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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Mindef must be flexible and prompt with enlistment dates
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Monday's letter by Mr Michael Lee, 'Son back from US hit by 'capacity constraint''. I too share his sentiment, as I am in the same predicament.
My son returned from Canada in June to do his national service. After he completed his medical check-up and National Physical Fitness Award (Napfa) test in July, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) told us he would be enlisted only in February next year. This late enlistment date means he will miss his university admission in September 2011.
While talking to other parents during the Napfa test, I understood their sons face similar problems. This is neither a new nor an isolated problem and we do not understand why Mindef has not taken any steps to address it.
My wife and I both work overseas and we have written to Mindef many times to appeal to enlist our son earlier but were given the same response: The September-October intake is filled.
With the growing number of professionals working overseas, why can Mindef not make provisions to enlist this group promptly?
We have always reminded our son of his NS obligations and the rationale for doing so. However, Mindef's poor planning and unsympathetic approach have marginalised our efforts to maintain a positive attitude towards NS. I have been back for three months now and I will soon need to return to my work overseas, leaving my son alone in Singapore. This is not right.
Eric Tan
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->I REFER to Monday's letter by Mr Michael Lee, 'Son back from US hit by 'capacity constraint''. I too share his sentiment, as I am in the same predicament.
My son returned from Canada in June to do his national service. After he completed his medical check-up and National Physical Fitness Award (Napfa) test in July, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) told us he would be enlisted only in February next year. This late enlistment date means he will miss his university admission in September 2011.
While talking to other parents during the Napfa test, I understood their sons face similar problems. This is neither a new nor an isolated problem and we do not understand why Mindef has not taken any steps to address it.
My wife and I both work overseas and we have written to Mindef many times to appeal to enlist our son earlier but were given the same response: The September-October intake is filled.
With the growing number of professionals working overseas, why can Mindef not make provisions to enlist this group promptly?
We have always reminded our son of his NS obligations and the rationale for doing so. However, Mindef's poor planning and unsympathetic approach have marginalised our efforts to maintain a positive attitude towards NS. I have been back for three months now and I will soon need to return to my work overseas, leaving my son alone in Singapore. This is not right.
Eric Tan
