HISTORY

The Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) was established by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in January 1984 as a channel for the community to provide feedback on issues concerning Singapore's defence. Following recommendations from the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) in 2014, ACCORD was restructured in August 2014 with three Councils under its main ambit – an Employer and Business (E&B) Council, an Educational Institutions (EI) Council, and a Family and Community (F&C) Council – to tap on members' networks to deepen engagement and drive initiatives that engender greater support for National Service (NS) and Total Defence (TD) amongst the different communities.

All 18 CSNS proposals placed under ACCORD were successfully implemented in 2017. Some of the proposals included the launch of the national-level NS Mark Accreditation scheme that recognises businesses and organisations that have policies in place that support NS and NSmen, the launch of "We Support YOU in NS" campaign to encourage businesses and merchants to show their appreciation for NSmen by offering discounts and benefits, as well as outreach to foreign system schools and privately-funded institutions through NS information sessions for pre-enlistees and parents.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE RECENT YEARS

Engagement of Employers. The ACCORD (Employer and Business) (E&B) Council launched a Community of Practice (CoP) of NS Advocates in 2021 to sustain NS advocacy efforts in the E&B community and strengthen support for NS. The CoP produced a NS Competency Playbook to help both employers and NSmen learn about the various competencies that were inculcated through NS.

Upskilling Opportunities for NSmen. The ACCORD E&B Council established inaugural Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with AETOS and Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI) on 27 Oct 2023. Under these 2-year MOUs, NSmen and NS Mark (Gold) accredited entities can enjoy concessionary rates for selected courses, trainings, programmes to upskill, reskill and learn the relevant Security and HR knowledge. In addition to recognising transferable skillsets acquired during their NS and availing opportunities for their lifelong learning, these skill-based collaborations are also availed to NSmen.

Women's Boot Camp (WBC). The Women's Boot Camp (WBC) was introduced by ACCORD F&C council in 2018 to provide women with a glimpse of National Service life through participation in selected Basic Military Training activities. In Nov 2023, the WBC was expanded into the Defence Immersion Programmes (DIP) to provide women with better insights into the experiences of Army, Navy, Air Force and DIS servicemen and a better understanding of the SAF's capabilities. The WBC and DIP provided an opportunity for female participants to experience military life to help them better relate to their NS-serving peers and family members, and encourage them to become confident advocates for TD.

Our NS Family Camp: BMT Family Edition 2023. Besides WBC and DIP, ACCORD F&C Council also organised the 'Our NS Family Camp: BMT Family Edition 2023' to engender greater support from families for NS by giving participants a taste of basic military experiences. Activities included basha building, and a simulated battle inoculation obstacle course. Participants also learnt military drills and songs, and experienced a mini passing out parade.

NS Talks. ACCORD F&C Council conducted Pre-NS talks for pre-enlistees and their parents to prepare them for enlistment, including a talk for pre-enlistees with special needs. The ACCORD Educational Institutions (EI) has also conducted NS Info Sharing sessions for students in JCs/IP schools, ITEs, Polys and Foreign System Schools since 2021 to help NS-liable students prepare for NS and to ease their transition into a military environment.

"Singapore: Imagining the Next 50 Years" module. "Singapore: Imagining the Next 50 Years", which was launched in 2017, is a course designed and put together by the six autonomous universities to encourage undergraduates to reflect on Singapore's post- independence history, imagine the Singapore they would like to co-create for the future and deliberate on what it takes to achieve the vision they have for Singapore. More than 2,800 undergraduates take the module every academic year. To expand the reach beyond the module, the AUs also conduct Joint University Webinars on different topics relating to the threats and challenges Singapore faces every semester. The latest Joint University webinar on Digital Defence was held on 16 February 2024 with over 1,100 participants.

COVID-19 Efforts. Other than advocacy for defence and NS, ACCORD members also supported MINDEF in the response to COVID-19:

(i) Engagement and Translation Volunteers. SINDA facilitated efforts to mobilise Indian vernacular speaking volunteers to provide translation services for migrant workers quarantined at the Changi Exhibition Centre (CEC) Community Care Facility (CCF). SMU also provided student volunteers who curated and developed both instructional and entertainment content in different Indian vernaculars to engage and support the wellbeing of the quarantined migrant workers.

(ii) Development and Dissemination of Dialect Messages. The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association (SFCCA) facilitated efforts to mobilise Chinese dialect speaking volunteers who supported the mask collection call centres. SFCCA also worked with So Drama! Entertainment (SDE) to develop and disseminate dialect video clips to augment public service broadcast messages such as dialect videos on Circuit Breaker measures and COVID-19 vaccination.

(iii) Appreciation Messages. During Circuit Breaker, the Global Indian International School (GIIS), Yuvabharathi Indian School, United World College of South East Asia and NTUC Women's Committee provided MINDEF/SAF messages to help engage and encourage the quarantined migrant workers. MOE arranged for school children to record appreciation videos and messages for SAF frontline personnel. Appreciation messages from Maris Stella High, Bendemeer Primary School, Nan Chiau Primary School, Blangah Rise Primary School, Yumin Primary School and Fairfield Methodist School were received and distributed to thank SAF NSmen for their contributions and commitment to their NS duties.

Support for Total Defence 40 (TD40). 2024 marks 40 years of Total Defence. Key TD40 initiatives which ACCORD has supported include:

(i) Exercise SG Ready. ACCORD members encouraged community and business organisations to take part in Exercise SG Ready. ACCORD members from Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clans and Association, NUS, SUSS and SMU ran simulated disruption activities as part of Exercise SG Ready and demonstrated their readiness and resilience for crises and disruptions. Volunteers from Heartware Network responded to the call- for-action from ACCORD and assisted with crowd control and supported the elderly and those who require help at public areas of disruption such as the Esplanade MRT Station.

(ii) TD40 Convention. To strengthen capabilities, encourage collaboration and inspire TD actions amongst TD practitioners, NUS has offered to partner Nexus to co-organise an inaugural TD Convention on 25 April 2024.

(iii) Community Table-Top Exercises (TTX). The Community Table-Top Exercise (TTX) launched by Nexus on February 2023 was developed by a group of SMU students through ACCORD to get people to discuss the impact of pertinent contemporaneous issues affecting Singapore and get them to play their part. The TTX involves getting participants to discuss and develop a community action plan during a potential crisis/disruption. As part of TD40, all ITE colleges and Polytechnics will be conducting the TTX to engage their students on Total Defence.