Minister for Defence Leads CSNS Delegation to Study Finnish Conscription

Dr Ng meeting with Finnish Defence Minister Carl Haglund.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen led a delegation comprising members from the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) on a visit to Finland from 16 to 17 October 2013 to study its conscription system. The delegation included Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman and Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs Dr Lim Wee Kiak.

During the visit, Dr Ng met with Finnish Minister of Defence Carl Haglund, State Secretary to the Minister of Defence Marcus Rantala, Permanent Secretary of Defence Lieutenant General Arto Räty, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces General Ari Puheloinen, and Chairman of the Finnish Parliament's Defence Committee Jussi Niinistö. Dr Ng's visit underscores the friendly defence relations between Singapore and Finland.

The delegation was briefed on Finland's security and defence policy, and its conscription system. The delegation noted that public support for conscription in Finland is high. In a survey conducted in 2012, more than 70% of the public supported the conscription system. The delegation also learnt more about the voluntary military service available to women since 1995. Each year, about 400 Finnish women are accepted as volunteer military conscripts.

The delegation visited the Finnish Armoured Brigade in Parolannummi to learn more about basic, vocational and leadership training for military conscripts. The delegation was also briefed on how conscripts' aptitudes and preferences are taken into consideration for deployment. During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity to interact with conscripts and witnessed their rigorous training.

At the end of the visit, Dr Ng highlighted that "even though Singapore's security and domestic landscape is different from Finland, it is useful to study the conscription system of Finland and learn from their experiences. Like Singapore, Finland guards its independence and sovereignty fiercely, having been colonised and occupied in its past. Even after nearly a century, it has still kept its commitment to conscription for this primary purpose. It has been a meaningful trip for the CSNS delegation as we consider how to build on the strong public support for National Service in Singapore by expanding opportunities for the broader community to contribute to national defence, and optimise the contributions of national servicemen."

The visit is part of the CSNS' effort to study best practices in other countries as it examines measures to strengthen NS in Singapore. The delegation is currently in Switzerland studying its conscription system.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen interacting with Finnish conscripts after their field training.

Dr Ng laying a wreath at the Hietaniemi Cemetery.