12 Apr 2007 | OPS & TRAINING
RELIVING THE NS EXPERIENCE
STORY // Malcolm Tay
PHOTO // Roy Lim
PHOTO // Roy Lim
The bunk has a special place in Colonel (NS) Robert Bong's recollections of National Service.
"After dinner, we'd be in the bunk ironing and polishing to prepare for the next day," said the Singapore Artillery's Senior Formation Officer, who did his Basic Military Training on Pulau Tekong in 1976.
"When we finished, we would sit outside and look over the waters to the east coast of Singapore, feeling very homesick at that point in time."
Such memories came flooding back as the principal consultant for CRICT Research & Consulting was viewing a mock-up of an old bunk at 40 Years of NS Experience, a four-day exhibition organised as part of a five-month campaign celebrating this anniversary.
The exhibition showcases the development of NS and the contributions of servicemen across the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean launched the campaign on 12 Apr at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, where the exhibition is being held till 15 Apr.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Teo said: "When it was first conceived, the primary role of NS was to enable Singapore to build up a credible defence force.
"But over the last four decades, NS has become a national institution, providing a powerful common experience for Singaporeans from diverse racial, religious, and social backgrounds."
He also announced that the monthly allowance for all full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will increase by $50 from July this year, the result of the latest review of NS rank allowance.
In addition, Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) holding key command and staff posts will see a 20 per cent raise in their allowance, "as a token of our appreciation of the special contributions made by this important group of NSmen".
There are over 342,000 NSFs and NSmen in the SAF, the SPF and the SCDF.
They include Member of Parliament Michael Palmer, a former Officer Cadet School instructor who enlisted 20 years ago.
"I still keep in touch with many of my colleagues from NS," said Mr Palmer.
"NS has crossed the boundaries from just building a defence force to include building social cohesion, and that's really something special," he added.
12 Apr 07 -Commemorating 40 Years of National Service
11 Apr 07 - Exhibition to showcase 40 years of NS
"After dinner, we'd be in the bunk ironing and polishing to prepare for the next day," said the Singapore Artillery's Senior Formation Officer, who did his Basic Military Training on Pulau Tekong in 1976.
"When we finished, we would sit outside and look over the waters to the east coast of Singapore, feeling very homesick at that point in time."
Such memories came flooding back as the principal consultant for CRICT Research & Consulting was viewing a mock-up of an old bunk at 40 Years of NS Experience, a four-day exhibition organised as part of a five-month campaign celebrating this anniversary.
The exhibition showcases the development of NS and the contributions of servicemen across the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).
Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean launched the campaign on 12 Apr at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza, where the exhibition is being held till 15 Apr.
Speaking at the opening, Mr Teo said: "When it was first conceived, the primary role of NS was to enable Singapore to build up a credible defence force.
"But over the last four decades, NS has become a national institution, providing a powerful common experience for Singaporeans from diverse racial, religious, and social backgrounds."
He also announced that the monthly allowance for all full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will increase by $50 from July this year, the result of the latest review of NS rank allowance.
In addition, Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) holding key command and staff posts will see a 20 per cent raise in their allowance, "as a token of our appreciation of the special contributions made by this important group of NSmen".
There are over 342,000 NSFs and NSmen in the SAF, the SPF and the SCDF.
They include Member of Parliament Michael Palmer, a former Officer Cadet School instructor who enlisted 20 years ago.
"I still keep in touch with many of my colleagues from NS," said Mr Palmer.
"NS has crossed the boundaries from just building a defence force to include building social cohesion, and that's really something special," he added.
12 Apr 07 -Commemorating 40 Years of National Service
11 Apr 07 - Exhibition to showcase 40 years of NS
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