The Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) was established in January 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on MINDEF/SAF's policies and other issues related to defence. With its restructuring in 2014, ACCORD has become an action-oriented platform reaching out to employers, businesses, families, community and educational institutions, to encourage and implement ground-up initiatives in support of National Service (NS) and Total Defence. Over the term 2018 - 2020, ACCORD members continued to enhance efforts to strengthen community support for NS and defence, showcase appreciation for National Servicemen and emphasise the value of NS.

Strengthening Employer Support for NS

ACCORD launched the Post-ORD Internship Pilot to provide National Servicemen who just completed NS with internship opportunities. Under the programme, 17 Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) undertook three-month-long internships with Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd and CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd. The internships covered a variety of job scopes such as project and service management, accounting, human resource, and technology services.

ACCORD was instrumental in developing NS Mark, a national-level accreditation scheme that recognises businesses and organisations, which have implemented policies and human resource (HR) practices that support NS and Total Defence. The Council worked with local businesses to enhance recognition for NS Mark, and reached out to HR practitioners from various industries to encouraging the implementation of NS-friendly practices at workplaces. To help HR practitioners understand what NS entails, they were also invited to NS-related events such as Women's Boot Camp and Navy@Vivo.

Strengthening Family Support for NS

To improve the understanding of NS-related matters by mothers and family members, ACCORD launched Women's Boot Camp, which received over 100 participants each year in 2018 and 2019. The event helped participants gain an appreciation for the contributions of National Servicemen and provided them with a glimpse into NS life. It also inspired some participants to return as volunteers for Women's Boot Camp or to join the SAF Volunteer Corps.

ACCORD brought together the 'SAF Day Recognition Campaign' and 'We Support YOU in NS' initiative to create the 'We Support NS' campaign. The campaign provided a more comprehensive selection of discounts and benefits to National Servicemen across both the SAF and Home Team. Over 540 unique merchants, businesses and hawkers with more than 1,400 outlets across Singapore participated to show their appreciation for National Servicemen. Along with partners such as SAFRA, People's Association and HomeTeamNS, ACCORD worked to engage more businesses to introduce new discounts and promotions, as well as display billboards during National Day to recognise National Servicemen. With support from partners like Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, ACCORD organised the 'We Support NS' Appreciation Function to thank all merchants and hawkers who participated in the campaign.

ACCORD also collaborated with the Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Shanghai (SingCham Shanghai) and Shanghai Singapore International School to organise an NS Information Sharing session and Focus Group discussion in Shanghai. The session provided overseas pre-enlistees and their parents with access to updated information on enlistment processes and an opportunity to voice concerns related to NS.

Strengthening Community Support for NS

ACCORD worked with Polytechnics and ITE Colleges to implement a compulsory fitness programme as a way to improve pre-enlistee fitness for Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). ACCORD also worked with MOE Secondary Schools to organised sharing sessions on NS. The sessions gave Secondary Three students an opportunity to listen to their alumni speak about their NS experiences and how to prepare for NS.

ACCORD collaborated with Foreign System Schools (FSSs) and Privately Funded Institutions (PFIs) in Singapore to appoint NS Coordinators. The Coordinators help address students' concerns related to NS and to prepare for enlistment. The inaugural NS Coordinator Engagement session, organised by United World College (South East Asia), brought together all NS Coordinators from 28 FSSs and 3 PFIs to share best practices and NS information among the educators.