National Service in Singapore
Encyclopedia
Conscription
in Singapore
, called National Service
(NS), requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military. They serve a 22- or 24-month period as Full Time National Servicemen (NSFs), either in the Singapore Armed Forces
(SAF), Singapore Police Force
(SPF), or the Singapore Civil Defence Force
(SCDF).
When a conscript completes his full-time service, he is considered to be "operationally ready", and is thereafter known as an Operationally-Ready National Serviceman (NSman). NSmen are the equivalent of other militaries' reservist
s.
The overwhelming majority of conscripts serve in the Army
, as part of the SAF. The reasons for this include the relative manpower needs of the Army compared with the other armed services, the SPF, and SCDF. In addition, as compared to the Army, the Air Force
(RSAF) and Navy
(RSN) are smaller services composed primarily of regular servicemen. As the RSAF and RSN's manpower needs tend to be more specialized, a constant turnover of staff is considered by the Singapore government to be very disruptive.
Singapore is currently among a list of countries with the longest military service exceeding 18 months, just behind Israel
, with a reservist obligation lasting up to age 40 for enlisted men and 50 for officers. Until 2005 it had one of the longest mandatory military service periods, 30 months.
felt that it was necessary to build a substantial military force. The country had only about 1,000 soldiers at independence. In the late 1960s, the British government
had decided to withdraw its troops and bases East of Suez
, including troops stationed in Singapore. That prompted the government to implement a conscription program for the country's defence. It adopted a conscription
model drawing on elements of the Swiss
and Israeli national conscription schemes. This was done with the help of Israeli military advisers, who were closely involved in the establishment of the Singapore armed forces.
The stated rationale behind conscription is twofold. Firstly, because Singapore has a population of about four million (as of 2004), an army solely of regulars
would be too small to defend the country. Secondly, national service is supposed to foster racial harmony among the Chinese, Malay
, Indian, and other ethnic groups in the country, by requiring all males to go through similar experiences and thereby identify themselves with a common destiny of defending the nation.
Lee Hsien Loong
(then Second Minister for Defence) stated that "If there is a conflict, if the SAF is called to defend the homeland, we do not want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his religion" and in The Roar of the Lion City (2007), military analyst Sean Walsh claimed that "official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret". The Ministry of Defence contests the charge, noting that there are "Malay pilots, commandos
and air defence personnel" and stating that "the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist
and officer
training is similar to the proportion for eligible non-Malays."
In practice however, male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who registered NRIC
at 15 years old are required to register for National Service upon reaching the age of 16½ years, during which they would also be required to undergo a mandatory medical examination (PULHHEEMS
) to determine their medical status, known as Physical Employment Status (PES), which is used as a guideline as to which vocation the person is placed in. Male children who take up permanent residency status through their permanent resident parent's sponsorship will be required to serve National Service like other Singaporean males. However, most male citizens enlist in Basic Military Training
(BMT) at the age of 19 for junior college
graduates or the age of 20 for polytechnic
graduates.
Exemptions are rare and are usually due to disability or serious medical conditions certified by the SAF Medical Board. One instance of rare cases of exemption would be if the enlistment would cause hardship to the enlistee's family, be it financially or otherwise, although this exemption is rarely granted.
They are then called up for enlistment at the age of 18, although most Singaporean males would usually choose to complete their tertiary education in the respective polytechnics, high schools, junior colleges, pre-university courses or other institutions before starting the mandatory duration which they are required to serve. Those who voluntarily opt for early enlistment with the consent of their parents are allowed to begin full-time national service at the age of 16½.
In the past, the duration of the conscription for a typical Singaporean male spanned over a period of either 2 or 2½ years depending on his educational qualifications. In 2004, the duration was reduced to 2 years, driven by the transformation into the 3rd Generation SAF and enabled by the surge in NS intake for the next 10 years. As a further incentive, the NS duration may be cut by a further two months, if potential enlistees are able to obtain a silver or gold for their physical fitness test (NAPFA
) prior to enlistment.
, who was born in Singapore, received a fine for defaulting on his National Service obligations. Tan left for London
to study music during his enlistment age and later acquired British nationality. In parliament
, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean
provided some illustration of the punishments defaulters would face:
Each year, a small number of people are convicted for their failure to enlist or refusal to serve in the military. Most of them are Jehovah's Witnesses
, who are usually court-martialled and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, although they are usually held in a low-security detention facility and separated from other military offenders. The government does not consider conscientious objection
to be a legal reason for refusal to serve NS. Since 1972, the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses have been outlawed in Singapore. This is commonly misinterpreted to mean that Jehovah's Witnesses themselves are outlawed in Singapore.
(BMT) conducted by the SAF
at its BMT Centre
on Pulau Tekong
, an island off the north-east coast of Singapore, or at the various military units which directly accept mono-intake recruits. Medically fit NSFs undergo a 9-week Enhanced BMT program. Those from lower educational backgrounds and mono-intake recruits undergo a similar program (standard BMT program), but without a Situational Test (Sit Test), used to assess trainees for posting to command schools like the Specialist Cadet School (SCS) and Officer Cadet School
(OCS), occasionally a select few will later be posted to the police service for training as an Inspector
. Only a few from lower education backgrounds are selected to undergo the Sit Test model.
NSFs who are less medically fit, depending on their medical condition, either have to go a 9-week Modified BMT or just 4-week induction program for recruits with certain medical conditions. NSFs who are medically fit, but have failed the pre-enlistment National Physical Fitness Award
(NAPFA), will have to undergo an additional 1-month Physical Training Phase (PTP), making it a 13-week BMT program for them. Conscripts who are considered medically obese
go through a special BMT program, lasting 19 weeks. The obesity of a conscript is determined by his body mass index
(BMI) during the pre-enlistment medical checkup. A BMI of above 27 is considered indicative of obesity, as opposed to the World Health Organization
's guideline of 30 and above.
Medically fit NSmen also have to take the IPPT every year as part of their training program.
(SPF). Those who have been chosen to serve in the SPF undergo training at the Home Team Academy
where they study the Penal Code
and standard police protocol. After training at the Academy, they will be posted to various departments of the SPF, such as Special Operations Command
(SOC), Logistics, Land divisions, Airport Police. Those posted to the Police Coast Guard
(PCG) or Police KINS will undergo further training. Selection of Officer Cadets (OCTs) to undergo the NS Police Inspector Course (NSPI) is a stringent process for Police National Servicemen (Full-time). Usually, a very small number, about three, from each cohort will be selected, with the majority of the OCTs being the Singapore Armed Forces' National Servicemen (Full-time) who have completed their Basic Military Training (BMT).
(SCDF) is the emergency rescue force of Singapore and they provide firefighting, rescue
and ambulance
services, and has been one of the three National Service postings since 1972. Those enlisted into the SCDF typically undergo seven weeks of training at the Basic Rescue Training Centre (BRTC), where they are given basic rescue training (BRT), exposed to regimental discipline, and trained to maintain a level of fitness required of all NSFs in Singapore.
Much like the SAF's SISPEC course, selected NSFs are also posted to the Civil Defence Academy (CDA) to undergo the Firefighter Course (FFC) or the Emergency Response Specialist Course (ERSC) within the first two weeks of their BRT stage, passing out as Firefighters for FFC trainees, and as Fire & Rescue Specialists for ERS trainees who would also simultaneously be conferred with the Sergeant rank (Firefighters mostly pass out as Privates prior to station posting). Firefighters would typically be posted out to the various fire stations island-wide after passing out, while Fire & Rescue Specialists would be posted as Section Commanders at territorial division, fire stations or at the Special Rescue Battalion; based largely on rankings at the time of course completion, a small number may also be posted as Instructors back in the CDA to staff the Command and Staff Training Center (CSTC), Specialist Training Center (STC), or Firefighting Training Center (FFTC).
While a certain level of health and fitness pre-requisites are expected by both the FFC and ERSC administrators before one can be selected for these courses, admission into the ERS course typically requires a certain set of additional qualifications, namely either a minimum of a GCE Advanced Level
certificate, a Diploma
or a Higher Nitec Certificate. These added pre-requisites are viewed as necessary in the light of a Section Commander's operational and administrative role when posted out. One marked difference between the FFC and ERSC is the added rescue and emergency training received by ERS Specialist Cadet Trainees (SCTs), as well as the General Command & Control Term, which includes the Basic Home Team Course held at the Home Team Academy and an outward-bound Brunei
trip which serves to equip and develop the necessary leadership skills required of a specialist junior officer. In terms of administration and duration, the FFC is under the charge of the FFTC and lasts three months, while the ERSC is under the purview of the CSTC and lasts six months.
In addition, there is also the Basic Officer Course under the charge of the CSTW, designed to train NSFs and regulars as Senior Officers of the SCDF, with NSFs graduating as Lieutenant
s (LTA). While the BOC is traditionally largely made up of NSFs from the SAF who had just completed their Basic Military Training (BMT) at Pulau Tekong
, the top 5-10% of the ERSC will also be offered to cross over to the Basic Officer Course (BOC) to be trained and commissioned as Senior Officers after passing out, spending the last three months of the BOC together with Officer Cadet Trainees (OCTs).
NSFs who undergo the full 7-week basic rescue training at the BRTC are subsequently posted and trained to become medical orderlies
(medics), dog handler
s, provosts
, information and communications and logistics specialists or instructors (such as Physical Training Instructors) among many other vocations upon passing out from the BRTC.
They will also be granted Singaporean citizenship during their full-time national service. If the person decides not to take up citizenship after his full-time national service, he is still required to serve the service requirement, i.e. reservist duties after he turns operationally-ready.
Singapore Permanent Residents who served national service but did not acquire Singapore citizenship will be treated equally to those permanent residents without service obligation; they would not have access to the privileges granted to Singapore citizens.
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, called National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
(NS), requires all male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who have reached the age of 18 to enrol in the military. They serve a 22- or 24-month period as Full Time National Servicemen (NSFs), either in the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
(SAF), Singapore Police Force
Singapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
(SPF), or the Singapore Civil Defence Force
Singapore Civil Defence Force
The Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...
(SCDF).
When a conscript completes his full-time service, he is considered to be "operationally ready", and is thereafter known as an Operationally-Ready National Serviceman (NSman). NSmen are the equivalent of other militaries' reservist
Reservist
A reservist is a person who is a member of a military reserve force. They are otherwise civilians, and in peacetime have careers outside the military. Reservists usually go for training on an annual basis to refresh their skills. This person is usually a former active-duty member of the armed...
s.
The overwhelming majority of conscripts serve in the Army
Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
, as part of the SAF. The reasons for this include the relative manpower needs of the Army compared with the other armed services, the SPF, and SCDF. In addition, as compared to the Army, the Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
(RSAF) and Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
(RSN) are smaller services composed primarily of regular servicemen. As the RSAF and RSN's manpower needs tend to be more specialized, a constant turnover of staff is considered by the Singapore government to be very disruptive.
Singapore is currently among a list of countries with the longest military service exceeding 18 months, just behind Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, with a reservist obligation lasting up to age 40 for enlisted men and 50 for officers. Until 2005 it had one of the longest mandatory military service periods, 30 months.
History
The NS (Amendment) act was passed on 14 March 1967, as the Singapore governmentGovernment of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
felt that it was necessary to build a substantial military force. The country had only about 1,000 soldiers at independence. In the late 1960s, the British government
Government of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Government is the central government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects all the remaining Ministers...
had decided to withdraw its troops and bases East of Suez
East of Suez
The phrase East of Suez is used in British military and political discussions in reference to imperial interests beyond the European theatre ....
, including troops stationed in Singapore. That prompted the government to implement a conscription program for the country's defence. It adopted a conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
model drawing on elements of the Swiss
Military of Switzerland
The Swiss Armed Forces perform the roles of Switzerland's militia and regular army. Under the country's militia system, professional soldiers constitute about 5 percent of military personnel; the rest are male citizen conscripts 19 to 34 years old...
and Israeli national conscription schemes. This was done with the help of Israeli military advisers, who were closely involved in the establishment of the Singapore armed forces.
The stated rationale behind conscription is twofold. Firstly, because Singapore has a population of about four million (as of 2004), an army solely of regulars
Regular army
A regular army consists of the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained under arms during peacetime.Countries that use the term include:*Australian Army*British Army*Canadian Forces, specifically "Regular Force"*Egyptian army*Indian Army...
would be too small to defend the country. Secondly, national service is supposed to foster racial harmony among the Chinese, Malay
Malays in Singapore
Malays in Singapore are defined by the Singaporean government using the broader and antiquated "Malay race" concept, rather than modern-day Malay ethnic group. Although Malays have inhabited the area that is now Singapore since the 17th century, most of the Malays in Singapore today are immigrants...
, Indian, and other ethnic groups in the country, by requiring all males to go through similar experiences and thereby identify themselves with a common destiny of defending the nation.
Racial controversies
Malays were virtually excluded from conscription from the beginning of the draft in 1967 until 1977 and, after the policy was eased, were assigned mainly to serve in the police and civil defence (fire brigade), not in active combat roles. In 1987,Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
(then Second Minister for Defence) stated that "If there is a conflict, if the SAF is called to defend the homeland, we do not want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his religion" and in The Roar of the Lion City (2007), military analyst Sean Walsh claimed that "official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret". The Ministry of Defence contests the charge, noting that there are "Malay pilots, commandos
Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation
The Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation is an elite branch of the Singapore Armed Forces . An offensive unit, it specialises in pre-emptive operations involving small groups of specially trained soldiers in enemy territory...
and air defence personnel" and stating that "the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist
Specialist (Singapore)
In the Singapore Armed Forces , Specialists are the group of ranks equivalent to non-commissioned officers in other armed forces. This term was introduced in 1993, for a more "positive" rank classification. In the SAF, Warrant Officers are not considered Specialists.Like many other modern...
and officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
training is similar to the proportion for eligible non-Malays."
Enlistment
According to the Enlistment Act, conscription is mandatory for all "persons subject to [the] act", defined as those who are not less than 16 years and 6 months of age and not more than 40 years of age, with some exemptions and with no specific bias to gender (not limited to males).In practice however, male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents who registered NRIC
National Registration Identity Card
The National Registration Identity Card is the identity document in use in Singapore...
at 15 years old are required to register for National Service upon reaching the age of 16½ years, during which they would also be required to undergo a mandatory medical examination (PULHHEEMS
PULHHEEMS
The PULHHEEMS is a system of grading physical and mental fitness used by Britain's armed forces. PULHHEEMS is tri-service, which is to say that it is used by the British Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Its purpose is to determine the suitability of its employees for posting into...
) to determine their medical status, known as Physical Employment Status (PES), which is used as a guideline as to which vocation the person is placed in. Male children who take up permanent residency status through their permanent resident parent's sponsorship will be required to serve National Service like other Singaporean males. However, most male citizens enlist in Basic Military Training
Recruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
(BMT) at the age of 19 for junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
graduates or the age of 20 for polytechnic
Institute of technology
Institute of technology is a designation employed in a wide range of learning institutions awarding different types of degrees and operating often at variable levels of the educational system...
graduates.
Exemptions are rare and are usually due to disability or serious medical conditions certified by the SAF Medical Board. One instance of rare cases of exemption would be if the enlistment would cause hardship to the enlistee's family, be it financially or otherwise, although this exemption is rarely granted.
They are then called up for enlistment at the age of 18, although most Singaporean males would usually choose to complete their tertiary education in the respective polytechnics, high schools, junior colleges, pre-university courses or other institutions before starting the mandatory duration which they are required to serve. Those who voluntarily opt for early enlistment with the consent of their parents are allowed to begin full-time national service at the age of 16½.
In the past, the duration of the conscription for a typical Singaporean male spanned over a period of either 2 or 2½ years depending on his educational qualifications. In 2004, the duration was reduced to 2 years, driven by the transformation into the 3rd Generation SAF and enabled by the surge in NS intake for the next 10 years. As a further incentive, the NS duration may be cut by a further two months, if potential enlistees are able to obtain a silver or gold for their physical fitness test (NAPFA
National Physical Fitness Award
The National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment Scheme is a test of physical fitness for Singaporeans as part of Singapore's Sports For Life programme...
) prior to enlistment.
| Enlisted Date | Rank | Full-Time NS Duration1 | Qualifications | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 till Nov 2004 | Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed... or lower |
2 years | O Level, N Level and ITC or lower | |
| 1971 till May 2004 | Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... and higher |
2 years 6 months | A Level GCE Advanced Level The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands... and Diploma Diploma A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to... qualifications or higher |
Will be promoted to at least the rank of Corporal |
| Jun 2004 till Nov 2004 | Corporal and higher | 2 years 2 months | A Level and Diploma qualifications or higher | Then current serving NSF wil have 2 months reduction instead |
| From Dec 2004 | All ranks | 2 years | All qualifications | |
| 1. NAPFA Silver or Gold before enlistment get further 2 months reduction | ||||
Refusal to serve and conscientious objection
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. Controversy arose when the penalties were increased in January 2006 after Melvyn TanMelvyn Tan
Melvyn Tan is a Singapore-born British classical pianist, noted for his study of historical performance practice....
, who was born in Singapore, received a fine for defaulting on his National Service obligations. Tan left for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study music during his enlistment age and later acquired British nationality. In parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean
Teo Chee Hean
Teo Chee Hean is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, and a Member of Parliament for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group...
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.
Each year, a small number of people are convicted for their failure to enlist or refusal to serve in the military. Most of them are Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
, who are usually court-martialled and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, although they are usually held in a low-security detention facility and separated from other military offenders. The government does not consider conscientious objection
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
to be a legal reason for refusal to serve NS. Since 1972, the publications of Jehovah's Witnesses have been outlawed in Singapore. This is commonly misinterpreted to mean that Jehovah's Witnesses themselves are outlawed in Singapore.
Type of services
| Rank | Singapore Armed Forces NSF / NSmen Rank (Basic) allowance in SGD | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1980s | 1990s - Jun 02(a) | Jul 02 - Jun 06(b) | Jul 06 - Dec 08 | From Jan 2009 | From Oct 2009 | |
| Recruit Army recruit Recruit or army recruit is a term often colloquially used to refer to the lowest military rank in various armed services. It usually implies that the soldier so labeled has not yet completed basic training.... (REC) |
$40 | $120 | $240 | $350 | $400 | $420 | |
| Private Private (rank) A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career... (PTE) |
$45 | $125 | |||||
| Lance Corporal Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed... (LCP) |
$50 | $135 | $250 | $370 | $420 | $440 | |
| Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4.... (CPL) |
$60 | $150 | $270 | $420 | $470 | $490 | |
| Corporal First Class Corporal First Class Corporal First Class is the highest enlistee rank in the Singapore Armed Forces, ranking just above Corporal and below Third Sergeant. It is awarded to deserving Corporals in the top 30% of their cohort who have held the rank for at least six months... (CFC) |
NA | $510 | $530 | ||||
| Specialist Specialist (Singapore) In the Singapore Armed Forces , Specialists are the group of ranks equivalent to non-commissioned officers in other armed forces. This term was introduced in 1993, for a more "positive" rank classification. In the SAF, Warrant Officers are not considered Specialists.Like many other modern... Cadet (SCT) |
NA | $490 | $510 | ||||
| Third Sergeant Third Sergeant Third Sergeant is a Specialist rank in the Singapore Armed Forces. Third Sergeants are the most junior of Specialists, ranking above Corporal First Class, who, in the SAF, are not considered Specialists and do not have command authority... (3SG) |
NA | $160 | $280 | $560 | $610 | $630 | $740 |
| Second Sergeant Second Sergeant Second Sergeant is a Specialist rank in the Singapore Armed Forces. Second Sergeants are more senior than Third Sergeants, but less senior than First Sergeants. The rank insignia for a Second Sergeant features the three chevrons pointing down shared by all Specialists, and one chevron pointing... (2SG) |
NA | $340 | $700 | $750 | $770 | $840 | |
| Officer Officer (armed forces) An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position... Cadet (OCT) |
$90 | $300 | $525 | $630 | $680 | $700 ($900) | |
| Second Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal... (2LT) |
$120 | $400 | $650 | $870 | $920 | $940 ($1140) | |
| Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank... (LTA) |
NA | $450 | $780 | $1,050 | $1,100 | $1,120 ($1320) | |
| Captain (CPT) | $600 | $1,240 | $1,750 | $1,800 | ($2,020) | ||
| a. Additional vocationalist or combat allowances ranging from $40–$140 b. Additional vocationalist or combat allowances ranging from $100–$300 from July 2002 onwards c. Additional allowance for key appointment holder are reduced by approx 50% due to basic service pay increased from July 2002 onwards d. Additional allowance for Specialist and NS Men from Oct 2009 onwards Source Figures in applies to NSF Medical Officer/Dental Officer |
|||||||
Military service
There are several types of Basic Military TrainingRecruit training
Recruit training, more commonly known as Basic Training and colloquially called Boot Camp, is the initial indoctrination and instruction given to new military personnel, enlisted and officer...
(BMT) conducted by the SAF
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
at its BMT Centre
Basic Military Training Centre
The Basic Military Training Centre is a military training facility located in Ladang, Pulau Tekong, in Singapore...
on Pulau Tekong
Pulau Tekong
Pulau Tekong is the second largest of Singapore's outlying islands with an area of 24.43 km², and the island is still expanding due to land reclamation works on its southern and northwestern coasts which will eventually subsume many of its surrounding small islets, including Pulau Tekong...
, an island off the north-east coast of Singapore, or at the various military units which directly accept mono-intake recruits. Medically fit NSFs undergo a 9-week Enhanced BMT program. Those from lower educational backgrounds and mono-intake recruits undergo a similar program (standard BMT program), but without a Situational Test (Sit Test), used to assess trainees for posting to command schools like the Specialist Cadet School (SCS) and Officer Cadet School
Officer Cadet School (Singapore)
Officer Cadet School is one of the several training establishments within the SAFTI Military Institute camp complex. Its role is to train officers of all three services of the Singapore Armed Forces...
(OCS), occasionally a select few will later be posted to the police service for training as an Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
. Only a few from lower education backgrounds are selected to undergo the Sit Test model.
NSFs who are less medically fit, depending on their medical condition, either have to go a 9-week Modified BMT or just 4-week induction program for recruits with certain medical conditions. NSFs who are medically fit, but have failed the pre-enlistment National Physical Fitness Award
National Physical Fitness Award
The National Physical Fitness Award/Assessment Scheme is a test of physical fitness for Singaporeans as part of Singapore's Sports For Life programme...
(NAPFA), will have to undergo an additional 1-month Physical Training Phase (PTP), making it a 13-week BMT program for them. Conscripts who are considered medically obese
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
go through a special BMT program, lasting 19 weeks. The obesity of a conscript is determined by his body mass index
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
(BMI) during the pre-enlistment medical checkup. A BMI of above 27 is considered indicative of obesity, as opposed to the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
's guideline of 30 and above.
Medically fit NSmen also have to take the IPPT every year as part of their training program.
Police service
Though a majority will serve in the army for their National Service, a number of enlistees will serve their NS years in the Singapore Police ForceSingapore Police Force
The Singapore Police Force is the main agency tasked with maintaining law and order in the city-state. Formerly known as the Republic of Singapore Police , it has grown from an 11-man organisation to a 38,587 strong force...
(SPF). Those who have been chosen to serve in the SPF undergo training at the Home Team Academy
Home Team Academy
The Home Team Academy is the training institute for various organisations of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Singapore, including the Singapore Police Force, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Singapore Prison Service, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority,...
where they study the Penal Code
Penal Code (Singapore)
The Penal Code of Singapore sets out general principles of the criminal law of Singapore, as well as the elements and penalties of common criminal offences such as homicide, theft and cheating...
and standard police protocol. After training at the Academy, they will be posted to various departments of the SPF, such as Special Operations Command
Special Operations Command (Singapore)
The Special Operations Command is a frontline unit of the Singapore Police Force grouping together various specialist units into a single strategic reserve of the regular forces to be called upon in any contingency and serious case of public disorder.Today, the unit is composed of:The SOC also...
(SOC), Logistics, Land divisions, Airport Police. Those posted to the Police Coast Guard
Police Coast Guard
The Police Coast Guard is the Marine Police division of the Singapore Police Force which also takes on roles of the coast guard typically handled by the military or as separate organisations in other countries...
(PCG) or Police KINS will undergo further training. Selection of Officer Cadets (OCTs) to undergo the NS Police Inspector Course (NSPI) is a stringent process for Police National Servicemen (Full-time). Usually, a very small number, about three, from each cohort will be selected, with the majority of the OCTs being the Singapore Armed Forces' National Servicemen (Full-time) who have completed their Basic Military Training (BMT).
Civil defence service
The Singapore Civil Defence ForceSingapore Civil Defence Force
The Singapore Civil Defence Force is the main agency in charge of the provision of emergency services in Singapore during peacetime and emergency.A uniformed organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the main role of SCDF is to provide...
(SCDF) is the emergency rescue force of Singapore and they provide firefighting, rescue
Rescue
Rescue refers to responsive operations that usually involve the saving of life, or prevention of injury during an incident or dangerous situation....
and ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
services, and has been one of the three National Service postings since 1972. Those enlisted into the SCDF typically undergo seven weeks of training at the Basic Rescue Training Centre (BRTC), where they are given basic rescue training (BRT), exposed to regimental discipline, and trained to maintain a level of fitness required of all NSFs in Singapore.
Much like the SAF's SISPEC course, selected NSFs are also posted to the Civil Defence Academy (CDA) to undergo the Firefighter Course (FFC) or the Emergency Response Specialist Course (ERSC) within the first two weeks of their BRT stage, passing out as Firefighters for FFC trainees, and as Fire & Rescue Specialists for ERS trainees who would also simultaneously be conferred with the Sergeant rank (Firefighters mostly pass out as Privates prior to station posting). Firefighters would typically be posted out to the various fire stations island-wide after passing out, while Fire & Rescue Specialists would be posted as Section Commanders at territorial division, fire stations or at the Special Rescue Battalion; based largely on rankings at the time of course completion, a small number may also be posted as Instructors back in the CDA to staff the Command and Staff Training Center (CSTC), Specialist Training Center (STC), or Firefighting Training Center (FFTC).
While a certain level of health and fitness pre-requisites are expected by both the FFC and ERSC administrators before one can be selected for these courses, admission into the ERS course typically requires a certain set of additional qualifications, namely either a minimum of a GCE Advanced Level
GCE Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
certificate, a Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
or a Higher Nitec Certificate. These added pre-requisites are viewed as necessary in the light of a Section Commander's operational and administrative role when posted out. One marked difference between the FFC and ERSC is the added rescue and emergency training received by ERS Specialist Cadet Trainees (SCTs), as well as the General Command & Control Term, which includes the Basic Home Team Course held at the Home Team Academy and an outward-bound Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
trip which serves to equip and develop the necessary leadership skills required of a specialist junior officer. In terms of administration and duration, the FFC is under the charge of the FFTC and lasts three months, while the ERSC is under the purview of the CSTC and lasts six months.
In addition, there is also the Basic Officer Course under the charge of the CSTW, designed to train NSFs and regulars as Senior Officers of the SCDF, with NSFs graduating as Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
s (LTA). While the BOC is traditionally largely made up of NSFs from the SAF who had just completed their Basic Military Training (BMT) at Pulau Tekong
Pulau Tekong
Pulau Tekong is the second largest of Singapore's outlying islands with an area of 24.43 km², and the island is still expanding due to land reclamation works on its southern and northwestern coasts which will eventually subsume many of its surrounding small islets, including Pulau Tekong...
, the top 5-10% of the ERSC will also be offered to cross over to the Basic Officer Course (BOC) to be trained and commissioned as Senior Officers after passing out, spending the last three months of the BOC together with Officer Cadet Trainees (OCTs).
NSFs who undergo the full 7-week basic rescue training at the BRTC are subsequently posted and trained to become medical orderlies
Orderly
A medical orderly , is a hospital attendant whose job consists of assisting medical and/or nursing staff with various nursing and/or medical interventions. These duties are classified as routine tasks involving no risk for the patient.- Job details :Orderlies are often utilized in various hospital...
(medics), dog handler
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
s, provosts
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
, information and communications and logistics specialists or instructors (such as Physical Training Instructors) among many other vocations upon passing out from the BRTC.
Non-Citizens
Second Generation Permanent Residents are required to go through compulsory full-time military service as well as reservist duties after they have completed their full-time military service and turns operationally-ready.They will also be granted Singaporean citizenship during their full-time national service. If the person decides not to take up citizenship after his full-time national service, he is still required to serve the service requirement, i.e. reservist duties after he turns operationally-ready.
Singapore Permanent Residents who served national service but did not acquire Singapore citizenship will be treated equally to those permanent residents without service obligation; they would not have access to the privileges granted to Singapore citizens.
Literature
- From Boys To Men: A Literary Anthology Of National Service In Singapore edited by Koh Buck SongKoh Buck SongKoh, Buck Song is a writer, editor and consultant in branding, communications strategy and corporate social responsibility in Singapore.-Selected Published Works:Koh, Buck Song is the author and editor of 20 books.His non-fiction books include:...
and Umej Bhatia (2002) - 50 works of poetry, prose & playscripts by 30 writers, from 1967 to 2002, the 35th anniversary of national service in Singapore. This anthology contains seminal works about the dilemma of duty, such as The Fragrance Of Lallang, a sonnet by Koh Buck SongKoh Buck SongKoh, Buck Song is a writer, editor and consultant in branding, communications strategy and corporate social responsibility in Singapore.-Selected Published Works:Koh, Buck Song is the author and editor of 20 books.His non-fiction books include:...
.
Theatre
- Army Daze by Michael Chiang (1987, 2006)
- Full Tank! (2008)
- Radio Silence (2008)
- Botak Boys (2008)
- Charged (2010)
See also
- Awards for Singapore National ServicemanAwards for Singapore National Serviceman-Singapore Police Service Good Service Medal:The Singapore Police Service Good Service Medal is awarded to an officer in recognition of his good, efficient and faithful service in the Singapore Police Service...
- 1954 National Service Riots1954 National Service Riots1954 National Service Riots or Anti-National Service Riots is a riot in Singapore that occurred in 1954 due to the communist influence. The persons involved were limited to the Chinese students in some Chinese Middle Schools...
- Chinese opposition to conscription service during British rule - From Boys To Men: A Literary Anthology Of National Service In Singapore - edited by Koh, Buck Song and Bhatia, Umej (2002) Landmark Books, Singapore. ISBN 981-3065-67-2
- Shoulder To Shoulder: Our National Service Journal - Ministry of Defence, Singapore (2002) ISBN 981-04-6931-4
External links
- iPrepNS - information on Preparation for National Service in Singapore
- Singapore Statutes Chapter 93: Enlistment Act (1967), archived in the Attorney General Chamber (AGC) of Singapore.
- Shoulder to Shoulder - Our National Service Journal - A colourful and light-hearted handbook published by MINDEFMinistry of Defence (Singapore)The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
in 2002, in commemoration of 35 Years of National Service. - The NSmen Website
- The NSmen's portal
- Enlistment Act