MARKING 50 YEARS OF NATIONAL SERVICE

When National Service (NS) started in 1967, it was a different story from what it is today. "People spoke many different languages and dialects; some were not prepared to serve," said Senior Warrant Officer (SWO) (Retired) Ong Hui Pheng.

As an instructor to the first batch of Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) at the 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (3 SIR), he had his work cut out for him.

He said: "We had to put it across to them that they had to serve, impose military discipline, and eventually they went through with it." The 79-year-old served as Regimental Sergeant Major at 3 SIR.

Today, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) can hold its own. Speaking to new enlistees and their families at the launch of NS50, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said: "We cannot change the fact that we are a small country, but today, after 50 years of NS, we have built an SAF capable of defending Singapore."

"(While) we seek to be friends with all countries, big and small, we Singaporeans are solely responsible to defend Singapore," said Dr Ng at the launch held at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on 7 Feb.

A permanent NS exhibition, housed at BMTC on Pulau Tekong, was also opened the same day. Housing artefacts such as the uniforms worn by pioneer batches of soldiers and important documents, the NS Gallery will be part of subsequent enlistment-day activities for the families of the young men reporting for their Basic Military Training.

As part of the year-long NS50 celebrations, a roving NS exhibition will make its way to public venues from May. There will also be community-initiated projects to honour NSmen and commemorate NS and an NS50 dinner reception later this year.

Past and present SAF National Servicemen will receive $100 worth of vouchers and a year's membership to SAFRA. There is also a similar recognition package for HomeTeam NSmen.

To-date, more than a million have served NS with the SAF, the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force.

"(The NS50 recognition package) is a small token to thank every national serviceman for their role in defending Singapore," said Dr Ng.

For the families of the new batch of NS enlistees who were at the event on 7 Feb, it was an eye-opener to see how much the SAF had progressed. For example, today's recruits are issued tablet computers to aid learning and train in high-tech facilities such as indoor ranges to hone marksmanship skills.

"Back in my time, the only tablets we took were for headaches!" said Mr Edward Lee, who was at BMTC to see his son Jeremy enlist for NS. The 59-year-old served his NS with distinction, rising to the rank of Second Warrant Officer, and was the Regimental Sergeant Major of his NS battalion in the Singapore Artillery.

"I hope he does a good job (during NS). If nothing else, I think the discipline will make him a better person," said the senior Mr Lee.

Recruit Jeremy Lee welcomed NS as an opportunity to learn new things. He said: "I'm quite excited to enlist; I'm actually the last among my friends to do so and I can't wait to progress through this and see where it takes me."

Learn he will, if the experience of his seniors is anything to go by. For Second Lieutenant Ahmad Shah Johan, who is a Platoon Commander at 3 SIR, NS has been an enriching one: "It taught me how to work with others, and how important it is for Singaporeans to stay united and defend the country."

For more information on the NS50 celebrations, visit www.mindef.gov.sg/NS50.