Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Heng Chee How, at the MINDEF Committee of Supply Debate 2020

ENHANCING THE NS EXPERIENCE

Introduction

Mr Chairman, Minister for Defence Dr Ng just spoke about how our geopolitical environment was becoming increasingly complex. The SAF must evolve with these challenges to mount a strong national defence. What remains our greatest asset is our people, with National Service, or NS, as the cornerstone of our defence. MINDEF and the SAF must therefore continue to invest in capable national servicemen, enrich their NS experience, and strengthen Singaporeans' support for NS.

Strengthening Training Safety and Medical Support in the SAF

The SAF is committed to training our national servicemen effectively and safely. Families entrust their sons to us. We must and we will uphold their trust in us.

Mr Charles Chong asked about improvements to training safety. Last February, the SAF Inspector-General's Office, or IGO, was formed to scrutinise and enforce safety measures in SAF units. IGO inspectors go to each unit to assess the robustness of their safety systems, as well as their practices. They interview servicemen at every level – from commanders, to safety appointment holders and soldiers in order to understand how safety measures are practised on the ground and whether the soldiers themselves feel confident and comfortable to provide feedback on safety. The IGO has already audited 70% of all formations and their sub-units across the SAF, and they will complete this first round of audits by September this year.

Safety audits aside, there must also be concrete and consistent action at all levels and at all times. The Army has introduced 100% inspections of all high-risk activities and field training. Existing equipment are regularly reviewed, while new equipment are designed with inbuilt safety features. For instance, the newly commissioned Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle comes with emergency stop features, as well as audio and visual alerts to prompt the crew about surrounding hazards.

As Mr Arasu pointed out, we want every soldier to consciously keep safe while they train, so it is not a compromise. To achieve this, unit commanders conduct before- and after-action reviews and risk assessments with their units as part of their daily work. The 6th Army Maintenance Base is an example. During morning roll calls, their commanders and soldiers discuss openly about possible lapses or near-misses. For example, if you use the wrong tools, or soldiers not wearing the helmets, and so on. Using a simple Think-Check-Do routine, the soldiers systematically plan their steps, check their equipment, and pre-empt risks before each maintenance task. Over time, every soldier will internalise these safety practices.

We are also harnessing technology. Last year, I spoke about 'SafeGuardian', which is a one-stop mobile app for on-the-go access to safety checklists, instant sharing of hazards among servicemen, and notification of danger zones. By placing safety information within easy and instant reach of our servicemen, we foster a culture of safety, 'By All, For All'. The app was trialled in our Naval Bases, and feedback has been positive. We will be progressively rolling this out throughout the SAF.

I have spoken thus far about preventive measures to keep our soldiers safe as they train. Mr Charles Chong asked how the SAF is improving its response to medical emergencies when accidents happen. SAF Medics undergo an 11-week training on life-saving skills. To enhance their competencies, the SAF has partnered the SCDF, under an initiative known as Project Serve, to create a six-month attachment within the SCDF's national emergency ambulances. In other words, the SAF medics go with the SCDF paramedics in their ambulances, attending to real cases. And by doing so, they put their knowledge into practice under real-life, time-pressured situations. Recently, we also piloted the attachment of our medics to the NUH Emergency Medicine Department. Such hands-on trainings are very valuable for our medics – they have emerged from such trainings more confident and more competent in casualty management. Discussions are currently underway with both the SCDF and the other hospitals to extend and expand such programmes.

Through these initiatives, we will build a capable fighting force that will always train effectively and safely.

Moving from safety to health, Mr Seah Kian Peng asked about the precautionary measures that the SAF has put in place to protect our servicemen in light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat. MINDEF/SAF takes reference from the government's advisories, guidelines, and requirements. We gave pre-enlistees who have travelled to China and are due for enlistment a mandatory Leave of Absence (LOA) of 14 days, and deferred In-Camp Training for NSmen who have travelled to China. Last week, we extended these measures to pre-enlistees and NSmen who have travelled to Daegu City or to Cheongdo County in South Korea, in line with the Ministry of Health's (MOH) revised advisory. In other words, we keep a very close eye on the situation and we adjust accordingly. All SAF Medical Centres have a Pandemic Readiness Response Plan, and we hold sufficient supplies of Personal Protective Equipment. We also have medical personnel ready to manage suspect cases in line with MOH's requirements. With the change to DORSCON Orange, the SAF has also stepped up preventive measures within camps, requiring our personnel to take their temperature twice-daily, conducting more frequent disinfection of workplaces, as well as staggering meal times. We will continue to do our utmost to protect our servicemen.

Enhancing the NS Experience for Every National Serviceman

Let me now talk about enhancing the NS experience. While our robust training safety measures and medical support give our soldiers the confidence to train well and to train hard, the enduring strength of the SAF ultimately rests on the commitment of our soldiers. This is why we constantly look for ways to improve the NS experience for every serviceman, at every stage of his NS journey. This point was raised by Mr Chong Kee Hiong.

Preparing Pre-Enlistees Adequately

For pre-enlistees, we are better preparing them for NS, both physically and mentally. As Mr Chong Kee Hiong pointed out, our pre-enlistees come from diverse backgrounds. While the vast majority are citizens born and bred in Singapore and have family members that have undergone NS, there are also new citizens and PRs who may not have family or friends who have undergone NS before. In other words, they may know less compared to Singaporeans born and bred here. To better equip this group, we have partnered ACCORD to appoint dedicated NS Coordinators in Foreign System Schools and Privately Funded Institutions in order to assist with questions and clarifications about NS. We are also facilitating mutual learning and exchange among such NS coordinators. One such exchange was hosted by the United World College (South East Asia) last year. I was there and the discussions were very enriching, frank and open. Everybody found it very useful. There will be another round, and I look forward to attending it as well.

We are also aware that many pre-enlistees want to be more physically prepared before they enter NS. Hence, MINDEF is collaborating with SAFRA to make gym facilities more accessible through the Pre-Enlistees Exercise Programme for National Service, or PREP4NS. Under PREP4NS, pre-enlistees can sign up for a one-year complimentary membership to six SAFRA gyms conveniently located in different parts of Singapore. The trial is ongoing, and so far, we have about 6,000 pre-enlistees signed up for the membership since its launch last November. We are also looking at more such avenues, and for this, we are working with SportSG to extend the membership access to its 24 ActiveSG gyms. More details on this will be provided later.

Supporting Aspirations of our NSFs

 Let me move on now to our full-time national servicemen, or NSFs. NSFs devote two full years to serving the nation. It is therefore incumbent upon us as stewards of their time and talents to make sure that we support their aspirations.

Take for instance, the Vocational Interest initiative. This was started in 2016, and under this initiative NSFs may indicate their interest in 33 NS vocations, and what MINDEF/SAF does is that we do our best to match them as far as possible to the vocation of their choice, subject to our operational requirements. This has been very well-received amongst the NSFs. We are encouraged to see more than 60% indicate interest in demanding vocations such as in Infantry, Guards, or Armour, and strong interest by our NSFs to also become commanders.

To help our NSFs acquire new skills as they transit to studies or work after their Operationally Ready Date (or ORD), MINDEF introduced the "SkillsFuture@NS"initiative last year where NSFs can use their $350 worth of E-PREP credits, and they may access training and choose from a pool of about 3,000 courses. These courses range from SkillsFuture Series courses, to those offered by Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), that will aid NSFs in their admission or gain them credit exemptions. Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked for an update on this.

For this year, we will be introducing further enhancements. First, NSFs can look forward to a full subsidy of the E-PREP courses, as opposed to allowing the E-PREP credits to fund up to 90%, as is the case currently. You can fund it all.

Second, we will raise the number of E-PREP courses that are available, expanding the pool of E-PREP courses. I am excited to share that two new institutions are coming on-board to offer E-PREP courses – namely, the National University of Singapore and the Institute of Technical Education – bringing the number of E-PREP partners to nine. For our existing E-PREP partners, we have also worked closely with them to expand their course offerings. So with these additions, NSFs across the SAF and the Home Team will be able to enjoy a pool of some 4,000 courses, up 1,000 from last year, from 1 April this year. Out of these, close to 100 courses will be credit-bearing, as they undertake further studies. This compares with 26 courses the year before.

Recognising Contributions of All Servicemen

In order to recognise the contributions of our NS personnel, we have also increased the monthly NS allowance quantums from their current levels, which varies according to your rank and vocational deployment. They will go up by an additional $70 to $120. And this will be applicable to NSFs and NSmen in the SAF and the Home Team, covering all ranks and vocations, from 1 March 2020. Mr Douglas Foo brought this up, and I thank him for that.

Leveraging Technology to Better Serve Our National Servicemen

As we continue to place our national servicemen at the heart of what we do, we also constantly ask ourselves – how can we serve ever more efficiently and effectively? This is why we are applying digital technologies to various facets of NS, from administration and training to healthcare. Ms Joan Pereira asked about this. So, allow me to share some information.

For our servicemen, their NS journey begins at the Central Manpower Base, or CMPB. Over the years, we have enhanced the experience at CMPB for pre-enlistees. Infrared scanners were introduced in 2015 to measure body dimensions quickly and accurately. A real-time queue management system and facial recognition technology are also on trial for a more seamless experience.

Come June this year, we will complement these on-site enhancements with improved e-services to provide our pre-enlistees an even more hassle-free experience of completing most transactions online. For instance, pre-enlistees will be able to complete their bond and exit permit application in a single online application and transaction, instead of the separate applications and transactions that they currently have to do. Pre-enlistees will also be able to monitor the progress of their applications online. As for the new NS Hub to be completed in 2023, which Mr Arasu asked about, it will integrate smart technologies, such as biometric identification and other initiatives on trial at the CMPB today. And this, we expect, will cut waiting time by about a third.

Another initiative is 'Virtual Care', and under 'Virtual Care', medical officers in the SAF use technologies such as digital stethoscopes and video conferencing tools to diagnose effectively and prescribe treatment for common ailments remotely. Last year, this service was piloted at two SAF medical centres. It has proven to be convenient and it also allows the diagnosis to be done faster because you do not have to wait for the doctor and the patient to physically meet, as applied to common ailments. This has made medical services more accessible, more convenient, and has reduced wait times.

Our Defence: A Role for All to Play

I have just spoken about MINDEF and the SAF's efforts to provide the best possible experience for every national serviceman. As Mr Ang Hin Kee highlighted, our families, businesses, schools and community groups are also key pillars of support. Through the ACCORD, we will continue to appreciate and rally strong societal support for NS. My deepest appreciation to ACCORD members especially for contributing their ideas and for so proactively putting their initiatives into action within their respective communities.

The business community, for example, has stepped up to show appreciation for our soldiers. Earlier, Mr Douglas Foo has also elaborated on what the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) as a business federation has done. Under the "We Support NS campaign", over 540 merchants, businesses and hawkers last year offered a wide selection of discounts to past and present national servicemen. Amongst them is Mr Anthony Low, hawker-owner and the Chairman of Boon Lay Hawker's Association. What Mr Low did was to rally more than 60 hawker stalls within his association's membership to provide privileges to national servicemen, after seeing how his son had toughened up through NS. In so many different and individual ways, we can make a difference, so every effort and gesture is appreciated. To thank the businesses for their support, we held the inaugural "We Support NS"Appreciation Function last year, and we thanked more than 200 merchants who came to meet us. We hope that the momentum can be kept up.

Likewise, ACCORD has engaged the communities – different communities – in multiple ways to continue fostering wide and deep support for NS. This journey never ends, and in the context of what was discussed, the need for total defence in all its dimensions is something that we have to keep doing, and press on.

Conclusion

Mr Chairman, through continued whole-of-society commitment to our defence, we will demonstrate our will and resolve to protect Singapore's freedom and sovereignty, come what may.

Thank you.

More Resources

Fact Sheet on Enhancing the National Service Experience

Fact Sheet on Ensuring a Robust Training Safety System