Written Reply by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen to Parliamentary Question on Career Progression of Retired Regular Specialists

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) for each year from 2016 to 2021 how many regular specialists who were not Warrant Officers retired from the SAF by the age of 50; and (b) whether the Ministry tracks the career progression of these retired specialists and, if so, what are the top five jobs taken up by them upon retirement.

Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen:

Between 2016 and 2021, about 120 each year or 7% of all Specialists who were not Warrant Officers left the SAF to pursue careers in other sectors, before the age of 50.

Specialists retiring from the SAF, typically close to or at the age of 50, are provided with the career transition support which includes dedicated career coaching, as well as funds and time-off for courses, job interviews, and internships to transit into their next job role. Based on surveys conducted by our Career Transition Resource Centre, the majority of the retiring specialists who intend to continue working are able to secure jobs in roles such as training, security, operations and administration.