Written Reply by Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing to Parliamentary Question on SG Defence Volunteer Network on 9 Sep 2026

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence in respect of the call for performing arts volunteers under the SG Defence Volunteer Network (a) how many volunteers the Ministry aims to recruit; (b) what criteria distinguish roles filled by volunteers from roles commissioned to paid professionals; and (c) whether any of these volunteer roles would otherwise have been fulfilled through paid professional engagements.

Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence, Mr Chan Chun Sing:

The SG Defence Volunteer Network was created to allow Singaporeans of all backgrounds and skill sets to augment the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) operational capabilities and contribute to national defence. As we have observed from contemporary conflicts around the world, a whole of nation approach is required to build resilience and strengthen our defence against evolving threats. Modern warfare also requires a diverse range of skillsets that can be drawn from the private sector and the wider community, in areas such as legal, strategic communications, medical support, AI and cyber security. For example, volunteers who are qualified doctors or nurses enhance the SAF’s medical capabilities by helping to train our SAF medical officers and medics, and those with media skillsets contribute to the various SAF information centers. 

Volunteers can also offer their creative and technical talents for our outreach events to help Singaporeans better understand our defence story. Such contributions complement, and do not replace paid engagements. MINDEF/SAF will continue to hire professional services where needed to support operations, capabilities, projects and events. 

We do not set recruitment targets for individual volunteer roles. As a whole, we aim to double the SG Defence Volunteer Network in the next three to five years.