Singapore Defence Volunteer Network

The SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) is a military volunteer scheme introduced to provide Singaporean women, New Citizens and Permanent Residents with the opportunity to contribute to national defence and deepen their understanding and ownership of national defence. You will undergo progressive training to ensure that you are competent and ready to serve alongside our NSFs, NSmen and Regulars in roles that support SAF's operations and training.

Be prepared to learn to work as a team, become stronger and more resilient as you begin your journey in the SAFVC. The invaluable experience and skillsets that you gain in the SAFVC will put you in good stead as you progress through life.

Apply here to volunteer with SAFVC

As a SAFRA Volunteer, you can give back to the NS community in ways that matter — through mentoring, sharing skills, supporting fitness, or helping others understand defence. If you’re keen to contribute to the NS community and make a positive impact on families and future generations, we invite you to register below.

Join us and be part of something bigger.

Find out more about SAFRA Volunteer

National Service Gallery Creative Designer

Join the National Service Gallery (NSG) as a Creative Design volunteer! This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant gallery and shape how visuals are shown to diverse audiences.

Find out more about NSG Creative Designer

National Service Gallery Content Research Assistant

Support the National Service Gallery (NSG) curatorial team to develop and review content (including print, digital media e.g., YouTube, FB/IG videos etc.) for NSG and related roving exhibitions. You will assist with factchecking, source identification, and help summarise map content and stories to the exhibition narratives. You may also support in oral history, material sourcing and liaison work.

Find out more about NSG Content Research Assistant

National Service Gallery Collections Assistant

Support the National Service Gallery (NSG) curatorial team in the cataloguing and sorting of materials and artefacts relating to Singapore’s National Service heritage and history. This may include support in photography of related collections.

Your role will include the sorting of materials, photography of items and the management of accession records.

Find out more about NSG Collections Assistant

Volunteer Guide

Be a Volunteer Guide for Defence Collective Singapore and bring our nation’s stories to life. Lead thematic guided tours at either Singapore Discovery Centre, Singapore Navy Museum, or the upcoming Singapore Air Force Museum and Singapore Army Museum – covering milestones in our military history, defence capabilities, and more. Through your storytelling, you will help visitors connect the past to the present and inspire a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s resilience and collective future.

Find out more about DCS Volunteer Guide

Curatorial and Collections Support Volunteer

Be a Curatorial and Collections Support Volunteer and go behind the scenes to help preserve Singapore’s defence heritage. Support the curatorial and collections teams in researching, documenting, and safeguarding artefacts and personal narratives. From archival work to oral history transcription, your contributions will help shape how Singapore’s defence story is preserved and shared with future generations.

Find out more about DCS Curatorial and Collections Support Volunteer

Event Volunteer

Be an Event Volunteer for Defence Collective Singapore and support our exciting outreach programmes and public events. You will engage visitors, assist with activities, and play a hands-on role in creating smooth and engaging experiences for everyone.

Find out more about DCS Event Volunteer

Education Resource Development Volunteer

Be an Education Resource Development Volunteer and help shape meaningful learning experiences at Singapore Discovery Centre. You will co-create curriculum-aligned resources to enhance student engagement before and after their visits to Singapore Discovery Centre.

Find out more about DCS Education Resource Development Volunteer

SG Ready Champions form part of a Total Defence community movement to help residents be prepared to deal with disruptions such as digital connectivity and prolonged power outages. You will work with other volunteers to engage residents and share information as well as resources that help the community respond readily when needed.

Find out more about SG Ready Champion

Volunteer to be a National Education (NE) Ambassador and share NE insights and stories that help Singaporeans make sense of complex issues, our challenges, and encourage support and commitment to Singapore’s national security.

Find out more about NE Ambassador

Many Singaporeans want to contribute but not everyone is able to commit to the time and effort or meet the requirements of a military volunteer in the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC). The SG Defence Volunteer Network provides more pathways for people to serve. In addition to military roles, it includes new civilian volunteer opportunities with different levels of commitment. This allows more Singaporeans to contribute to defence in ways that suit them. The network will also allow volunteers to remain in the defence ecosystem as they transit between roles at different stages of their life cycle.

The SG Defence Volunteer Network is centrally managed by the Engagement and Volunteer Office (EVO) within Nexus, MINDEF, which works closely with SAF Volunteer Affairs Department (SVAD) and SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) as well as the various volunteer scheme owners across MINDEF, SAFRA, Defence Collective Singapore, and other agencies.

Individual volunteer schemes are managed by their respective Volunteer Scheme Owners, who are responsible for the day-to-day management of volunteers under their programmes.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email and receive an orientation introduction on what to expect as an SG Defence volunteer, so you feel confident and well-prepared for the volunteer journey.

During your service, you will be briefed before each deployment, supported with the necessary logistics and training, and receive regular feedback to help you grow in your role.

Your contributions will be recognised through a structured recognition system, including invitations to key MINDEF/SAF events and agency-level recognition platforms. As your life stage evolves, we will work with you to match you to new roles and opportunities that align with your skills and interests, ensuring you remain a valued member of the SG Defence Volunteer Network.

Your time and commitment matter to us, and we are dedicated to making your volunteer experience meaningful and fulfilling.

For civilian volunteer roles:

Once the Volunteer Scheme Owner receives your application, they will assess your suitability within 7 working days. If successful, you will receive a notification email within 14 working days, after which you will be considered a member of your respective volunteer scheme.

For SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) roles:

The SAFVC has a separate shortlisting process with a different timeline. Please refer to the FAQ on the SAFVC website for detailed information about the application process.

Please note that some roles may require additional medical or security checks, which could affect the processing time. We will keep you updated throughout the process and notify you of the outcome as soon as possible.

The SG Defence Volunteer Network welcomes anyone who wishes to contribute to Singapore's defence and resilience. For civilian volunteer roles, applicants must be at least 16 years of age and be prepared to commit for a minimum period of six months. These roles are open to a broad group, including Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, and foreigners, depending on the nature of the role.

For military volunteer roles under the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC), Singaporean women, Permanent Residents, and new citizens aged 18 to 45 are welcome to apply. Specific eligibility criteria may vary depending on the role.

For more information on available roles and eligibility criteria, please visit our website.

The SG Defence Volunteer Network offers a wide range of roles to suit different interests, skills, and availability. These include military volunteer roles with the SAFVC, as well as civilian volunteer roles. New roles are continually being created, so there is always an opportunity for you to contribute in a meaningful way. You may visit https://go.gov.sg/sgdefence to view the roles available for application.

Yes, you may volunteer for more than one scheme. We encourage volunteers to explore different opportunities across the Network, as long as you are able to meet the commitment requirements of each scheme.

Yes. One of the key features of the SG Defence Volunteer Network is the flexibility for volunteers to transition between roles as they move through different life stages. Whether your interests, availability, or circumstances change over time, we will work with you to match you to new opportunities that better suit your needs.

For example, a retiring military volunteer may transition into a civilian volunteer role, whilst a senior volunteer who may no longer be able to take on operational roles can explore lighter ambassador roles in outreach or heritage work.

Simply reach out to your Volunteer Scheme Owner or EVO to explore the options available to you.