Press Release on Joseph Schooling's NS Deferment till the 2020 Olympics -- Statement by Defence Minister

MINDEF joins all Singaporeans in congratulating Mr Joseph Schooling for winning Singapore's first ever Olympic Gold medal in our 51 years as a nation and second, establishing the first Olympic Record by a Singaporean. These are spectacular achievements which have brought national glory to Singapore and filled our entire nation with pride.

In October 2013, I informed Parliament that Mr Schooling who was due for enlistment into National Service (NS) in 2014 had applied for deferment to train for and compete in the 2016 Olympics. I stated the existing conditions for which all requests for deferment from full-time NS may be granted, i.e. "in exceptional circumstances to individual sportsmen, who are assessed to be potential medal winners at international competitions like the Olympic Games and bring national pride for the country. Individuals will have to show why deferment is necessary for them to train full-time and compete successfully at international competitions. Each case will be assessed individually in consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)." These conditions have been the consistent basis on which previous appeals had been granted to other sportsmen (refer to the Annex for the past cases).

As Mr Schooling's appeal in 2013 satisfied all prescribed conditions, the Armed Forces Council granted the application for deferment. From 2013 to the 2016 Olympics, Mr Schooling has been exemplary in fulfilling the raison d’etre for his deferment - he trained hard and met all performance milestones on his way to Olympic glory. The rest of his achievements are, as they say, now the stuff of Olympic and Singapore legend.

MINDEF has since received a request from Mr Joseph Schooling and his parents to extend his deferment to train for and compete in the 2020 Olympic Games. MCCY supports the request.

Today, the Armed Forces Council approved Mr Joseph Schooling's request for extension of his deferment and for him to be enlisted for NS after the 2020 Olympic Games.

Together with all of Singapore, MINDEF wishes Mr Schooling continued success in the next Olympic Games.

Defence Minister