Reply by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen to Parliamentary Question on Deployment of NSFs to Navy Shipboard Vocations

Ms Mary Liew: To ask the Minister for Defence whether the Ministry will consider allowing National Servicemen to state their preferred vocations and give priority for navy shipboard vocations to maritime graduates pursuing sea careers; and whether shipboard officers' service can be recognised as National Service for seafaring graduates who commit to three years of working onboard ships.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen: Madam, in deploying National Servicemen to some vocations, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) does take into account the individual's aptitude and suitability to fulfil the required tasks and operational roles. These personal considerations are balanced against the priority to train and generate combat and supporting units to defend Singapore. The Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS), which I chair, is presently studying how to expand the number of vocations where the individual's aptitude and preference is considered while still maintaining or strengthening our defence capabilities. I think this was the gist of Ms Mary Liew's question.

The NMP also asked about maritime sector qualifications, and indeed maritime sector qualification is one of several factors that the SAF takes into account when deploying full-time National Servicemen to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). Let me give some details on the relevant qualifications. It includes Diplomas in Nautical Studies, Maritime Transportation and Marine Engineering as well as Higher National Institute of Technical Education Certificates (NITEC) in Marine Offshore Engineering. National Servicemen (NSmen), who have suitable maritime sector qualifications such as the Certificate of Competency issued by the Maritime Port Authority (MPA) may be deployed to the RSN to serve their National Service (NS). The member has also suggested that civilian shipboard service be recognised as NS. This would be unwise and inequitable, as it would erode the support for NS, where every enlistee performs his duties, whether it is within the Singapore Police Force (SPF), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) or the SAF.