Response to The Straits Times Forum Letter on "Coping with NS: Wrong to place onus on parents"

System in place to help servicemen cope with National Service

We refer to Mr Pang Thiam Chuah's letter titled "Coping with NS: Wrong to place onus on parents".

The SAF has measures in place to help pre-enlistees prepare for National Service (NS). There are also measures to help our servicemen adjust to military life and cope with training.  

Prior to enlistment, all pre-enlistees and their families are provided with a handbook on Basic Military Training (BMT) and a guidebook on "what parents should know about NS". There are also videos that can be found on cyberpioneerTV on YouTube where pre-enlistees, recruits and their parents can learn more about BMT. In addition, all pre-enlistees undergo medical and psychological tests. Those with possible psychological problems are given the appropriate counselling or psychiatric assistance upon enlistment. 

During full-time NS, every National Serviceman is interviewed regularly by his commander, which allows him to bring up problems that he may encounter during NS. In particular in BMT, commanders and orientation officers pay close attention to the common problems faced by their recruits in adjusting to NS life. Recruits are taught stress management skills and are assigned buddies who look out for one another during their daily activities. Our commanders undergo basic counselling training and mental health awareness programmes, so that they can better identify and address issues faced by their soldiers. If more specialised assistance is required, servicemen can be referred to medical officers, counsellors or SAF psychiatrists. In addition, servicemen can call a 24-hour SAF Counselling Hotline (1800-278-0022) if they need help.  

Notwithstanding these measures, servicemen must take personal responsibility and come forward should they need help during NS. Strong family support and encouragement would also help our servicemen fulfil their NS responsibilities.

We recognise the contributions of all our servicemen and thank their families for their support. We will continue to look for ways to help our servicemen fulfil their NS commitments to the best of their ability.

Colonel Desmond Tan
Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence
 
MINDEF's reply was published as "Measures in place to help servicemen cope with NS", The Straits Times, 25 Jul 2011