The Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) was established in January 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on MINDEF/SAF's policies and other issues related to defence. It has since progressed to an action-oriented platform to encourage and implement ground-up initiatives which support National Service (NS) and defence. Within two years, ACCORD has implemented all 18 proposals that were submitted to MINDEF in February 2015. With Dr Maliki's guidance, ACCORD has deepened engagement with employers, businesses, families, community and educational institutions and developed numerous ground-up initiatives, supported by various sectors of society to commemorate 50 years of NS. 

Supporting Pre-enlistees 

To help pre-enlistee students get fit for NS, Temasek Polytechnic and the three ITE Colleges piloted fitness programmes in 2015 and have seen improvements in the IPPT pass rate of the participating students. The Post-Secondary Education Institutions (PSEIs) also invited their alumni to share their NS experiences. ACCORD has reached out to Foreign System Schools and Privately Funded Institutions to organise similar alumni sharing sessions.

Supporting NSFs 

The inaugural Enhanced Career and Education Fair was organised in November 2015 to give full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) more targeted job-matching opportunities and a wider range of learning and career options after full-time NS. This fair continues to be held quarterly.

Supporting NSmen 

To help NSmen better manage their NS In-Camp Training (ICT) duties and academic commitments, our universities(1) have worked with MINDEF through ACCORD to minimise scheduling academic programmes during specific periods in their vacation windows for ICT. 

Strengthening Employer Support for NS 

To raise employers' awareness on defence and NS issues, the Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) in ACCORD actively engaged their business networks through various platforms including organising visits to ICTs to provide employers of NSmen with a first-hand understanding of their employees' NS training experience. ACCORD also led the conceptualisation and development of the NS Mark accreditation scheme in August 2016 to recognise a broad base of businesses and organisations with policies and human resource practices that support NS and our NSmen. 

Strengthening Family Support for NS

ACCORD has collaborated with Families for Life Council (FFLC) since 2015 and engaged some 6800 NSFs, NSmen and their families at the annual "Families For Life Celebrations" event. 

Strengthening Community Support for NS 

As part of NS50, ACCORD (through People's Association (PA) and SAFRA) garnered the support of over 350 retailers and merchants to be part of "We Support YOU in NS" to show their appreciation for national servicemen by offering discounts and benefits beyond the NS week. ACCORD also partnered the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) to launch '#NeverAgainSG', a social media Total Defence movement to raise awareness of the significance of 15 Feb (Fall of Singapore). In 2017, National Youth Council (NYC) joined the movement, allowing active participation by youths in Singapore.

Ground-Up Initiatives to Commemorate NS50 

Workplace -- Through ACCORD, NS50 Pledge Ceremonies were incorporated into this year's SAF Day Combined Rededication Ceremonies on 30 June 2017, where close to 400 employers pledged their support for NS by signing the NS Mark Declaration of Support. 

Community -- ACCORD has also encouraged initiatives in organisations to appreciate and recognise National Servicemen such as SAFRA's "We Salute our NSmen" campaign and PA's public appreciation messages for our national servicemen. 

Families -- In conjunction with Army Open House 2017, Centre for Fathering, through ACCORD, organised a 2D1N "Dads For Life" NS50 camp from 28 to 29 May 2017 for over 200 pairs of father and child participants. Through ACCORD, FFLC and the Singapore Discovery Centre jointly organised a 'Celebrating NS50' Picnic on 5 Aug 2017 and more than 700 families participated. 
 
Youth and Students -- For NS50, "The Good Word Project" produced a three-part inspirational video series related to NS. Through ACCORD, the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) and about 50 students also came together to distribute more than 350 windmill flowers to national servicemen from the SAF and Home Team at Choa Chu Kang and Boon Lay MRT stations on 26 May 2017.