainee and military prisoner shall be allowed to write one letter per week.
6. What are the visiting days and what is the duration of the visit?
Visiting days are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first appointment starts from 1.30pm and ends at 3.00pm. Visitors are allowed to visit the detainee for 30 minutes.
7. How many visits is the serviceman entitled to?
Each serviceman is entitled to one visit per week.
8. What happens if the family members can't turn up on the date specified for their first visit?
The family members can call Records Office of SAF Detention Barracks at 6424 6666 and arrange for another date and time.
9. What is the dress code of the family members when they come for parent visit?
The family must wear appropriately when they come for parent visit. SAF Detention Barracks will send a slip indicating the dress code together with the parent-visiting letter. -
still in SG?
if they want to catch him, they can catch him one lah -
Those who are liable to serve national service but refuse are charged under the Enlistment Act. If convicted, they face three years' imprisonment and a fine of S$10,000.
In parliament, Defence Minister provided some illustration of the punishments defaulters would face:
- Where the default period exceeds two years but the defaulter is young enough to serve his full-time and operationally ready NS duties in full, MINDEF will press for a short jail sentence.
- Where the defaulter has reached an age when he cannot serve his full-time NS in a combat vocation or fulfil his operationally ready NS obligations in full, a longer jail sentence to reflect the period of NS he has evaded may be appropriate.
- Where the defaulter has reached an age when he cannot be called up for NS at all, a jail sentence up to the maximum of three years may be appropriate.
Singapore Statutes: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg
1. The NS Enlistment Act.
2. SAF ActAbsence without leave
22. —(1) Every person subject to military law who is absent without leave from service in the Singapore Armed Forces or from the place where he is lawfully required for the time being to be shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.(2) It shall be a defence for any person charged under this section to prove that his absence was a result of circumstances over which he had no control.
Desertion
23. —(1) Every person subject to military law who deserts shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.(2) For the purposes of this section, a person deserts if he —
(a) leaves or fails to attend at his place of duty in the Singapore Armed Forces with the intention of remaining permanently absent from duty without lawful authority, or, having left or failed to attend at his place of duty in the Singapore Armed Forces, thereafter forms the like intention; or
(b) absents himself without leave with intent to avoid service or any particular service before the enemy,
and references in this Act to desertion shall be construed accordingly.
Failure to report deserters and absentees
24. Every person subject to military law who, knowing that any other person has committed an offence under section 22 or 23 —(a) fails to report the fact without delay; or
(b) fails to take any steps within his power to cause that person to be apprehended,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.
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Unless he does something stupid or some one rats him,he won't be arrested.
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Is army really that bad until he had to go through all this just to avoid wearing a uniform?
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Those who are liable to serve national service but refuse are charged under the Enlistment Act. If convicted, they face three years' imprisonment and a fine of S$10,000. In parliament, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean provided some illustration of the punishments defaulters would face:
1. Where the default period exceeds two years but the defaulter is young enough to serve his full-time and operationally ready NS duties in full, MINDEF will press for a short jail sentence.
2. Where the defaulter has reached an age when he cannot serve his full-time NS in a combat vocation or fulfil his operationally ready NS obligations in full, a longer jail sentence to reflect the period of NS he has evaded may be appropriate.
3. Where the defaulter has reached an age when he cannot be called up for NS at all, a jail sentence up to the maximum of three years may be appropriate.
Each year, a small number of people are convicted for their failure to enlist or refusal to be conscripted. Most of them were Jehovah's Witnesses, who are usually court-martialled and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, but they are usually held in a low-security detention facility and separated from other conscription offenders. The government does not consider conscientious objection to be a legal reason for refusal to serve NS.
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Singapore Statutes: http://statutes.agc.gov.sg
1. The NS Enlistment Act.
2. SAF ActAbsence without leave
22. —(1) Every person subject to military law who is absent without leave from service in the Singapore Armed Forces or from the place where he is lawfully required for the time being to be shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.(2) It shall be a defence for any person charged under this section to prove that his absence was a result of circumstances over which he had no control.
Desertion
23. —(1) Every person subject to military law who deserts shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.(2) For the purposes of this section, a person deserts if he —
(a) leaves or fails to attend at his place of duty in the Singapore Armed Forces with the intention of remaining permanently absent from duty without lawful authority, or, having left or failed to attend at his place of duty in the Singapore Armed Forces, thereafter forms the like intention; or
(b) absents himself without leave with intent to avoid service or any particular service before the enemy,
and references in this Act to desertion shall be construed accordingly.
Failure to report deserters and absentees
24. Every person subject to military law who, knowing that any other person has committed an offence under section 22 or 23 —(a) fails to report the fact without delay; or
(b) fails to take any steps within his power to cause that person to be apprehended,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction by a subordinate military court to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or any less punishment authorised by this Act.
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Source: www.ns.sg
Military Justice System in the SAF
1. Overview
The military justice system in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is expected to treat every service personnel fairly and equally, regardless of race, rank or vocation.
2. Multi-levelled ApproachThe military justice system is based on the SAF Act, which was implemented in 1972. All servicemen are subjected to the SAF Act, SAF Regulations, and orders of whatever form issued pursuant to them.
While discipline is paramount in the military, not all offences committed by SAF servicemen are dealt with by formal investigations and charges. Essentially, offenders can be dealt with either by way of informal or formal punishment systems.
3. Informal Punishment System
Commanders are empowered to mete out informal punishments like push-ups and weekend confinement to servicemen who have committed disciplinary breaches, like being late, sluggish, or improperly dressed.4. Formal Punishment System
If the offence that a serviceman committed is of a more serious nature, he may be formally dealt with by his disciplinary officer by way of a summary trial, or brought before a subordinate military court (more commonly known as the General Court Martial or GCM).(a) Summary Trial
The offences that can be dealt with by summary trial are essentially military offences, such as absence without leave (AWOL), non-compliance with lawful orders or insubordination.
Depending on the rank of the serviceman in question, and the type of the disciplinary body hearing the case, the possible sentences that may be imposed can vary, and these can include fines or detention.
The summary trial is carried out in accordance with relevant SAF regulations, and the records of the summary trial are sent to the office of the Director, Legal Services of the SAF.
(b) General Court Martial
The General Court Martial exists as a separate forum from that of the summary trial. Unlike the summary trial, the GCM can deal with a wider range of offences, and can impose a wider range of punishments including imprisonment and discharge, on top of sentences like detention and fines. The GCM is also a more public and open forum, and its proceedings are conducted using similar legal rules and procedures as those used in a civil criminal court.
Generally, only serious offences investigated by the Military Police Command, and which are referred to the office of the Director of Legal Services, will result in the accused serviceman being charged in a GCM. In such a case, a military prosecutor will draw up a formal charge sheet and present it before the GCM.
General Courts Martial can be further sub-divided into two categories, namely the Panel Courts Martial - consisting of a President and usually two other members, and Judge Courts Martial - consisting of a single President only.
Currently, the practice is for military offences to be heard by Panel Courts Martial, while civil offences like misuse of drugs and penal code offences may be dealt with by a Judge Court Martial.
The current policy is also for an NSman, who is or was a District Judge in the Subordinate Courts, to preside in a GCM. There are currently 10 NSmen who have been appointed by the Armed Forces Council to perform duty as President of a court martial. They are rostered by the Registrar of the Subordinate Military Court to hear cases during their in-camp training. In the case of a Panel Court Martial, the other two members are rostered from among some 155 military officers appointed by the Chief of Defence Force.
5. Ways to Seek RedressThere are numerous safeguards and avenues set out in the military justice system for an SAF serviceman to seek redress if he is unhappy about the punishment imposed on him.
Generally, a serviceman who is dissatisfied with an informal punishment meted out to him may request a higher level commander to review the punishment, or request for formal disciplinary dealing.
In the case of a summary trial, a serviceman brought before the disciplinary officer may elect instead to be tried by a court martial. Alternatively, an aggrieved serviceman may request that his conviction or punishment imposed at the summary trial be reviewed by MINDEF's Director Manpower (a delegated authority of the Armed Forces Council).
In the case of a GCM, a serviceman may choose to be represented by a lawyer or an SAF defending officer if his case will be heard by a court martial. The SAF has about 200 trained defending officers. While an SAF defending officer comes free to the serviceman, he has to bear the cost of engaging a lawyer. At the end of the trial, a serviceman who is dissatisfied with the decision of the court martial may petition the Reviewing Authority (the AFC or a committee of its members) for a review of his case. The serviceman can also appeal to the Military Court of Appeal (MCA) for a reconsideration of his conviction, or his sentence, or both.
The MCA, when convened to hear an appeal, sits as a panel of five members. Heading the MCA is a President, who is appointed by the Chief Justice. By law, he must be a person qualified to be a Judge of the Supreme Court. The current President of the MCA is Justice Choo Han Teck. Four other members - two civilian members who are qualified legal practitioners with at least five years experience each, and two senior military officers - make up the rest of the MCA. The MCA is the highest court in the military justice system.
6. Impartial Hearings
It is important to recognise that the GCM and the MCA are tribunals headed by presidents who are outside the SAF chain of command.Being an "outsider", the president of these forums will hear the case impartially like any other civil criminal case. The proceedings in the GCM and the MCA are also heard in a public forum, and these military courts adopt many of the same legal procedures and safeguards as that used in the civil criminal courts. All servicemen formally charged with an offence can bring their case to these forums.
Singapore Armed Forces Military Police Command
(SAFMPC/ æ–°åŠ å�¡æ¦è£…部队宪兵å�¸ä»¤éƒ¨)The formation is headed by the Command Headquarters which oversees its daily operations, and supported by four units specialising in the various specific operational responsibilities of the SAF MPC.
The four units are:
Military Police Enforcement Unit (MPEU): The unit consists of the Law Enforcement and Ceremonial Company (LECC), the Security Operation Unit (SOU) and the Special Security and Protection (SSP) Branch. It is the active wing of the SAF MPC and executes most of the operational and ceremonial duties and roles carried out by the SAF MPC.
The LECC was formed by combining the former Active Provost Company (APC) and the former Zone Provost Company (ZPC). Its duties include most of the important ceremonial duties required within the SAF as previously handled by the APC, and a traffic platoon which ensures the compliance of traffic regulations by military personnel on the road as well as performing escort duties. It also performs regular raids for contraband and/or miscreants on various camps of the SAF as was conducted by the ZPC. Enforcement Platoon (also known as Platoon 2) performs regular operations in residential areas, workplaces, and many public places such as shopping centres, clubs and eating outlets to apprehend deserters, AWOL offenders, drug addicts and other military criminals. They work closely with the Singapore Police Force and are often in very dangerous situations and are extremely well trained for handling the varied scenarios that they find themselves in. This is also the platoon that enforces the public image of the SAF by booking offenders who smoke in uniform and commit other offences in uniform while in the eye of the public. It is worth noting that they perform undercover security operations for high-key events like the National Day Parade and the Youth Olympic Games. The security of Mowbray Station is overseen by a platoon who is also in charge of registering and detaining suspects and offenders of military crimes in holding cells. The station is similar to a civilian police station and it is usually the first stop for detainees before their transfer to the detention barracks after conviction in military courts, or a temporary holding cell for servicemen placed under Closed Arrest. The investigative branch for the SAF, the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) investigates higher-order military crimes that requires specialised handling. Since 31 December 8, MPEU has heralded the inclusion of a new branch within its ranks. The Security Support and Protection (SSP) Branch is involved in sensitive operations so no further information is available.
SAF Detention Barracks (SAFDB): Headed by a commandant, DB consists of MPs in charge of supervision of detainees of the SAF who have been convicted in military courts.
Military Police Training School (MPTS): Formerly known as the School of Provost, MPTS is in charge of equipping trainees with necessary and fundamental military policing skills as well as instilling in them a high standard of discipline through the vocational courses and specialised courses such as the Silent Precision Drill Courses. MPTS also legislation courses for senior commanders all over the SAF. In addition, the SAF Military Working Dog Unit is a wing under MPTS and it is in charge of all dog training and doctrine matters of the SAF.
SAF MP Command Head Quarters (HQ): The Head Quarters of the Command comprises various branches, namely the Human Resource (HR), Intelligences and Security Branch (ISB), General Staff Branch (GS), the Special Investigation Branch (SIB) and Logistic Branch. Each branch is headed by a branch head who serves concurrently as the Command's Manpower, Intelligence, Ops and Training and Logistics Officer.
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FAQs
SAF Detention Barracks
1. Are the detainees being medically taken care of?
Primary health care of detainees is of utmost importance to us. All detainees will be given adequate medical care during their incarceration. Our medical services are also supported by the Tengah Airbase Medical Centre, NUH and also Changi General Hospital if the need arises.
2. Can I write a letter to a detainee?
Yes.
3. I have just received a Visit Notification Letter, but the schedule visit date stated therein has already lapsed. How can I visit the detainee?
You can contact the Records Office at 6424 6666 to arrange for another appointment date.
4. Can anyone besides the parent unit of the detainees pick up the detainee on the day of their release?
At no time shall the detainee/military prisoner be released from the detention barracks/military prison as the case may be, to his family or any other party.
5.. Can the detainee write letters while serving detention in Detention Barracks?
Every detainee and military prisoner shall be allowed to write one letter per week.
6. What are the visiting days and what is the duration of the visit?
Visiting days are on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first appointment starts from 1.30pm and ends at 3.00pm. Visitors are allowed to visit the detainee for 30 minutes.
7. How many visits is the serviceman entitled to?
Each serviceman is entitled to one visit per week.
8. What happens if the family members can't turn up on the date specified for their first visit?
The family members can call Records Office of SAF Detention Barracks at 6424 6666 and arrange for another date and time.
9. What is the dress code of the family members when they come for parent visit?
The family must wear appropriately when they come for parent visit. SAF Detention Barracks will send a slip indicating the dress code together with the parent-visiting letter. -
What are you guys' opinion on whether overseas children born and raised "Singaporeans" should do NS?
Let us say that the child has two singaporean parents: Born and raised overseas without having the opportunity to apply for citizenship in the country he resides in and has not stepped into Singapore after the age of 12.
Should he still be a subject of the Enlistment Act?
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References:
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+Default&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+Desert&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+AWOL&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+Dual&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=%2475%2C000&commit=Go&type=topics
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National-service-liable males who migrated from Singapore before age 11 and have not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits of citizenship (e.g., applied for a Singapore identity card or studied in Singapore beyond the age of 11) are allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship, but not before they turn 21.
Until then, they are required to register for national service with Central Manpower Base and apply for a deferment.
After turning 21, they are then eligible to renounce their Singapore citizenship.
Generally, those who left Singapore after the age of 11 will be deemed to have enjoyed the socio-economic benefits of Singapore. They will not be allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship without fulfilling NS obligations. -
Refer:
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=Skip+NS&commit=Go&type=topics
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Inspiring stories of the sons of Singapore returning to Singapore to dutifully serve NS:
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=Singaporean+Son&commit=Go&type=topics
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National-service-liable males who migrated from Singapore before age 11 and have not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits of citizenship (e.g., applied for a Singapore identity card or studied in Singapore beyond the age of 11) are allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship, but not before they turn 21.
Until then, they are required to register for national service with Central Manpower Base and apply for a deferment.
After turning 21, they are then eligible to renounce their Singapore citizenship.
Generally, those who left Singapore after the age of 11 will be deemed to have enjoyed the socio-economic benefits of Singapore. They will not be allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship without fulfilling NS obligations. -
Quite rare for a deserter not to be caught if he's within Singapore.
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I am not asking about NS-liable males.
My questing is
:"
Should he still be a subject of the Enlistment Act?" Given the circumstances.
What is YOUR opinion?
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If you are between 13 and 16.5 years old:
You need to apply for an exit permit if you intend to travel or remain overseas for 3 months or longer. If you are remaining overseas for 2 years or longer, your parents/guardians will also need to furnish a bond, in the form of a Banker's Guarantee of S$75,000 or 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher.
If you are above 16.5 and have not enlisted for NS:
You need to apply for an exit permit if you intend to travel or remain overseas for 3 months or longer. Your parents/guardians will need to furnish a bond, in the form of a Banker's Guarantee of S$75,000 or 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher.Those who require exit permit of 2 years or longer will be required to furnish a bond. This bonding requirement is similar to the current arrangement where security in the form of Banker's Guarantee must be furnished. The amount of the security bond is S$75,000 or 50% of the combined gross annual income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher. The monetary bond requirement for male citizens who accompany their parents on overseas employment may be waived and they be bonded by deed with two sureties.
Why must MINDEF impose exit controls on NS-liable males?
Exit controls are necessary to ensure that NS-liable males who have gone overseas to study or reside at a young age return to fulfil their NS responsibilities.
Will young males aged 13 to 16.5 who fail to apply for an exit permit be sentenced to imprisonment?
The penalty for exit permit offences of young males aged 13 to 16.5 will be a fine of up to $2,000, with no custodial sentences. They will however be subjected to harsher penalties should they continue to breach of the Enlistment Act after age 16.5.
Males above 16.5 years who travel and remain overseas without applying for an exit permit would have committed an offence under the Enlistment Act. They will be liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or both. -
NS-liable Persons with Dual CitizenshipIf your son has dual citizenship, it is still mandatory for him to register for NS when he reaches 16 1/2 years of age. On turning 18 years of age, he has to serve 2 years of NS.
Singapore does not recognise dual citizenship. If your son decides to retain his Singapore Citizenship upon reaching 21 years of age, he is required to renounce his foreign citizenship.
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Q12. If MINDEF continues with passport controls, how many pre-enlistees would be inconvenienced by having to apply for a new biometric passport every year?
According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, there are approximately 120,000 pre-registrants (males aged 11 to 16½) and 100,000 registrants (males aged 16½ to enlistment) passport holders. With the passport validity of pre-registrants and registrants capped at 2 years and 1 year respectively, we would expect a pre-registrant to have to apply for a new passport once in 2 years and a registrant once a year. On average, 100,000 have their passports extended annually. -
Under the Enlistment Act, NS-liable persons are enlisted at the earliest opportunity upon turning 18 years old. For those who are studying, MINDEF does allow some flexibility for them to complete their full-time studies up to the GCE 'A' Levels or Polytechnic Diploma (or their equivalent), both locally and overseas, before enlisting for NS. Those who have already embarked on their full-time studies but who do not meet the deferment conditions, will have to disrupt their studies and be enlisted for NS at the earliest opportunity scheduled by the Central Manpower Base (CMPB), including those who take up Singapore Permanent Residency in the midst of their studies.
Overseas Studies
NS-liable persons who graduated before September 2011 may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if they are able to commence the course before 18 years old, as at 1st January of the course commencement year. NS-liable persons graduating from September 2011 onwards may be granted deferment to pursue full-time overseas studies (up to the GCE 'A' Levels, Polytechnic Diploma or their equivalent qualifications) if they are able to commence their courses before 19 years old (for Secondary 4 students) or 20 years old (for Secondary 5 & ITE students), as at 1st January of the course commencement year. The higher cut-off age will apply to courses commencing from 1st January 2012 onwards.
NS-liable persons will be required to apply for an exit permit for overseas trips of 3 months and longer and will be required to furnish a bond of $75,000 or an amount equivalent to 50% of the combined annual gross income of both parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher.
Application for Deferment
NS-liable persons may apply for deferment online at the NS portal (http://www.ns.sg) during NS registration and pre-enlistment documentation.
Those applying for deferment to pursue local studies may be required to furnish documentary proof for verification upon CMPB's request. Upon CMPB's request, they will be required to submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study, as well as their course commencement and completion dates.
Those applying for deferment to pursue overseas studies must submit to CMPB a letter from their school certifying their enrolment, their course of study as well as their course commencement and completion dates. In addition, they must submit their parents' Income Tax Notices of Assessment (both local and overseas) for the preceding year.
Those who subsequently wish to pursue or switch to a new course or institution must seek prior approval from CMPB.
Notes: The information provided in this website are general guidelines. For further details, you may wish to contact the NS Call Centre at [email protected] or Tel:1800-3676767 (eNSNSNS). -
Many guys and gals who's been growing up overseas are probably not too familiar with the concept of National Service, aside from listening to the exciting adventures as told by their fathers. So to help your children or you (if you are going to enlist soon) ease into NS, do take a look at the resources we're putting together below.NS Familiarisation Visit
Together with MINDEF, OSU organises NS Familiarisation visits to the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on Pulau Tekong, where many recruits take their first step of this important journey in their lives. This visit is open to Singaporean citizens, both boys and girls, between the ages 15 to 18 years old.The first NS Familiarisation visit was organised on 18 July 2012, and 15 OS youths took this opportunity to take a sneak peak at life at BMTC and even got to experience it for a little bit. Take a photo tour of their short but educational tour here.NS Through the Lens of Overseas Singaporeans
To many OS (and more so their parents), their journeys before and during NS are fraught with worries and concerns. Am I mentally prepared to survive in the jungle? How am I going to be fit enough to endure the hardship? What are the various paths available? We invite OS to share their NS experiences with our readers here on the OS Portal.Our first article on the topic features 2LT Sherman Pay, ROS Commander with the 128 Squadron, who relates the ups and downs that he's gone through during NS. It was certainly no easy road for someone who's lived in China for the last 11 years. Read how he's done it here.If you would like to share your experience with us, drop us an email.11 Jul 2012 I POSTED BY OSP2LT Sherman Pay, ROS Commander with 128 Squadron, RSAF
It was to be a decision many Singaporean boys who have grown up overseas, would have to make – whether to return home to Singapore and serve National Service (NS). Not necessarily an easy decision for any 19-year-old Singaporean; not when you’ve lived the last 11 years of your life overseas.
Home Away from Home
For Sherman Pay, home had been in the Chinese city of Xiamen in Fujian province where he lived with his family. They would return twice a year to visit their relatives, often during Chinese New Year and the summer holidays. Save for his relatives, Sherman had hardly any friends in Singapore. Not surprising, given that he had spent most of his growing up years away from Singapore.
Sherman is ‘focused and ready’!
His parents had made known their preference for the family to remain as Singaporeans. He recalled his mother signing him up for tours that took him around Singapore’s landmarks during his visits back as a child.
While serving NS, Sherman lives with his uncle. However, being away from his immediate family does take its toll: “Sometimes I really miss them. I have learned to appreciate them more, especially when I am feeling lonely. There would be times when I feel really down. But for me, my mom had brought me up to be independent and that really helped”.
‘What-Ifs’ and ‘How-Woulds’
Prior to Sherman’s decision to return home to serve NS, his parents had concerns. Their uneasiness rubbed off on Sherman as well: “My mom was worried that I might get bad influence as there were people from all walks of life serving NS. She was also afraid that I couldn’t blend in and it would be hard for me to make friends. I was worried that I would be quite alone as I didn’t have friends (in Singapore) to begin with. I didn’t know how physical it (NS training) would get as I didn’t have my physical education here, so I didn’t know how (physically) fit I was compared to Singaporeans here. I didn’t know if I could keep up with the physical standards. My mum was worried about cultural differences because I don’t interact with Singaporeans that often. She was also worried I may not adapt to it.”
All geared up behind the ROSAs for his father, he was worried as to whether Sherman was both physically and mentally strong enough to endure the training and demands of a soldier and if he might be bullied by his platoon sergeants. “I think it was because he believed Army trainings mean harsh treatments by the sergeants, but in reality, the trainings are carried out professionally with safety as a priority,” Sherman says with a grin. It helped that Sherman had Singaporean friends he’d grown up with in Xiamen who’d returned ahead of him to serve NS and they were able to cope well in NS.
Flying High In Many Ways
Sherman has been doing well in NS since his enlistment two years ago. The well-respected officer with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is addressed by his men and superiors in the 128 Squadron as ‘2LT Sherman Pay’. He makes no qualms about aspiring to be an officer prior to his enlistment. “I have a few cousins who went to OCS (Officer Cadet School), so they told me, ‘If you can, try to be an officer as the experience would be more enriching.’ Therefore that was my goal during BMT; I was very motivated.” Despite the initial anxieties, Sherman felt that serving NS has been a good and positive experience for him and it has made him mature from a boy to a man.
It wasn’t just a positive attitude and hearing about success stories that got Sherman geared up for life in military fatigues. He credits his superiors who were very supportive and maintained an open communication channel with him during his Basic Military Training (BMT): “My supervisors did a good job. My OC (Officer Commanding) in BMT (Basic Military Training), he tried to engage us overseas Singaporeans, on enlistment day and told us that if we had any problems, if we couldn’t blend in, to look for him and he would help us. When we’re down, he’ll always motivate us. Although your family is not around, but during the time in NS, you have your so-called ‘brothers’, your bunkmates (and) they’ll also motivate you.” Yes, training will get tough, but the recruits will have to support each other to spur on and pull through together.
Setting up the ROS
These days, Sherman literally has a bird’s eye view on things through the videos by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which would be fed back to the Receive-Only Station (ROS) that he operates with his team. The video feed, when relayed to the ground commanders, provides better battlefield situational awareness and enhances mission effectiveness.
Appraisal to be Well-Adapted
Sherman’s immediate supervisor Major (MAJ) Sam Ong, the OC in charge of ROS for 128 Squadron, says that Sherman has adapted very well in the Squadron. He believes Sherman’s positive experience in BMT and how those who had returned from overseas to serve NS were actively engaged by their superiors, set the foundation for a smoother transition for the recruits. “Those things are very important because the initial phase is when these overseas Singaporeans will need to adjust to the change in environment and that’s when engagement must come to the forefront. When Sherman came to the unit, I didn’t feel that he had any problems adjusting to the operational requirements of 128 Squadron. That foundation served him well and enabled him to adapt to the operational tempo without any difficulties” says MAJ Ong.
Sherman with Major Ong
MAJ Ong regards Sherman as “a very outstanding NSF who’s not just able to lead when he’s required to, but he’s also a very capable team player. Sherman’s positive attitude and his willingness to take on challenges and overcome them will serve him well in the future”.
Does MAJ Ong feel that Singaporean youths who return from overseas to serve NS are disadvantaged in some way? He doesn’t believe so as information is readily available in this age of connectivity and ease of access to the internet, where “you’re able to sift out information pertaining to NS. It’s this sense of wanting to find out what’s ahead that makes the difference. Perhaps years ago when information was limited, that would have made it more difficult for overseas Singaporeans to find out more about NS”.
Seeing Significance in NS
The most memorable event for Sherman was when he was commissioned as an officer. “My parents came back to attend my commissioning parade and they were very proud of me. After being commissioned as an officer, you will take up a leadership role. So, you’ll need to exercise a lot of your leadership skills. When you have to inspire people to be more capable beyond their normal abilities, make them go an extra mile, that’s when it feels very rewarding,” he says, beaming with a sense of accomplishment.
Posing beside a UAVHow this contrasts to his initial scepticism of how serving NS would help in the defence of a small nation like Singapore. That faded after Sherman underwent the National Education programmes conducted by his supervisors. It then dawned on him the crucial role each serviceman, himself included, played in national security and the defence of Singapore. MAJ Ong believes that the key to creating a positive NSF experience is to make sure the NSFs understand and internalise their role in national defence”.
But it is easy to think that two years serving NS is two years too long. In Sherman’s perspective, “If you think of your career, your studies, it’s a postponement of two years. So before I enlisted, I was also thinking, ‘You waste two years of your life. People already get their degrees and you’re still studying. People are already working’. But after I enlisted, I realised I learnt a lot during NS. I learnt about leadership, having a positive mindset, how to overcome hardship – these kinds of things. The experience was enriching in many ways, and in the end I felt I’ve become more mature and better equipped as a person. My two years in NS wasn’t wasted”.
Sherman and his team together with Maj Ong23 Oct 2013 I POSTED BY OSPWhen we hear of National Service (NS), it is often assumed that it relates to the time spent with the army or the SAF, but that’s not always the case. “Growing up, my father always talked about the SAF and his time there, so I always thought that I would be joining the SAF. So when I received my enlistment letter and found out that I was to join the SCDF, I was definitely surprised!” Such was SGT (Sergeant) Raphael Tan’s initial response when the enlistment letter indicated that he was to join the Singapore Civil Defence Force for two years of NS. In this second issue of ‘NS through the Lens of an Overseas Singaporean’, we met up with Raphael Tan, a Singaporean who lived abroad and came back home to serve NS in the SCDF.
Since his birth, Raphael has had to adapt to both Western and Asian cultures due to his parents’ commitments in missionary work and overseas businesses. “I was born in Cardiff, Wales and spent a couple of years growing up in the UK and in Sweden before coming back to Singapore for pre-school. Following that, we left for Bangkok, Thailand in which I spent 13 years there.”
When it was time to return for his NS stint and not knowing what to expect, a nervous Raphael went on to find out as much as he could about the Singapore Civil Defence Force. “Despite being a little worried, when I found out that they train fire-fighters, I was actually quite excited about it,” revealed the young sergeant. For those unfamiliar with the SCDF, this uniformed organisation belongs to the Ministry of Home Affairs and plays a critical role in Singapore by providing fire-fighting, rescue and emergency ambulance services. They also oversee the implementation of fire safety and civil defence shelter matters.
SGT Raphael Tan (left) demonstrating a training drill with two of his traineesWhen enlistment day arrived, a sense of uncertainty could be felt among the new recruits, “I was quite nervous but I wasn’t the only one because on the first day, you see many other nervous boys as well.” He was quick to reassure though, saying, “The instructors were quite kind and understanding as they were once in our shoes as well, so it wasn’t too bad actually.”
What helped Raphael was that his overseas experience allowed him the opportunity to meet different people from diverse backgrounds. This made interacting with others in the SCDF much easier for him, especially when certain situations force you out of your comfort zone. “We had a training stint at Outward Bound in Sabah,” recalls Raphael, “and did hiking treks into dense jungles. A lot of us were placed out of our comfort zones and because of that, you could really see what people were really like. It was a real eye-opening experience where we learnt a lot about ourselves and of each other.”
Following his basic training phase, Raphael is now a Fire and Rescue Specialist trainer. “I’m in the fire-fighting branch, so I instruct trainees on how to fight different kinds of fire.” Fires like flashovers and backdrafts are just some of the many thermal accidents that fire-fighters encounter and have to deal with. One of the ways to do that efficiently is to ensure that they are well-versed in their drills, in which our trainer/resident expert and his team will give you a sneak preview of in our video.
Having almost completed his two-year NS stint, Raphael now looks forward to becoming a Physical Therapist in the field of Sports Sciences and will take the skills that he has learnt from the SCDF with him wherever he goes. He reflects, “There are many things that I’ve gained from the SCDF and a lot of what I’ve learnt can be used in most emergency situations in our daily lives. I’ll bring along all these knowledge with me and touch wood, if I need to draw upon them one day, at least I’ll be mentally well-equipped.”
While there are some who might still feel that NS is a hindrance, both to their career and study plans, to Raphael, NS is an opportunity to continue learning new life skills in an environment that is unlike any other. “You’re going to go through a lot of new experiences so take it all in and you’ll learn a lot of new things. Embrace it because a lot of what you will experience here, you won’t get a chance to do so outside of NS. Once you leave, you might just miss the time you’ve spent here.”
By Wan.
Video by Evon Kua and Ian Tan.
The first part of 'NS through the Lens of an Overseas Singaporean' can be found here and it features 2LT Sherman Pay, a ROS Commander with the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
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National-service-liable males who migrated from Singapore before age 11 and have not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits of citizenship (e.g., applied for a Singapore identity card or studied in Singapore beyond the age of 11) are allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship, but not before they turn 21.
Until then, they are required to register for national service with Central Manpower Base and apply for a deferment.
After turning 21, they are then eligible to renounce their Singapore citizenship.
Generally, those who left Singapore after the age of 11 will be deemed to have enjoyed the socio-economic benefits of Singapore. They will not be allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship without fulfilling NS obligations. -
Dont think the government will be lenient towards the guy. So what his father passed away it's not an excuse for him to awol also. And if they are lenient isn't it unfair to everyone else? Everyone also have grandmother or grand parents & anyone gf or wife will also get pregnant everyday so all guys who have grandparents or wife or gf pregnant can awol? And sad to say for ROM AWOL = NO ROM.. once go register straight get caught and it's an offence if you know the person whereabout and you did not report him. So just ask that guy to face it like a man anyway a father to be so dont act like a coward and be an irresponsible man. Dare to awol must dare to admit.
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Think about it...
If you run away, not only you, your parents pay the price too.
$75,000 of their money will be forfeited and gone to Singapore's $ State Reserve Fund.
The bond amount is $75,000 or an amount equivalent to 50% of the combined annual gross income of both your parents for the preceding year, whichever is higher.
You will not be able to travel to Singapore, even while on transit/ connecting flights...
If you want to meet your parents/ relatives living in Singapore, either they take a flight to visit you or both parties travel to neighouring Malaysia's Johor state to meet you.
Your honourable parents to lose their $75,000 retirement money just because their ungrateful son's immature, unfilial, foolish and cowardly impending thinking and action.
We dare you to skip town altogether. Let us see who have the last laugh then.
Read: http://sgforums.com/forums/1390/topics/409095
References:
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+Default&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+Desert&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+AWOL&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=NS+Dual&commit=Go&type=topics
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=%2475%2C000&commit=Go&type=topics
Inspiring stories of the sons of Singapore returning to Singapore to dutifully serve NS:
http://sgforums.com/topics/search?q=Singaporean+Son&commit=Go&type=topics