Updates to Initiatives for NSFs and NSmen

MINDEF/SAF continually invests in efforts to improve the National Service experience of national servicemen, including by optimising and recognising their contributions to defence.

Optimise National Servicemen’s Contributions

Job Redesign and Medical Classification System (MCS) Review. Since 2021, the SAF has redesigned 2,000 roles across 25 vocations, such as Combat Medics, Infantry Platform Operators and Army Technicians. This has enabled more than 1,800 NSFs to be deployed in a wider range of operational roles that they were previously not eligible for. To complement these efforts, MINDEF/SAF will enable more servicemen to be more meaningfully deployed based on what they can do, by reviewing the MCS to enable it to be more precise and better characterise the medical fitness and functional capacity of servicemen. More details of the MCS will be shared this year.

Work-Learn Schemes (WLS) and Early Enlistment Schemes for Polytechnic Students. MINDEF/SAF has partnered local Institutes of Higher Learning to launch the WLS^[1] in 2018 and early enlistment schemes^[2] in 2023 to allow servicemen to earn polytechnic diplomas or university credits while carrying out operational duties. With the introduction of the SAF-Polytechnic Sponsorship for Integrated Curriculum (SPS-IC) for Army Engineers and Polytechnic Maritime WLS for Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems) in 2025, there are presently a total of 10 WLS,^[3] with about 850 NSFs enrolled to date, and five early enlistment schemes, with about 60 NSFs enrolled to date.^[4] 

a. [New] SAF-Polytechnic Sponsorship for Integrated Curriculum (SPS-IC) for Army Engineers. From 2025, students can apply for the SPS-IC for Army Engineers at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Successful applicants will serve full Regular Service, and will be trained to conduct maintenance and supply chain management of the Army’s fleet platforms, weapons, equipment, and ammunition.  

b. [New] Polytechnic Maritime WLS for Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems).^[5] Since 2025, students have been able to apply for the Polytechnic Maritime WLS for Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems) at the Singapore Maritime Academy-Singapore Polytechnic. Successful applicants undergo a combination of full-time NS followed by Regular Service, acquiring essential marine engineering knowledge through deployment on the Republic of Singapore Navy’s ships, including propulsion systems, mechanical tools handling, air conditioning, firefighting and plant systems.  

Expertise-Based Redeployment during ORNS. In 2022, the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme (EEDS) was launched. This enables the expertise redeployment of NSmen at any point in their ORNS Cycle, to units where they can contribute their civilian expertise required by the SAF. To date, over 850 NSmen were redeployed to over 20 areas of expertise, including legal, counselling, intelligence and digital.

[New] Harnessing the Niche Skills of NSmen. Beyond redeployments, MINDEF/SAF has also increased opportunities for NSmen to draw upon their civilian expertise when serving in their NS roles. For instance, the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) will be deploying NSmen with niche cyber expertise to relevant Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) sectors, starting later in 2026. This will be done through Sectoral Cyber Defence Teams (SCDTs), which includes Regulars and NSFs, to support national efforts to defend Singapore’s CIIs against sophisticated cyber threats.  

Recognise and Support National Servicemen’s Contributions to Defence

[New] Career and Skills Passport (CSP). To enhance the employability of our national servicemen in civilian jobs, MINDEF/SAF will partner SkillsFuture Singapore to better recognise transferable skills that our national servicemen acquire during service. From the second half of 2026, a trial with selected SAF Training Institutes will be conducted, in which certificates acquired by each national serviceman during full-time NS and operationally ready NS will be onboarded and displayed in the national serviceman’s CSP. Industry-related skills will be mapped to these certificates, providing a government-verified record and enhancing their employability. 

[New] SAFRA’s Evolving Role in Supporting the NS Community and Building Up Broader Community Support for Defence.  

a. SAFRA will strengthen its ability to support the NS community through engagements and offerings that are catered to the distinct needs of national servicemen through different stages of life. This includes hosting quarterly SkillsFuture@NS fairs to support NSFs’ post-NS transition, NS experience camps^[6] for families, and providing opportunities for NSmen to provide support to other NSmen and reconnect with their former units.

b. SAFRA will build community-wide support for defence and deepen community engagement through NSmen. SAFRA will work with community and defence partners to organise events for the public to learn more about defence, including the inaugural SAFRA Community Defence & Resilience Festival^[7] in Q1 2027, and an NS-inspired fitness festival^[8] in Q3 2026. SAFRA will expand opportunities for NSmen to lead defence-related community engagements through partnerships with grassroots organisations, schools, and local businesses. SAFRA will also collaborate with Nexus and other agencies to enable youth, women and other individuals to contribute to defence initiatives, as part of the SG Defence Volunteers Network.  

^[1] Servicemen who sign up for WLS undergo a combination of full-time NS followed by Regular service.

^[2] Early enlistment schemes allow polytechnic students to enlist one year earlier than their schoolmates and complete their final-year internship requirements while serving in the SAF. 

^[3] The 10 WLS are: Cyber Specialists, Army Technicians, Air Force Technicians, Army Supply Supervisors, Digital Specialists, Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems/Electrical and Control Systems), Army Medic Specialists, NSF Trainers, Polytechnic Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems), and Polytechnic Cyber Specialists.

^[4] The five early enlistment schemes are: SPS-IC for Army Engineers; SPS-IC for Naval Warfare System Experts; Polytechnic Maritime WLS for Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems); SPS-IC for Air Force Engineers (Maintenance); and Polytechnic Cyber Specialists WLS.

^[5] The Polytechnic Maritime WLS for Naval Warfare System Specialists (Marine Systems) is considered both a WLS and an early enlistment scheme.

^[6] SAFRA will scale up its defence-themed experiential camps such as youth, women and family boot camps to deepen Total Defence awareness and family support for NS. 

^[7] The SAFRA Community Defence & Resilience Festival will be held at multiple sites across Singapore and feature defence-themed activities for masses. There will be showcases of military equipment from the SAF, and exhibits where the community can learn more about the SAF’s defence capabilities. 

^[8] The NS-inspired fitness festival will comprise a fitness race and a series of programmes leading up to the race that is co-organised with People’s Association and NTUC.