No more getting thrown into postings that you have absolutely no interest in for National Service — or at least that’s the hope.
Starting November, those enlisting for their mandatory national service conscription will have a say in what they actually want to do for the next couple of years in uniform. They’ll be allowed to choose from a list of 33 vocations spanning the three organisations — the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Information on each vocation will be available on the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) website to help them learn more what they’ll be doing.
Conversely, pre-enlistees can also indicate which vocations they’re not really that into. We foresee a lot of dainty, fragile young lads doing that for the SCDF’s fire and rescue vocation — one of the toughest (but fulfilling) jobs to do in National Service.
Garang bros won’t be able to choose the Commandos or the Naval Diving Unit — there are especially stringent operational requirements for both vocations, and they have unique selection criteria.
As for just how successful they’ll get the postings they want, it’ll depend on other factors such as physical fitness and suitability to perform tasks and operational requirements. If an enlistee doesn’t get his preferred vocation, he can submit an appeal, which will in turn be looked at on a case-by-case basis.
“The whole intent of this initiative is to encourage greater ownership by our servicemen in the roles they will play during NS,” commented Colonel Yew Chee Leung, Assistant chief of general staff (personnel) of the army.
