Fact Sheet: Summary of CSNS' Public Consultation

The Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) conducted nation-wide public engagements from May to December 2013 where inputs were sought from more than 22,000 people on how to strengthen National Service (NS) through focus group discussions and various feedback channels such as the StrengthenNS.sg website, emails, and forum letters to the press. They have come from different walks of life and include Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), full-time national servicemen (NSFs), regular servicemen, parents, women, grassroots volunteers, employers and students.

In Phase 1 of the public consultation, general opinions on NS were sought based on the personal experiences of focus group participants. Participants largely affirmed that NS was necessary and critical to Singapore's security and prosperity. They felt that we should build on the firm foundation today and strengthen NS for the future. The discussions covered a wide range of perspectives and insights, broadly categorised into four broad themes:

a)    Identity and Purpose. NS strengthens national identity and social cohesion, and reinforcing the purpose of NS will motivate national servicemen to give their best in their NS roles. There were suggestions to encourage more people in the community, including women, to play a part in defence.

b)    Opportunities and Commitment. NSmen want to take on bigger roles in NS to optimise their contributions to defence. More could be done to help national servicemen with their commitments related to education, work and family. 

c)    Support and Recognition. While national servicemen carry out their duties without expecting something in return, greater community recognition and appreciation are deep sources of encouragement for them.

d)    Administration and Communication. The efficiency and effectiveness of NS administration should continue to be enhanced. Effective communication and engagement will motivate our national servicemen to serve with conviction and pride.

In Phase 2 of the public consultation, we looked deeper into the broad themes that emerged. Participants were asked to generate solutions, consider the challenges in implementing these solutions, and brainstorm ways to overcome these challenges in implementation. The consultations yielded recommendations where the NS system could be reviewed and further strengthened to enhance the contributions of our national servicemen:

a)    Providing Opportunities for the Broader Community to Contribute. We received suggestions that women and first generation PRs should be allowed to volunteer and contribute to defence in basic military roles, and supporting roles such as planning, administration and logistics. 

b)    Optimising the Contributions of National Servicemen. Discussions yielded several ideas on how to accommodate preference in deployment of servicemen into their vocations, although participants recognised the need for operational considerations to prevail. To enable servicemen to make informed decisions, relevant information about the various vocations should be made available at appropriate times.

c)    Managing Demands of NS, Work and Personal Life. Participants remarked that the administrative processes in the SAF had to be improved to help NSmen manage the demands of NS, work and personal life. Participants also suggested that employers should demonstrate stronger support for the NS commitments of their employees. There was feedback that the enlistment process could be made more flexible, and transition time to and from NS could be shortened.

d)    Recognising and Appreciating Contributions of National Servicemen. To better recognise and appreciate servicemen, participants suggested more recognition in the form of housing and healthcare benefits. Others felt the need to engage the public to create greater awareness of NS and the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force. These include better media engagement, offering guided tours of camps to the public, and improving National Education with regards to NS. In addition, some participants asked for more education and career assistance for NSFs.

A Town Hall session was also chaired by Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing to discuss proposals on a new volunteer corps and expanding opportunities for NSFs in detail.

Members of the CSNS Steering Committee and Working Groups were actively involved as facilitators and hosts during the public engagements as they sought to better understand the personal aspirations of national servicemen and what NS meant to the public.

Members of the public who are interested in the findings of the CSNS' public consultation efforts may visit www.strengthenNS.sg to find out more and continue to submit their feedback online or via email to strengthenNS@starnet.gov.sg.