Proposed: More monetary rewards for NSmen

[Vega]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/proposed-more-monetary/1116040.html

 

SINGAPORE: National Servicemen could receive more monetary rewards as part of a new NS HOME (Housing, Medical and Education) Awards, should proposals raised by the Committee to Strengthen National Service be accepted by the Government.

The Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) recommended disbursing S$2,000 extra, in Medisave grants, at each of the three “milestones” an NSmen reaches, under the proposed NS HOME Awards, which will replace the existing National Service Recognition Award (NSRA).

Currently, the NSRA pays S$3,000 each, when one completes fulltime NS, is at the mid-point of the Operationally-Ready NS Training Cycle, and upon completion of his NS obligations. With the exception of the first payout, which goes into an NSman’s Post-Secondary Education Account, the other two disbursements are split among the Ordinary, Medisave and Special accounts.

Under the proposed new award, the first tranche of S$3,000 will still go into an NSman's Post-Secondary Education Account. The S$3,000 at the second and third milestones will go only into the Ordinary Account, while the extra S$2,000 for each milestone will go into the Medisave Account.

This is one of a raft of recommendations the CSNS has submitted for the Government’s consideration on Thursday. The timeline for the various proposed changes to kick in depends on when they get accepted by the Government.

The recommendations were made after an extensive public consultation exercise lasting about a year. It engaged more than 40,000 people who are stakeholders of National Service (NS). Apart from NSmen, employers, new citizens, women and pre-enlistees were also consulted.

Providing an overview of the recommendations at a press conference, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, the chairman of the Committee, noted: "The benefits must never become a monetary transaction for services rendered."

IPPT AND RT

Among the other proposals, NSmen who fail their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) will have a longer period to complete their 20 remedial training (RT) sessions – increased from the current three months to one year.

The Committee also proposed increasing the incentives by S$100 for achieving an IPPT pass with incentive, silver or gold to S$200, S$300 and S$500 respectively.

Another recommendation was to scrap the rule that requires NSmen to notify Mindef on overseas trips unless they are more than two weeks in duration. NSmen will still have to inform the ministry if the overseas trip is more than six months. The current rules state that any NSman out of the country for 24 hours or more has to notify the ministry.

MORE REGULARS

Separately, the committee proposed the hiring of 1,100 more regulars for the Singapore Armed Forces and 230 for the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), with an aim to improve training and inculcate values more effectively.

Raising the proportion of officers and specialists from 30 to 40 per cent was also recommended to increase leadership opportunities for full-time National Servicemen (NSFs). Skills picked up by full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) could also be accredited to highlight their competencies and skills gained during NS, the CSNS said.

VOLUNTEER CORPS

The CSNS’ recommendations also revealed more details of the proposed SAF Volunteer Corps. In their proposal, women, new citizens and first-generation Permanent Residents (PRs) who volunteer in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) could be given a four-week training course, followed by one to two weeks of annual commitment for a minimum of three years.

Said Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing, who chaired the working group on support for NS: "They are doing it because they want to... It's an added statement on the commitment of our people beyond the NS pool we have."

SHORTER GAP BETWEEN SCHOOL, NS

The enlistment wait-time for pre-enlistees could also be shortened to four to six months after completion of post-secondary education, said the Committee, which suggests that 90 per cent of pre-enlistees should be enlisted within four months after post-secondary studies, up from 45 per cent now. The authorities are also looking to work with tertiary institutions to reduce transition time after NS.

The Committee, comprising several ministers, top military brass, is chaired by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

The recommendations are meant at create more opportunities for NSmen to contribute to national defence, establish a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Volunteer Corps, and strengthen recognition and benefits for NSmen.

It also strives to expand community support for servicemen, and create a positive NS experience through the easing of administrative restrictions, and strengthen the NS training system.

more incentive for you guys to pass ippt.

if pass, get more monetary rewards.

if fail, longer RT.

[Atonchia]

How about pay back$9000 to Mindef and no need to recall?

 

Since CPF cannot touch till very old, might as well use it to pay Mindef

[Toothiewabbit]

How about out of MR men?

[Wt_know]

wahahaha .... good one

everyone can buy out NS duty

 

How about pay back$9000 to Mindef and no need to recall?

Since CPF cannot touch till very old, might as well use it to pay Mindef

 

[Atonchia]

wahahaha .... good one

everyone can buy out NS duty

 

 

Haha, soon the benefits will be $90,000 so only certain group can choose to buy out, while those need to serve really kenna windfall.

[Kb27]

Oh no. AWARE will soon be up in arms again.

[Vid]

Oh no. AWARE will soon be up in arms again.

 

Later they come kpkb women don't have

[Tohto]

How about out of MR men?

That is what I going to ask.

Oh no. AWARE will soon be up in arms again.

Ask them go fly kite..

[Ktglfc]

How about out of MR men?

 

MR men? think they will just ignore you and I ... we are all over liao lah !

 

They rather concentrate on NS Men within the 10 years period.

 

Should have pioneer NS-Men benefits mah !

Without us MR Men, where got the current NS Men and servicemen ?!

 

They should just give to everyone that goes thru NS !

[Vega]

Mindef finally factor in inflation for isotonic drinks and running shoes that NS men spend on Ippt training in order to achieve monetary award.

[Toothiewabbit]

 

MR men? think they will just ignore you and I ... we are all over liao lah !

 

They rather concentrate on NS Men within the 10 years period.

 

Should have pioneer NS-Men benefits mah !

Without us MR Men, where got the current NS Men and servicemen ?!

 

They should just give to everyone that goes thru NS !

Exactly All who are in MR now or out of MR made the same contributions, if not more.

[darth_vader_]

I use to think that doing NS was a waste of time.

until much older than I realise it is not.

at the age of 18 , we don't do NS out of love for the country or PAP.

I realised that doing NS was for the sake of the family.

For in times of war , natural disasters or alien invasion.

soldiers and their families have access to food, water, shelter and medical care first.

[Ktglfc]

Exactly All who are in MR now or out of MR made the same contributions, if not more.

In event of war, all Singaporean men will defend our Singapore !

So, why differentiate between NS men and those that have MR?!

MR men like us, also went thru NS, serve 2 years with blood and sweat!

It just made us, those aged 40 and above, very disappointed and disillusion :(

 

We also need recognition !

[Mustank]

Reporting everyday for ippt now!!!! Haut ah!!!!!

 

$500 * 20 = $1000 extra pocket marnie!!!

[Vega]

during war, even without all these incentive, I think most of us will still carry arms and fight the invaders.

if not for country, at least for our families and love ones.

 

 

[Watwheels]

They should also give more allowance for those who go back for re-training. $100 to include dinner and taxi fare. LoL...

 

They should also consider moving more ppl to do NS in Police Force cause our police very weak. Report anything to police nowadays can't get anything done. Problems just pile up on top of each other dan what they do is install cctv cams to catch ppl in the act. Or a better idea from our minister. Get robots to replace our policeman. Robo cop. If construction sector can do it. So can the police. LoL...

Edited May 22, 2014 by Watwheels

[Ktglfc]

They should also give more allowance for those who go back for re-training. $100 to include dinner and taxi fare. LoL...

 

They should also consider moving more ppl to do NS in Police Force cause our police very weak. Report anything to police nowadays can't get anything done. Problems just pile up on top of each other dan what they do is install cctv cams to catch ppl in the act. Or a better idea from our minister. Get robots to replace our policeman. Robo cop. If construction sector can do it. So can the police. LoL...

They won't employ rebots lah. They already have plans to employ FT to beef up police force liao .. Lol

Can save on NS men allowance

[Watwheels]

They won't employ rebots lah. They already have plans to employ FT to beef up police force liao .. Lol

Can save on NS men allowance

 

Robots better lah. No need to pay levy, no need to pay allowance, no need to do what IPPT, robots dun take MC somemore. Best lor.