Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing hosted the annual Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Volunteers’ Dinner this evening to recognise the contributions, support and commitment of 405 MINDEF volunteers serving on 38 MINDEF boards and committees. Held annually since 1998, the MINDEF Volunteers’ Dinner serves to thank volunteers for their invaluable contributions and support for MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Speaking at the dinner, Mr Chan acknowledged the vital contributions of volunteers, emphasising the need for a whole-of-nation approach to dealing with an expanded spectrum of operational challenges. He said, “Going forward, because of the different skill sets that we need across the different operations, we will be able to expand the volunteer opportunities across the entire SAF for people from different backgrounds, different skill sets, different fitness levels. To achieve this, MINDEF will start a new unit. It will be a new volunteer management unit, whereby the unit will work with various existing units to make sure that we expand the opportunities for our people to contribute to the defence of this country.” More details on the new volunteer management unit will be shared in the coming months.  

Mr Chan highlighted the importance of contributing to the nation’s defence. He said, “The power of the SAF is not just about the men and women in uniform. It is about how able we are to mobilise the whole of society to look at every aspect of our defence. Each and every Singaporean can bring something to the SAF warfighting and peace time capabilities.”

The volunteers serving on MINDEF boards and committees are industry experts in both the private and public sectors. Their contributions in diverse sectors areas such as training safety, medical advice, legal counsel, strategic communications, technology, sustainability, and public outreach allow MINDEF to stay updated on industry best practices and organisational processes. Through their extensive networks, the volunteers also serve as the link between MINDEF and the public by promoting public awareness on defence and inspiring support for National Service.

Also present at the dinner were Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad, and Minister of State for Defence Mr Desmond Choo, as well as senior officials from MINDEF and the SAF.