NS pre-enlistees will get to indicate vocation choice
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen during his annual SAF Day media interview
at the Ministry of Defence. (Photo: MINDEF)
By the end of this year, national service (NS) pre-enlistees will be able to indicate which vocations they are interested in joining during the enlistment processes at the Central Manpower Base (CMPB).
This step is to encourage national servicemen (NSFs) to take greater ownership of their roles and responsibilities while they are serving NS.
The enhancements will be made available to those enlisting from the end of 2017 onwards.
Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, said that the pre-enlistees for the SAF, Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will be able to indicate their vocational interests.
Ng was updating reporters on the decision by the Committee to Strengthen NS initiatives during his annual SAF Day media interview on Tuesday (28 June). SAF Day falls on Friday (1 July).
“We will try our best to match them to the best of our ability. Obviously, operational requirements will come first but if their vocations, their aptitudes match their indicated interest, we will try to give as many as possible,” said Ng.
Information to be made available online
Pre-enlistees can conduct their research on more than 30 vocations available in the SPF, SAF and SCDF on the CMPB website.
The information on the website will be made available form the third quarter of this year.
When asked whether the new development will give those from minority races the chance to be posted as pilots, naval officers or armour officers, Ng said that the enhancement is for all races.
“I get appeals from NSmen of all races, not only between vocations but between forces. Some were sent to the Army but they want to go to the SPF or SCDF.
“Obviously from an effectiveness point of view, the organisation want to see, ‘How do I assemble a group of people with the best capabilities that help?’” he added.
Ng also pointed out that a good scenario would be to match someone with a certain set of skills and education with a vocation.
“If you can match it, well that is wonderful. But I can well imagine that there are certain interests that are more popular than others and, unfortunately, like popular schools, although every vocation is a good vocation, you will have to match interests to vocation,” said Ng.
