Frequently Asked Questions

The health and safety of our servicemen are of paramount importance to the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). We monitor air quality closely, and have in place a set of Pollutant Standards Index (PSI)-Activity Guidelines under the SAF Medical Directives and Training Safety Regulations to calibrate our outdoor activities and training according to the PSI reading. This ensures that SAF troops can train safely by modifying the nature and intensity of outdoor activities according to the haze level.

The PSI-activity guidelines are formulated for the SAF population and take into account their medical fitness and the nature of training activities. These guidelines are also consistent with the National Environment Agency’s health advisories based on PSI readings. When the PSI is 100 or less, training will continue as per normal. When the PSI exceeds 100, the SAF will reduce physical and outdoor training accordingly.

You can call the NS Call Centre at 1800-3676767 (if you are not calling from within Singapore, please use +65 65676767 instead). Alternatively, you may use our online Feedback form or send an email to contact@ns.gov.sg.

The RSAF is mindful of the possible inconvenience to the public as a result of its flying activities over Singapore. The RSAF has laid down strict rules to reduce noise levels around the airbases, though the noise cannot be totally eliminated. Measures taken include:

• Lowering the speed of jets when operating over the main island, thus reducing noise emission.

• Ceasing flying activities during school listening comprehension examinations conducted at the national level.

• Conducting engine ground runs for the fighter aircraft in the Hush House, an enclosure designed to absorb noise during the testing of jet engines.

Most of our training is done over the South China Sea and Pulau Pawai, and at overseas training detachments. To reduce noise and minimise risk, RSAF aircraft avoid the populated areas when they take off for training. RSAF aircraft also fly at higher altitudes in the departure routes. The introduction of Flight Simulators in the RSAF have also significantly cut down aircraft noise. We also impose similar noise abatement measures on foreign aircraft so as to reduce the impact of flying activities. The measures implemented are meant to create a balance between operational training requirements and consideration for the residents. We are constantly exploring ways to minimise the noise level.

The SAF has very detailed procedures to control the issuance and use of arms and ammunition. Arms and ammunition are separately controlled and strictly accounted for on an individual basis. In all camps, firearms are kept in an armoury while ammunition is separately stored in ammunition dumps. In peace time, live ammunition is only issued for live firing, guard duties and specific operational needs. Live ammunition and firearms are also kept separate in these activities until the point of use. In all cases, the issue and return of firearms and ammunition are carried out formally and with clear procedures by designated persons, at designated locations. In the Guard Rooms, firearms are to be kept chained on a rack when not in use, while ammunition is to be placed in a secured storage container.

Servicemen assigned Guard Duties are only issued firearms and ammunition just before the start of their shift. These items are to be returned promptly at the end of the duty personnel's shift to the Guard Commander, who has to account for the quantity, serial number and the condition of the arms and ammunition. For the control and management of ammunition during training and live firing exercises, a serviceman who is at least a Platoon Sergeant is tasked specifically to account for the issuance and return of ammunition. Each serviceman registers for the issue and return of his own ammunition. In ranges and live firing exercises, servicemen are only issued ammunition just prior to the commencement of their firing. Immediately after training activities, any remaining ammunition is recovered and counted and returned to the ammunition depot. Spent or empty cartridges are also recovered. Servicemen are also required to check if they have inadvertently failed to return any ammunition before they make a declaration that they do not have any live rounds or empty cartridges in their possession.

They are then required to empty out their personal equipment for inspection by their commanders. Accounting for rounds must be completed before training is considered to have ended. In addition, in case any serviceman has evaded these checks and secreted any rounds after the firing exercises, commanders also conduct spot checks during barrack inspections and when servicemen leave camp. With such a system in place, the risk of theft, loss or unauthorised possession of any weapon or live round is very limited. Every serviceman knows that the unauthorised possession of any weapon or live round will result in disciplinary proceedings and very serious punishment.

The purpose of the NS HOME (National Service HOusing, Medical and Education) Awards is to strengthen our National Servicemen’s (NSmen) stake in the country and support their needs in housing, healthcare and education. The NS HOME Awards replace the National Service Recognition Award (NSRA).

Eligibility Criteria NS HOME Awards recognise Singaporean NSmen at each of their three significant milestones during their NS journey.

Servicemen who enlist on or after 1 Dec 2011 and complete their full-time NS (NSF) on or after 1 Dec 2013 will be eligible for the first milestone of the NS HOME Awards. NSmen who reach the mid-point of their Operationally Ready National Service (ORNS) training cycle or complete their ORNS training cycle on or after 1 Apr 2014 will be eligible for the awards.

Payment

Eligible NSmen will each receive $5,000 at each of the milestones. NSmen who are commanders (ranks of Third Sergeant and above for SAF NSmen and Sergeant and above for HomeTeam NSmen) will receive $500 more; that is $5,500, at each milestone to recognise the heavier responsibilities they shoulder.

NS HOME 1: $3,000 of the first award will be deposited into the Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) of full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), to meet their aspirations to further their studies after completing full-time National Service. The funds in the PSEA can be used to cover education expenses in approved local institutions.

NSFs will also receive an additional $2,000 in Medisave grants in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Medisave Account at the completion of full-time National Service. To help NSFs cover their MediShield Life premiums while they are serving full time NS, $200 from their NS HOME Awards will be credited into their CPF Medisave Account upon enlistment. An additional $200 will be credited after completion of first year of NS. The remainder of the NS HOME (Medisave grant) (i.e. $2,000 minus the total amount of MediShield Life premiums received during full-time NS) will be credited when they complete their full-time NS.

NS HOME 2 and 3: $3,000 of the second and third awards will be deposited into the NSmen's CPF Ordinary Account. This will allow the NSmen to use the awards for housing and other purposes. NSmen will also receive an additional $2,000 per milestone in Medisave grants in their CPF Medisave Account.

The awards will be paid out to eligible servicemen within three months of reaching the milestone. The additional Medisave grant that is part of the 1st milestone of the NS HOME Awards, and the second and third award milestones will be disbursed into the CPF accounts of eligible NSmen from Sep 2014.

Summary

A summary of the NS HOME Awards is shown below:

Contact Info

For more information regarding the NS HOME Awards, please call the NS Call Centre at 1800-3676767 or email contact@ns.gov.sg..

The need to utilise doctors in their professional role has always been recognised by the SAF. National Servicemen with recognised medical qualifications to practise in the SAF will have to be trained to operate in the military environment before being commissioned as Medical Officers. Most doctors are able to do so, even those with medical problems so severe that they are unable to complete the medical officers' course, are utilised as para-medical personnel where their medical knowledge is still put to good use. Only in an extreme case such as that of a person who fails the course because of his poor attitude to military training or disciplinary problems, would he be used as a medical orderly. This is because his attitude may affect his behaviour and practice towards soldiers.

To ensure that good quality healthcare is given to SAF servicemen, it is necessary to have sufficient doctors in SAF Medical Centres so that adequate time can be given to each patient. Doctors from the Ministry of Health have been seconded, including women doctors, to assist the SAF when the numbers in the SAF have temporarily been low. The women doctors have been particularly welcomed by servicewomen in the SAF.