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Fact Sheet: Recognising Skills Acquired in NS through Workforce Skills Qualification Accreditation
3 March 2017
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National Service (NS) exists to fulfil the critical need of national security and defence. In enabling our national servicemen to perform their roles, they undergo training and education in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the level of competency in many of the skills attained by national servicemen, such as leadership, technical and specialist skills, also meet the professional standards accepted by industries.
The Committee to Strengthen NS (CSNS) was set up in March 2013 to examine how the NS system could be strengthened for the future, to better serve Singapore and Singaporeans. One of its recommendations was for skills learned during full-time NS to receive Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) accreditation as a means to further enhance the value proposition of NS and facilitate full-time National Servicemen's (NSFs') transition back to studies or the workplace. The Ministry of Defence and the SAF have collaborated with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) to expand accreditation efforts across the SAF to reflect the leadership, technical, and specialist skills acquired during NS under the WSQ.
Accreditation of Military Competencies
There are currently 23 SAF courses accredited, which includes leadership, medical, and logistics management courses. The SAF's Basic Military Training (BMT) was recently accredited under the WSQ in December 2016, and more than 96% of the NSFs who enlist from January 2017 onwards will receive WSQ accreditation annually. NSFs will receive several SOAs up to a WSQ Certificate or Higher Certificate, with Commanders receiving additional accreditation for their leadership skills. Several examples are listed as follows:
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Example 1 | An NSF can receive two SOAs under the Employability Skills WSQ framework upon graduation from PES A/B BMT. |
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Example 2 | A Naval Officer can receive a WSQ Advanced (Level 3) Certificate under the Leadership and People Management WSQ framework upon graduation from Officer Cadet School. |
Example 3 | A Flight Line Crew Specialist can receive an SOA under the Aerospace WSQ framework upon graduation from the Flight Line Crew – Fixed Wing Course. |
Example 4 | A 9 SIR Trooper can receive a WSQ (Level 1) Certificate under the Security WSQ framework upon graduation from the 9 SIR Protection of Installation Course. |
Example 5 | A Supply Specialist can receive a WSQ (Level 1) Certificate under the Generic Manufacturing Skills (Logistics) WSQ framework upon graduation from the Supply Specialist Cadet Course. |
NSFs who have received WSQ accreditation during their full-time NS may choose to take up additional WSQ courses on their own to attain a higher level of certification. The SAF will continue to work with SSG to accredit relevant leadership, technical and specialist skills acquired during NS, with the vision for all NSFs to achieve WSQ accreditation at the end of their full-time NS.
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