Background

Singapore's defence and security is a responsibility shouldered by national servicemen, who form the backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). As the SAF adapts to handle increasingly complex challenges, the National Service (NS) system must also evolve to meet the needs of our Next-Generation SAF and a new generation of national servicemen.

The NS Review Committee (NSRC) was established in 2020 and one of its areas of focus is to examine ways to improve the experience of national servicemen. At this year's Committee of Supply (COS) Debate, the NSRC announced several initiatives such as the Enhanced Health Screening Programme (HSP) and OneNS Platform^[1] to enhance the NS experience.

Progress of NS Digital Transformation

The use of technology has enabled MINDEF/SAF to create a more seamless NS experience. With the adoption of Cloud technology, MINDEF/SAF aims to enhance the convenience, accessibility, efficiency and intuitiveness of the various NS touchpoints for national servicemen.

Commercial Cloud. The launch of the MINDEF/SAF on Commercial Cloud in April 2021 allowed applications such as SafeGuardian^[2] to tap on cloud technology which enables national servicemen to access services in a more convenient, accessible, efficient and intuitive manner.

Soldier Health App. Starting from August 2021, the Soldier Health app will be rolled out progressively to selected units and MINDEF medical centres. This app will grant servicemen quicker and more convenient access to medical services through features such as an in-app medical appointment booking system and telemedicine services for conducting remote and non-urgent medical consultations. Servicemen can also look forward to other new features, such as in-app access to medical information and contactless vital signs measurement, to complement their healthcare journeys.

SAF Health Screening Programme (HSP) Centre

Announced at COS2021, the Health Screening Programme (HSP) for national servicemen was streamlined such that national servicemen can complete their HSP in a single session instead of two, increasing convenience. The SAF HSP Centre located at Kent Ridge, will be officially launched in July 2021. This added enhancement will allow national servicemen to complete their HSP in a single session at a more centralised and accessible location. Since its soft launch in April 2021, national servicemen have shared positive feedback about their improved HSP experience due to the convenient location and reduced amount of time needed to complete their HSP.