NSmen and Employers Reaffirm Commitment to Defence

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen (centre) joined the Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen), employers, and senior Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) commanders in reaffirming their commitment to the defence of Singapore, as they recited the SAF Pledge earlier this morning at the first of four rededication ceremonies, which was held at Temasek Polytechnic.

More than 460 Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) from about 380 companies and their employers gathered for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Day Combined Rededication Ceremonies held at four locations around Singapore this morning to reaffirm their commitment to the defence of Singapore.

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiated at the rededication ceremony held at Temasek Polytechnic, where he delivered the SAF Day message to remind Singaporeans of the importance of a strong and capable SAF to protect the nation's sovereignty and our way of life. He said, "This year's SAF Day is special because we are commemorating 50 years of National Service… As a small country with limited manpower, we could not have built today's strong SAF without the commitment and whole-hearted support of national servicemen." Dr Ng added, "The SAF must stay active and alert against the threats to our security.…We live in troubled and violent times and must guard against extremist terrorists who would do us harm, whether it is here or abroad… A strong SAF will be maintained as the most effective deterrence against potential aggressors. But the SAF can only be as strong as its individual soldiers, so each national serviceman and Regular must give his and her best to protect our beloved Singapore. This SAF day, let us all solemnly pledge to defend our home and fellow Singaporeans -- our families, friends, colleagues and neighbours."

Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Manpower Mr Lim Swee Say, and Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad officiated at the other three Combined Rededication Ceremonies held at The JTC Summit, Singapore Institute of Technology @Dover, Procter & Gamble's Singapore Innovation Center respectively.

The Combined Rededication Ceremonies this year featured an NS50 Pledge Ceremony to commemorate 50 years of National Service (NS). A total of 372 participating companies signed the NS Mark[1] Declaration of Support -- which symbolises the collective commitment of employers in catalysing a societal movement in support of our NSmen as they tirelessly preserve and protect the peace and stability of our nation -- to pledge their support for NS.

[1] The NS Mark is a national-level accreditation scheme that recognises businesses and organisations that have policies and human resource practices in place that support NS and our NSmen. It aims to encourage businesses to adopt a more NS-friendly workplace culture that helps our NSmen to fulfil their NS obligations, while balancing their work and family commitments.

More Resources

SAF Day 2017 Message

Fact Sheet: SAF Day 2017 Combined Rededication Ceremonies

Dr Ng (standing, second from right) witnessing the signing of the NS Mark Declaration of Support.

Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Mr Lim Hng Kiang (first row, ninth from left) reciting the SAF Pledge with NSmen, employers, and senior SAF commanders at The JTC Summit.

Mr Lim (standing, middle) witnessing the signing of the NS Mark Declaration of Support.

Minister for Manpower Mr Lim Swee Say (second from right) reciting the SAF Pledge with NSmen, employers, and senior SAF commanders at SIT@Dover.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad (extreme right) reciting the SAF Pledge with NSmen, employers, and senior SAF commanders at Procter & Gamble's Singapore Innovation Centre.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli (standing, second from left) witnessing the signing of the NS Mark Declaration of Support.