Response to The Straits Times Forum Letters on Enlistment for National Service (NS)

MINDEF clarifies National Service enlistment policy

I refer to the recent letters on enlistment for National Service (NS), both in the print and online editions of the Forum.

MINDEF enlists National Service (NS)-liable males into full-time NS after they turn 18 years of age. Those deferred for studies up to 'A' Levels, diploma or their equivalent level, are enlisted after completion of their studies and after 18 years of age. Enlistment intakes are scheduled to meet the operational needs of the Singapore Armed Forces, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force. Our enlistment schedule accommodates more than 20,000 enlistees every year, who complete their studies in different institutions at different times. Apart from operational considerations and practical capacity constraint, individual circumstances, such as his medical condition and physical fitness, will also play a part in affecting when he receives his enlistment notice.

MINDEF'sNS enlistment is carried out over four quarters starting in March, June, September and December. The majority of pre-enlistees graduate from local Junior Colleges (JC), Polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). Upon completion of their studies, JC graduates are generally enlisted in the December and March quarterly intakes, Polytechnic students in the June and September quarterly intakes, while ITE students are generally enlisted over the next three quarterly enlistment intakes following their graduation.

Those who do not fall in the categories above include those pursuing studies in a private school, or those not studying. Their enlistment will be after they have turned 18 years of age or after they have completed up to their 'A' levels, diploma or equivalent studies, whichever is later. Those who complete their 'A' levels or equivalent studies are enlisted at the same time as those in their cohort who studied in Singapore JCs. They are thus no better off or worse off than their cohort who studied in Singapore JCs. Like all pre-enlistees, they will be notified of the exact date of enlistment two months before the enlistment.

Pre-enlistees who require an indication of their enlistment date in advance may email the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) at cmpb@starnet.gov.sg. For general queries on enlistment matters, members of the public may contact the 24-hour NS Call Centre on 1800 3676767 or visit the website www.ns.sg.

Colonel Desmond Tan
Director, Public Affairs
Ministry of Defence

MINDEF's reply was published as "NS enlistment - the way dates are scheduled", The Straits Times, 14 Mar 2011, Pg A31