More full-time national servicemen (NSFs) are voluntarily extending their NS, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) revealed yesterday.
Last year, 357 NSFs chose to extend their NS stint, which Mindef said was the highest in the past three years, although it did not provide figures for 2009 and 2008.
Last year's figure is also higher than the average of 200 NSFs who have extended their NS annually since the Voluntary Extension of Service Scheme was incepted in 1996. Under the scheme, NSFs can extend their mandatory two-year NS for up to nine months. About 20,000 recruits enlist annually.
Reasons given for NSFs to delay their operationally-ready date (ORD) are varied and include wanting to be part of overseas training exercises and participating in projects such as the National Day Parade (NDP).
(From left) Lance-Corporal (NS) Wong Jing Yong and Corporal (First Class) Muhd Rafie Ahmad being commended by MG Singh.
For instance, Lance-Corporal (NS) Wong Jing Yong, 23, was due to complete his NS last October but extended it by nine months so that he could pitch in for this year's NDP preparations. LCP Wong, who was involved in planning and conceptualising pre-NDP activities and fringe celebrations, is one of 65 NSFs who extended their service for the parade this year.
In fact, he had to defer his plans to study in a private school by eight months.
"While I had to make some sacrifices, the fruits of my labour make the experience worthwhile. I have no regrets," said LCP Wong.
Another NSF who deferred his ORD is Corporal (First Class) Muhd Rafie Ahmad, who extended his service by three months so he could support the operations of the Army's Leopard tanks involved in an exercise in Germany in May.
"It was an experience I could not miss," said CFC Rafie, 21, adding that extending his NS is also a "stepping stone" for him.
This is because he plans to sign on as an Army regular.
In his first formal media interview as the new Chief of Army on Tuesday, Major-General Ravinder Singh said that the number of NSFs who extended their service last year was "quite remarkable".
"I think it's really a testament to our soldiers that they want to serve beyond the mandatory period to make a useful contribution," said MG Singh.
He added that the voluntary extension also demonstrates the level of commitment of the country's soldiers and their leaders in coming forward to serve Singapore for longer.
MG Singh, 46, is the first operationally ready NSman called to head the Army. He left uniformed service two years ago and last served as Mindef's deputy secretary for technology before taking over from the former Army chief, MG (NS) Chan Chun Sing, in March. MG (NS) Chan left to join politics.
MG Singh will oversee the Army through its third-generation (3G) transformation, in which it will use new combat technologies and develop new ways of fighting battles.
This began in 2005, and soldier training has already undergone changes. For instance, the introduction of computers has helped cut classroom training time for soldiers by 15 to 20 per cent. MG Singh said this has allowed troops to spend more time in the field for tough and realistic training.
The Army Chief added that it could take at least 10 years for the 3G transformation to be completed and noted that while the Army has made a "good start", "we've some way to go".
He explained that new equipment has already been acquired, but it will take time to train soldiers to use the equipment.
Poised to take advantage of these technologies are information technology-savvy soldiers, said MG Singh.
Compared to soldiers two generations ago, he said that soldiers today are quicker to pick up tech skills like the use of online chat in military systems.
"Without this generation of soldiers, I don't think we will be able to transform ourselves into a third-generation force," said MG Singh.
Last year, 357 NSFs chose to extend their NS stint, which Mindef said was the highest in the past three years, although it did not provide figures for 2009 and 2008.
Last year's figure is also higher than the average of 200 NSFs who have extended their NS annually since the Voluntary Extension of Service Scheme was incepted in 1996. Under the scheme, NSFs can extend their mandatory two-year NS for up to nine months. About 20,000 recruits enlist annually.
Reasons given for NSFs to delay their operationally-ready date (ORD) are varied and include wanting to be part of overseas training exercises and participating in projects such as the National Day Parade (NDP).
(From left) Lance-Corporal (NS) Wong Jing Yong and Corporal (First Class) Muhd Rafie Ahmad being commended by MG Singh.
For instance, Lance-Corporal (NS) Wong Jing Yong, 23, was due to complete his NS last October but extended it by nine months so that he could pitch in for this year's NDP preparations. LCP Wong, who was involved in planning and conceptualising pre-NDP activities and fringe celebrations, is one of 65 NSFs who extended their service for the parade this year.
In fact, he had to defer his plans to study in a private school by eight months.
"While I had to make some sacrifices, the fruits of my labour make the experience worthwhile. I have no regrets," said LCP Wong.
Another NSF who deferred his ORD is Corporal (First Class) Muhd Rafie Ahmad, who extended his service by three months so he could support the operations of the Army's Leopard tanks involved in an exercise in Germany in May.
"It was an experience I could not miss," said CFC Rafie, 21, adding that extending his NS is also a "stepping stone" for him.
This is because he plans to sign on as an Army regular.
In his first formal media interview as the new Chief of Army on Tuesday, Major-General Ravinder Singh said that the number of NSFs who extended their service last year was "quite remarkable".
"I think it's really a testament to our soldiers that they want to serve beyond the mandatory period to make a useful contribution," said MG Singh.
He added that the voluntary extension also demonstrates the level of commitment of the country's soldiers and their leaders in coming forward to serve Singapore for longer.
MG Singh, 46, is the first operationally ready NSman called to head the Army. He left uniformed service two years ago and last served as Mindef's deputy secretary for technology before taking over from the former Army chief, MG (NS) Chan Chun Sing, in March. MG (NS) Chan left to join politics.
MG Singh will oversee the Army through its third-generation (3G) transformation, in which it will use new combat technologies and develop new ways of fighting battles.
This began in 2005, and soldier training has already undergone changes. For instance, the introduction of computers has helped cut classroom training time for soldiers by 15 to 20 per cent. MG Singh said this has allowed troops to spend more time in the field for tough and realistic training.
The Army Chief added that it could take at least 10 years for the 3G transformation to be completed and noted that while the Army has made a "good start", "we've some way to go".
He explained that new equipment has already been acquired, but it will take time to train soldiers to use the equipment.
Poised to take advantage of these technologies are information technology-savvy soldiers, said MG Singh.
Compared to soldiers two generations ago, he said that soldiers today are quicker to pick up tech skills like the use of online chat in military systems.
"Without this generation of soldiers, I don't think we will be able to transform ourselves into a third-generation force," said MG Singh.
