Since the conclusion of the National Service Review Committee (NSRC) review in 2022, MINDEF/SAF has been implementing initiatives to strengthen the National Service (NS) system, improve our national servicemen’s NS experience and better support them. Updates on new and ongoing initiatives are listed below:

Thrust 1: Maximising Contributions of National Servicemen

Job Redesign and Functional Assessments. The SAF is leveraging technology and redesigning jobs to deploy servicemen of varying physical abilities to a wider range of operational roles in order to optimise the deployment of every national serviceman. Since 2021, the SAF has re-designed 1,800 roles across 20 vocations, such as Combat Medics, Infantry Carrier Vehicle Operators and Transport Operators. This has allowed about 700 NSFs to be deployed in a wider range of operational roles that they were previously excluded from.

In parallel, the SAF implemented functional assessments for pre-enlistees with selected orthopaedic conditions since January 2022. This enables the SAF to assess pre-enlistees’ actual ability to perform the physical tasks required for their roles, and deploy them to a wider range of roles. Since its implementation, about 200 pre-enlistees have been assessed to be functionally able to be deployed to a wider range of roles than before.

Work-Learn Schemes (WLSes). Since 2018, MINDEF/SAF has launched Work-Learn Schemes to invest in and tap on national servicemen’s skills and knowledge. Servicemen who sign up for such schemes undergo a combination of full-time NS followed by Regular service. This period of service incorporates academic and technical training provided by Institutes of Higher Learning, and allows servicemen to earn polytechnic diplomas and university credits while carrying out operational duties. There are a total of eight Work-Learn Schemes. New WLSes launched in 2023 are:

1. 1. WLS for Army Medic Specialists. Since May 2023, pre-enlistees who possess relevant healthcare qualifications, and NSFs undergoing Specialist Cadet Course Foundation Terms or assigned as Army Medic Specialists are eligible to apply for the WLS. Selected NSFs will obtain a diploma in paramedic science from Nanyang Polytechnic and be deployed as Army Medic Specialists.

1. 2. WLS for NSF Trainers. Since September 2023, NSFs who are selected to be officer or specialist cadets are eligible to apply for the WLS. Selected NSFs will obtain credits for an undergraduate degree from the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and be deployed as NSF Trainers.

Table 1: Existing MINDEF/SAF Work-Learn Schemes

Schemes for Polytechnic Diploma Students. MINDEF/SAF has also partnered Singapore Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic to introduce a new WLS and academic sponsorships for polytechnic diploma students. Through these schemes, final-year polytechnic diploma students are able to enlist one year earlier than their schoolmates, while having their military service with the SAF recognised towards the fulfilment of their polytechnic’s final-year internship requirements. The schemes are:

1. 1. [New] Polytechnic Cyber Work-Learn Scheme. From October 2023, students enrolled in cyber-security courses in Singapore Polytechnic are eligible to apply for the Polytechnic Cyber WLS. Successful applicants will serve a combination of full-time NS and Regular service as Cyber Specialists.

1. 2. [New] SAF-Polytechnic Sponsorship for Integrated Curriculum Diplomas. From February 2024, students enrolled in aerospace electronics courses in Singapore Polytechnic are eligible to apply for the SAF-Polytechnic Sponsorship for Integrated Curriculum (SPS-IC) for Diploma in Aerospace Electronics, and students enrolled in electrical and electronic engineering or information technology courses in Republic Polytechnic are eligible to apply for either the SPS-IC for Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering or Diploma in Information Technology. Successful applicants will serve full Regular Service as Air Force Engineers and Naval Warfare System Experts respectively.

Expertise-Based Redeployment during ORNS. Since 2014, the SAF has been actively identifying NSmen with relevant civilian skills, and re-deploying them to units where they can contribute their expertise in a greater capacity. In 2021, a dedicated Expertise Deployment Centre was set up within the SAF to oversee expertise deployment for NSmen. In 2022, the launch of the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme enabled expertise deployment of NSmen at any point in their ORNS Cycle, if they are assessed to possess relevant civilian expertise required by the SAF. In 2023, MINDEF/SAF redeployed 260 NSmen and introduced marine survey as a new domain.

Thrust 2: Improving the NS Experience

OneNS Platform. The OneNS platform is a consolidation of NS-related services and transactions in a web portal and mobile application. It will support our servicemen throughout their NS journey.

1. 1. OneNS Mobile Application. Since December 2022, the OneNS mobile application has been rolled out to selected NS units, to enhance NSmen’s ICT experience by making administrative processes more efficient. This included streamlined in-processing via geo-location and QR code scanning features, and centralisation of essential services for ICT, such as acknowledgement of ICT call-up and the receipt of Make-up Pay. This will be rolled out to all NS units in 2024.

1. 2. [New] OneNS Web Portal. The OneNS web portal will replace the NS Portal in 2024. The OneNS web portal will be hosted on MINDEF Commercial Cloud and feature an improved design, allowing seamless access to NS services with fewer disruptions. National servicemen can look forward to a more personalised and engaging digital experience using the web portal.

Thrust 3: Supporting and Recognising Contributions of National Servicemen

[New] NS LifeSG Credits for National Servicemen. As announced by DPM Wong on Budget Day 2024, to recognise the contributions of national servicemen to Singapore's defence and security, all past and present national servicemen will receive $200 in the form of NS LifeSG credits, including NSFs enlisting in 2024. The credits will be digitally disbursed via the LifeSG mobile application progressively in November 2024, and eligible national servicemen will be informed via SMS. The credits will be valid for one year from the date of issue and can be used at any online or physical merchants accepting payment by "Scan and Pay" via PayNow UEN QR or NETS QR, and includes over 100,000 merchants from e-commerce platforms, heartland shops and hawker stalls. The digital disbursement of credits via the LifeSG mobile application allows the credits to be received and redeemed conveniently via mobile devices.

Enhanced SkillsFuture@NS Initiatives. SkillsFuture@NS is part of MINDEF and MHA’s efforts to recognise our NSFs’ contributions to the defence and security of Singapore and to facilitate their transition to employment and further studies after full-time NS. In 2022, MINDEF and MHA partnered NTUC Learning Hub (LHUB) and NTUC’s Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to enhance the SkillsFuture@NS initiatives.

    a. SkillsFuture@NS Learning eXperience Platform. The SkillsFuture@NS Learning eXperience Platform (LXP) accounts are offered to all NSFs upon enlistment. NSFs can activate their account at any time during their full-time NS, and the account will be valid for two years from the date of activation. The SF@NS LXP provides NSFs (i) unlimited access to 75,000 online courses and functions such as the ability for them to create and track their personalised learning journeys, with individualised course recommendations based on their desired jobs and acquired skills; (ii) an online repository of resources and information from government agencies, industry partners and Education Institutions, including information on career and education fairs held by NTUC LHUB’s partners or education institutions and workshops organised by e2i; and (iii) a job and course portal. Since its launch in 2022, 21,000 NSFs have signed up on the platform.

       b. [New] NTUC Career Starter Lab. In September 2023, NTUC and SNEF launched the Career Starter Lab initiative. MINDEF collaborated with Young NTUC to reach out to NSFs who have recently completed their full-time National Service. NSFs can consider taking up formal employment with participating companies, after first going through a career trial of up to three months, which comes with a structured training programme and workplace mentorship. NTUC Career Starter Lab caters to a wide range of career aspirations such as food and beverage, retail and trade, health, energy and financial services. NSFs can find out more about the programme through attending the SkillsFuture@NS Fair or via https://www.lit.sg/ntuc-csl, and can sign up at https://yntuc.sg/csl.

[New] Redeveloping The Float @ Marina Bay into NS Square. In 2017, it was announced that The Float@Marina Bay would be redeveloped into the NS Square to serve as a tribute to all past and present national servicemen and a permanent and prominent reminder of the central role that NS plays in ensuring peace and prosperity. When completed, it will be a unique venue to stage large-scale national and community events such as the National Day Parade, River Hongbao and the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown. It will also provide spaces for the public to enjoy community and recreational facilities. It will house an NS-themed Gallery that showcases Singapore’s defence and the NS Story. The construction tender was awarded to Expand Construction Pte Ltd in September 2023. Construction will commence in March 2024, and be completed by 2027.