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Fact Sheet: Key Achievements of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD)

27 July 2024

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Launch of TD 1984. Immediately after ACCORD was introduced in 1984, it gave MINDEF feedback on the proposed concept of Total Defence (TD) before it was announced to the public. ACCORD also played an important role in the efforts to introduce the TD concept to Singaporeans, for example, the introduction of TD in schools and the launch of the TD logo competition to raise awareness of TD.

RECORD IV 2006. ACCORD accepted the recommendation from the fourth committee to Recognise the Contribution of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence (RECORD IV), viz. to (a) engage employers and families on TD; (b) help Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) transit to work/study; and (c) conduct National Education and build public confidence in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

CSNS 2017. ACCORD successfully implemented 18 initiatives recommended by the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) in 2017, including the creation of three sub-councils that would take a more pro-active approach to engage the business, education and community sectors. Other CSNS initiatives implemented by ACCORD include the introduction of NS Mark, more community-led initiatives that recognise the contributions of national servicemen and raise awareness of NS, and National Education talks by the SAF Veterans’ League to impart core national values to the younger generation to boost support for defence.

Total Defence 40 (TD40) 2024. As part of efforts to commemorate 40 years of TD, ACCORD contributed significantly to the strong participation and success of the inaugural Ex SG Ready Total Defence Exercise and TD40 Convention.

Other 2022 to 2024 Initiatives. The other ACCORD initiatives which supported NS and TD completed between 2022 and 2024 include:

  1. ACCORD Employer & Business (E&B) Council recognised 347 business partners for supporting NS and NSmen at the Total Defence Awards Dinner 2022 and 2023. The council also engaged businesses, reaching approximately 57,000 NSmen through Trade Associations & Chambers (TACs) to strengthen support for NS. To increase recognition of transferable skills acquired during NS and enhance support for the professional development of NSmen, the council established two inaugural skills-based Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) to offer concessionary rates for NSmen and NS Mark (Gold) companies to upskill, reskill and promote life-long learning.

  2. ACCORD Family & Community (F&C) Council engaged over 1,000 Singaporean families through Pre-NS Talks. The council also expanded efforts to increase support for NS abroad, engaging over 2,000 pre-enlistees and their loved ones both in Singapore and 14 overseas countries through virtual visits to the Basic Military Training Centre. The outreach to increase the community and women’s support for NS and advocacy for NS and TD nearly doubled. Initiatives like We Support NS Campaign saw an increase from 285 to 572 participating merchants, while the participation for the Defence Immersion Programme for Women doubled as compared to previous years.

  3. ACCORD Educational Institutions (EI) Council prepared over 11,500 pre-enlistees (in Foreign System Schools and Privately Funded Institutions, as well as in all MOE Schools, ITE and Polys) for NS through conducting NS Info Sharing Sessions. The Council also engaged more than 13,000 students in the Institutes of Higher Learning to play their part for TD by taking part in Table-Top Exercises. The council also engaged over 3,000 post-NS youths to strengthen their commitment to Singapore and encouraged them to play their part for TD through related programmes driven by the universities and National Youth Council Youth Leadership Programmes.

For more details on the Key Achievements of ACCORD from 2022 to 2024, please visit https://go.gov.sg/accord-achievements-2022-2024. For more information on ACCORD, please visit https://www.mindef.gov.sg/about-us/community-engagement/accord.

Summary of Key Achievements of ACCORD from 2022 to 2024

More Resources

More Singaporeans Taking Action for Total Defence with Support from ACCORD

Fact Sheet: Total Defence Sandbox Initiative and its Projects

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