Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiated at the National Service (NS) Hub Groundbreaking Ceremony this afternoon. As part of the event, Dr Ng participated in the symbolic sod turning and toured various NS Hub exhibits.

The NS Hub, which will house various NS-related services such as NS administration, medical screening, and fitness testing for the NS community, will be a one-stop service centre that brings greater ease and convenience, and better serves the needs of the NS community. Members of the public will also be able to access amenities and facilities such as F&B outlets and an outdoor community area equipped with fitness equipment, a running track and a football field. The building is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Speaking at the event, Dr Ng said that the NS Hub represented another milestone in Singapore's NS journey. He said, "It represents another milestone in our commitment to NS. And if you think about NS or our commitment to NS, it is a shared one. It is a shared commitment because it cannot exist otherwise. You have to have the Government and the citizens behind it. It does not work one without the other. Because each is a vital component to maintain that solidarity for a strong national defence, by ourselves, for ourselves and for Singapore together." Dr Ng also expressed hope that the NS Hub will become a national icon for future generations of national servicemen, and a physical symbol representing the nation's commitment to a strong defence. "The NS Hub we are building today will represent more than just a building where NSFs and NSmen will come back to enlist, take their IPPTs, undergo medical check-ups, or perform other administrative matters. I believe that the NS Hub is the physical embodiment of Singapore's unique NS commitment and culture," said Dr Ng.

Dr Ng was accompanied by Senior Ministers of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How and Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Melvyn Ong, Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) Chief Executive Mr Tan Peng Yam as well as other senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Singapore Armed Forces.