ACCORD

In the ACCORD term 2026 - 2028, ACCORD is co-chaired by Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence , Mr Zaqy Mohamad and Minister of State (MOS) for Defence, Mr Desmond Choo. Currently, SMS Zaqy co-chairs the Employer and Business (E&B) Council with Mr Kok Ping Soon, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Business Federation, and the Pre-Enlistees & Educator (P&E) Council with Minister of State (Designate), Ministry of Education and Health, Mr Shawn Loh. MOS Choo currently co-chairs the Family and Community (F&C) Council with Ms Trina Liang, President, Netball Singapore.

The sixth (25 August 2024 to 24 August 2026) term of ACCORD had deepened engagement with their targeted stakeholders and also achieved the following tangible outcomes through the respective councils:

• The ACCORD Employer and Business (E&B) Council strengthened employer support for National Service (NS) while enhancing business resilience against evolving security threats. During its sixth term, the Council engaged 629 companies and 869 NSmen at the annual SAF Day Zonal Rededication Ceremonies. Curated programs such as structured visits to SAF training facilities and engagements with military leadership have also helped to enhance employer awareness and strengthened business community support for NSmen. To bolster organisational resilience, the Council partnered businesses through Exercise SG Ready 2026, where 78 companies and 13 multinational and local fund managers tested their business continuity plans against power and digital disruptions scenarios. The Singapore Business Federation (SBF) also conducted its second consecutive phishing exercise for businesses, helping participating organisations strengthen their cyber awareness and preparedness for crisis.

• The ACCORD Family and Community Council strengthened family and community support for National Service (NS) through targeted defence engagement programmes. Over the 2024–2025 term, the Council engaged over 1,200 pre-enlistees and their family members across 28 countries through the virtual visit to the Basic Military Training Centre programme. As a result of these programmes, 98% of parents reported a deeper understanding of the importance of National Service and expressed greater support for their son’s NS journey. In addition, the Women's Boot Camp (WBC) expanded its capacity in 2025 in response to strong demand from the earlier editions, with over 200 participants in attendance – its highest participation to date. As part of the SG60 National Day celebrations, ACCORD (F&C) also collaborated with the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) on the National Day Sing-Along, which engaged over 20,000 participants. The event strengthened participants' commitment to Singapore and fostered greater appreciation for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the contributions of NSmen as part of the SAF60 commemorations.

• The ACCORD Pre-Enlistee and Educator Council strengthened defence awareness and resilience among youths, pre-enlistees and educators through targeted National Education and Total Defence engagements. Over the 2024–2025 term, the council engaged over 19,000 students, youth leaders and 1,500 Educators through initiatives such as the Total Defence Table-Top Exercises, Our Singapore Leadership Programme by the National Youth Council and Ministry of Education and National Institute of Education programmes for the educators. The Council also reached over 2,700 youths and undergraduates through platforms such as the Polytechnic Forum 2024 and the Joint University Webinar Series, fostering deeper understanding of Singapore's evolving security landscape and emerging challenges, including cybersecurity and resilience against crises like power disruption recovery.

In 2013, the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) recommended the introduction of an NS Mark accreditation scheme to strengthen community recognition and support for NS. The Advisory Council for Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) led the development of the accreditation scheme, through extensive consultations between the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the Singapore Armed Forces and the various stakeholder groups.

Launched in August 2016, NS Mark is a national-level accreditation scheme that recognises businesses and organisations which have put in place policies and human resource practices that support NS and Total Defence (TD). These include initiatives which support NSmen in better balancing their family, work and NS commitments. The scheme also aims to rally stronger community support for NS with the NS Mark recipients leading by example.

Click here for more information on the NS Mark (opens in new tab) and its application process.

The Total Defence Awards (TDA) were introduced in 1986 to recognise businesses—particularly employers and civil resource owners—for their contributions to Total Defence. Over time, both the CSNS and ACCORD recommended enhancing the awards to also recognise companies with pro-NS policies and human resource practices, as well as individuals and employers who demonstrate strong support for NS.

In 2015, the TDA was revamped to broaden recognition beyond businesses to include educational institutions, family and community organisations, and individuals who champion Total Defence and NS. The Home Team NS Awards were also integrated into the TDA. As Total Defence has evolved into a whole-of-society effort spanning the Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological pillars, the TDA has likewise evolved to recognise Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Large Companies, Organisations, and Individuals not just for their support for NS, but also for outstanding contributions to Total Defence. 

The TD Advocate Award — the TDA’s highest accolade — recognises exemplary support towards Total Defence and NS across four categories: SMEs, Large Companies, Organisations and Individuals. Since 2017, business and organisation recipients have been selected from the top NS Mark (Gold) accredited companies and organisations. The TD Advocate Award is conferred for three years and presented at the annual TDA.