Over 200 applications received for SAF Volunteer Corps: Defence Minister

After a week of opening its recruitment process for the new Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) volunteer corps programme, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said it has received more than 200 applications.

In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Ng said the response was “encouraging”. He noted 60 per cent of the applicants are Singapore citizens, while 40 per cent of them are permanent residents, with a quarter of them being women.

“Among the reasons they wanted to volunteer were to ‘give back to Singapore’, ‘lead by example for my son’, and offer their ‘talent and service’,” he wrote, adding that the SAF will screen the applicants carefully to find those with suitable skills to form the pioneer batches of the volunteer corps.

“Applications are still open for those who want to serve. Happy with the encouraging response so far,” he added.

The SAF Volunteer Corps is a uniformed volunteer scheme, part of a series of initiatives recommended by the Committee to Strengthen National Service, chaired by Ng. Announced in May this year, the Corps will consist of women, first-generation PRs and new citizens.

Find out more about the volunteer corps and if you are eligible to apply to participate in it here.