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[h=2]PM: Parents need to have the understanding, pride & support for their kids doing NS[/h]
October 11th, 2012 |
Author: Editorial
PM Lee trying to drive the Terrex in Australia. (Photo Mindef)
During his visit to the SAF troops at Exercise Wallaby in the Australian state of Queensland yesterday (10 Oct), PM Lee paid tribute to NSmen who have protected Singapore for the past 45 years.
He said Singapore owes these operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) something.
He said, “For them to spend 20-odd days overseas (ICT) continuously like this for the country, I think we owe them something.”
He reminded Singaporeans to continue to remember “to sweat (i.e, do reservist trainings) because that will save you blood during any conflict”.
“I think that is tremendously important.”
He noted that maintaining the spirit and commitment of Singapore’s national servicemen is not easy.
“They (the parents) have to have that understanding and that pride and that support for their kids,” he added.
“You train them well, tough, but it is a good use of their time, and at the end of it, even if they don’t come to that conclusion immediately, over five, 10 years, as they grow older, they say that was a defining point in my life, and then they will support their kids when their kids do national service.”
He was accompanied by his wife and an entourage of parliament secretaries and MPs.
PM Lee, a former brigadier general of the SAF, also tried out and drove the made-in-Singapore Terrex at the training area.
After 10 min, his wife Ho Ching told the husband jokingly, “I am about to give you a speeding ticket”, making everyone laughed.
More than 4,300 SAF personnel are involved in this year’s exercise, which will end on November 24.
PM Lee later wrote on his Facebook:
Meanwhile, we have new citizens like Raj who originally came from India, decided not to convert their sons to Singapore citizens or PRs but wanted them to remain as student pass holders [Link]. As foreign students studying in Singapore, there is, of course, no NS obligation.
In an interview, Raj said that if his son was a PR, he would need to serve NS. He preferred to “let his son decide if he wanted to put his roots down in Singapore or go back to India when he turns 21″. They lived in a condo in the east part of Singapore and both his children are studying at the Global Indian International School.
The beauty of having his son on student pass is that his son can always work in Singapore later as a “foreign talent” and eventually becoming a PR himself. He will not be considered a second-generation PR since he was not sponsored by his parents in the first place. As a “first-generation” PR, he will not need to do NS. A second-generation PR will have to lose his PR if he doesn’t want to serve NS. And if he loses his PR, he will never be granted work passes to work in Singapore anymore.
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PM Lee trying to drive the Terrex in Australia. (Photo Mindef)During his visit to the SAF troops at Exercise Wallaby in the Australian state of Queensland yesterday (10 Oct), PM Lee paid tribute to NSmen who have protected Singapore for the past 45 years.
He said Singapore owes these operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) something.
He said, “For them to spend 20-odd days overseas (ICT) continuously like this for the country, I think we owe them something.”
He reminded Singaporeans to continue to remember “to sweat (i.e, do reservist trainings) because that will save you blood during any conflict”.
“I think that is tremendously important.”
He noted that maintaining the spirit and commitment of Singapore’s national servicemen is not easy.
“They (the parents) have to have that understanding and that pride and that support for their kids,” he added.
“You train them well, tough, but it is a good use of their time, and at the end of it, even if they don’t come to that conclusion immediately, over five, 10 years, as they grow older, they say that was a defining point in my life, and then they will support their kids when their kids do national service.”
He was accompanied by his wife and an entourage of parliament secretaries and MPs.
PM Lee, a former brigadier general of the SAF, also tried out and drove the made-in-Singapore Terrex at the training area.
After 10 min, his wife Ho Ching told the husband jokingly, “I am about to give you a speeding ticket”, making everyone laughed.
More than 4,300 SAF personnel are involved in this year’s exercise, which will end on November 24.
PM Lee later wrote on his Facebook:
An exciting visit to Exercise Wallaby at Rockhampton and Shoalwater Bay today. This was my first visit, though the SAF has been training here for 30 years.
I was on the General Staff when the SAF first brought armoured vehicles (AMX-13s and M113s) to Shoalwater Bay, but the SAF has been totally transformed since then. In the live firing exercise I saw not only Leopard Tanks and Terrex fighting vehicles, but also computer systems networking our units, close cooperation between the soldiers on the ground and Apache attack helicopters, and new fighting concepts and tactics.
One thing has not changed: the Singapore spirit was alive and well here in Australia. Our troops – regulars, NSF and NSmen – were keen and committed, doing their best in defence of our country.
Also enjoyed driving the Terrex, hatch closed and looking at the TV image. The commanders tell me the young soldiers find it a breeze, because it is just like playing a computer game!
A big thank you to the men and officers participating in Wallaby, and all who helped to arrange my visit. Special thanks to our Australian hosts, especially the mayor and residents of Rockhampton. Without their generosity, our soldiers would never have had this chance to train in tough but realistic conditions. – LHL
So far, this year alone, 6 NSMen and NSFs have died while serving their nation (‘NSMan dies in freak accident during In-Camp Training‘).I was on the General Staff when the SAF first brought armoured vehicles (AMX-13s and M113s) to Shoalwater Bay, but the SAF has been totally transformed since then. In the live firing exercise I saw not only Leopard Tanks and Terrex fighting vehicles, but also computer systems networking our units, close cooperation between the soldiers on the ground and Apache attack helicopters, and new fighting concepts and tactics.
One thing has not changed: the Singapore spirit was alive and well here in Australia. Our troops – regulars, NSF and NSmen – were keen and committed, doing their best in defence of our country.
Also enjoyed driving the Terrex, hatch closed and looking at the TV image. The commanders tell me the young soldiers find it a breeze, because it is just like playing a computer game!
A big thank you to the men and officers participating in Wallaby, and all who helped to arrange my visit. Special thanks to our Australian hosts, especially the mayor and residents of Rockhampton. Without their generosity, our soldiers would never have had this chance to train in tough but realistic conditions. – LHL
Meanwhile, we have new citizens like Raj who originally came from India, decided not to convert their sons to Singapore citizens or PRs but wanted them to remain as student pass holders [Link]. As foreign students studying in Singapore, there is, of course, no NS obligation.
In an interview, Raj said that if his son was a PR, he would need to serve NS. He preferred to “let his son decide if he wanted to put his roots down in Singapore or go back to India when he turns 21″. They lived in a condo in the east part of Singapore and both his children are studying at the Global Indian International School.
The beauty of having his son on student pass is that his son can always work in Singapore later as a “foreign talent” and eventually becoming a PR himself. He will not be considered a second-generation PR since he was not sponsored by his parents in the first place. As a “first-generation” PR, he will not need to do NS. A second-generation PR will have to lose his PR if he doesn’t want to serve NS. And if he loses his PR, he will never be granted work passes to work in Singapore anymore.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
