MAKING NS WORK

With a robust system that helps Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) to cope with commitments to Singapore's defence, it's no wonder that Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) received recognition for its support of Total Defence.

COL (Rtd) Chua (centre) ensures that it's business as usual when his employees are called up for ICT or mobilisation exercises with an overlap-and-cover system. He poses for this photo against the USS's Battlestar Galatica ride with 12 of RWS's 2,500 NSmen, which includes 1SG (NS) Goh (to his right).

En route to Universal Studios Singapore (USS) for this story's photo shoot, Colonel (COL) (Rtd) Chua Peng Tian stopped in mid-step when he saw a piece of litter and took the time to dispose of it properly.

Cleanliness may not be directly under the portfolio of the Vice-President of Estate Management at RWS, but COL (Rtd) Chua was a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) commander for 32 years and he believes firmly in walking the talk.

"Leadership cannot be make-believe, it can be seen by your men. You've got to do it with heart, not just with talk," said the 56-year-old who is responsible for security within the 49-hectare integrated resort. This includes managing traffic going in and out - about 200 to 300 taxis at any one time - and the 3,500 car park lots within RWS.

One of the areas in which COL (Rtd) Chua does his work with heart is his support for employees' National Service (NS) commitments. In his team of about 400, more than half are NSmen and COL (Rtd) Chua has to ensure that work is able to carry on each time an employee is away for In-Camp Training (ICT) or called up for a mobilisation exercise.

Supporting NS at work

In helping its employees fulfil their NS commitments, the company does its part to support the system as a whole while the men contribute as individuals, said COL (Rtd) Chua.

To mitigate mobilisations, where NSmen are required to report to camp within a certain number of hours of being notified, COL (Rtd) Chua uses an overlap-and-cover system. His security personnel work in shifts of eight hours, and once informed that one of the staff has been called up for duty, the team supervisor activates the reserve.

COL (Rtd) Chua added that if a supervisor needs to report to camp, supervisors from other departments would take over his role during that time.

To ensure that there is sufficient manpower to plug the gaps, COL (Rtd) Chua's group of security personnel is also divided into teams of four. While three teams are scheduled for day-to-day operations, the last team is on hand to supplement manpower requirements, whether during open mobilisation exercises or during weekends to cope with the increase in visitor numbers at RWS.

Less than a year into the job, COL (Rtd) Chua has also implemented several initiatives to help his team of security personnel keep fit.

Apart from giving his staff time off once or twice a week to participate in activities like running and basketball, he turned a small area near his workplace into a gym to encourage his staff to work out.

"I told them, 'you must be fit'. You'd better be able to outrun and catch somebody who creates a problem. The responsibility is (with the) individual; you have to keep yourself fit in order to do your job and to contribute to company and country," he added.

Partner in Total Defence

Support for NS is also evident at the organisational level. Besides a recreation club where RWS' 14,000 employees can take part in sports like group runs and beach volleyball, televisions are tuned to local channels so the firm's 2,500 NSmen are quickly informed each time there is an open mobilisation announcement.

In places such as the casino and food and beverage outlets, once an NSman informs his supervisor of the days he is scheduled for ICT or mobilisation manning duties, his spare ratio increases. This means that provisions will be made in advance for his colleagues to cover his duties if and when he needs to fulfil his NS commitments.

In support of NS and Total Defence, the company also takes part in the Rededication Ceremony - where NSmen reaffirm their commitment to Singapore - on SAF Day each year.

These efforts were recognised at this year's Total Defence Awards, an annual awards ceremony held since 1986 to appreciate employers who have shown strong support for Total Defence. RWS, which was assessed on its operational readiness, NSmen's physical fitness, recognition of NS and commitment to Total Defence among other criteria, received the Meritorious Defence Partner Award.

RWS contextualised its manpower requirements to Singapore's needs, and NSman 1st Sergeant (1SG) Willie Goh from 113 Squadron is one employee who has benefited from these human resource policies.

The 35-year-old ride supervisor, who leads a team of eight technicians, said: "We have enough men to cover each other. When I need to go for ICT, I will hand over my job, distribute it to a few guys and they will share my work load. During my off days or weekends, if there is a need, I will come back to help them out."