SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES (AMENDMENT) BILL: Order for Second Reading read.

3.17 pm

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (Mr Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Sir, before I commence my speech on the Bill, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family of the late Lieutenant Chee Zhi Hao and the family of the late Lance Corporal Mar Teng Fong, two servicemen who are being laid to rest this week.

Sir, the Bill before this House seeks to amend the Singapore Armed Forces Act to effect key enhancements to the military schemes of service for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). These enhancements will ensure that the SAF can continue to offer an attractive career proposition to bring in and retain capable, committed and competent people for the defence of Singapore.

Strategic imperatives

The last major review of the SAF career schemes was conducted over a decade ago. The manpower landscape and the needs of the SAF have shifted significantly since then, in particular, we face two strategic human resource (HR) challenges.

First, the demographic and educational profile of our population is changing. The number of Singaporeans aged 17 to 25 entering the workforce each year will start to decline from the year 2015 onwards. Also, young Singaporeans entering the workforce today are better educated and aspire for more challenging and responsible jobs commensurate with their qualifications. Today, 25% of each cohort graduate with degrees while 42% graduate with diplomas. In addition, 50% of diploma holders expect to subsequently go on to obtain degrees. This provides the imperative as well as the opportunity for the SAF to restructure its careers for good diploma level entrants to provide them with better opportunities for self-development, job growth and advancement. This will also allow the SAF to make full use of the potential of these servicemen.

Second, the SAF is transforming into a leaner and more potent Third Generation SAF that leverages on advanced technology and sophisticated systems. We still need people with leadership ability, dynamism and high levels of physical and mental energy. But, in addition, we need people with deeper specialisation, broader knowledge and more experience to fully exploit these advanced technologies, and to operate our more complex military systems. Our HR policies and schemes of service must therefore evolve to address these strategic challenges.

Strategic response by MINDEF

Over the last two years, MINDEF and the SAF conducted a fundamental review of our military schemes of service in order to better match the aspirations of our people and potential recruits with the evolving HR needs of the Third Generation SAF. We will be making significant changes in three key areas.

New military domain experts scheme

First, we will introduce a new military uniformed scheme of service in the SAF called the Military Domain Experts Scheme. This new scheme will complement the existing Officer and Warrant Officer schemes. The Military Domain Experts Scheme will allow us to build and retain deep professional expertise and experience in critical military domain areas such as technical, engineering and intelligence. It will also allow us to fully develop our current servicemen who are in these lines of work. It will also attract the more technologically savvy polytechnic and degree graduates who want to work with cutting-edge systems and advanced technologies but are not so inclined to join the traditional Officer or Warrant Officer schemes. It will also facilitate mid-career professionals with the relevant expertise to join the SAF.

Personnel who join the new scheme will be known as Military Experts. Military Experts will enjoy a longer career with the SAF on full CPF up to the age of 60. The longer career will allow them to develop specialisation and deep expertise as well as the necessary experience on the job required for key military domain areas. They will advance along an eight-rank structure – Military Expert 1 to Military Expert 8, with the pinnacle rank being Military Expert 8 (ME8). ME8 will be equivalent to a Brigadier General in terms of job size. The entry rank for degree holders is ME4. Servicemen who hold the rank of ME4 or above will be known as Senior Military Experts.

Military Experts will be given opportunities to upgrade themselves academically and professionally. They will be offered attractive market-based remuneration. Progression will be based on the individual's level of professional expertise and the ability to take on higher professional responsibilities in their expertise domains. On the other hand, in the Officer and Warrant Officer Corps, progression depends significantly on command ability.

Our servicemen who are currently in vocations under the military domain areas identified for the Military Domain Experts Scheme will be given the option to convert to the new scheme of service. They will be offered a fair package to transit to the new scheme of service.

Enhanced Warrant Officer scheme

Second, we will enhance the Warrant Officer scheme of service. Our Warrant Officers form the backbone of the SAF. They set high standards in tactical war-fighting and training, and are the repositories of the values and knowledge in the SAF.

With the creation of the Military Domain Experts Scheme, the Warrant Officer Corps will be leaner and more focused. Their jobs will be redesigned and restructured to focus on combat leadership roles, and to anchor the key SAF competencies in leadership, tactical war-fighting expertise and training supervision. They will continue to work in support of and in partnership with the Officers.

We will introduce a new Third Warrant Officer rank. This will allow those with the potential to reach the Warrant Officer rank to be promoted to a Warrant Officer rank earlier. Under the enhanced scheme, the best can become a Warrant Officer as early as the end of their sixth year in service compared to 12 years under the current scheme. This new Third Warrant Officer rank will be an important milestone to signal to a serviceman that he has the potential to rise up through the Warrant Officer ranks and hold greater responsibilities. Those who do not attain the Third Warrant Officer (3WO) rank can continue in their jobs until their retirement age, at age 50, so long as they are able to contribute. The retirement age for the Warrant Officers will remain unchanged at age 55.

To meet the aspirations of our servicemen to upgrade themselves academically early in their career, we will offer early degree sponsorships to promising servicemen with the potential to become Warrant Officers. Currently, they may be sponsored for degree studies only from their sixth year of service. Under the enhanced scheme, we will provide opportunities for them to embark on their studies as early as the end of their second or third year of service.

We target diploma holders with strong leadership qualities to serve as Warrant Officers of the Third Generation SAF. These changes will enhance the career proposition and make it more attractive to join the Warrant Officer Corps.

Enhanced Officers' career scheme

Third, are the changes being made to the Military Officers' scheme. The current Officer career which is compact, fast-paced and challenging, with the retirement age in the mid-40s, has enabled the SAF to retain a dynamic and forward-looking Officer Corps. Officers receive a lump sum payment at the end of their career with the SAF. They then transit to a second career in another path of public service or the private sector.

The Third Generation SAF will continue to require dynamic and vigorous leadership. We will thus keep the Officer's career compact, fast-paced and challenging. At the same time, however, Officers in the Third Generation SAF need more time serving ground tours and would also need time for more in-depth professional development in military leadership and advanced operational and technological capabilities.

Hence, instead of retiring in their mid-40s, SAF Officers will have their career extended till age 50. This extension is provided for all existing Officers, but they have the choice of retiring at the current retirement age with their current retirement benefits. In other words, the option to stay on till age 50 is with the Officers, so long as they continue to perform their duties diligently and well.

In addition, the SAF will introduce a new Senior Lieutenant-Colonel rank next year. This new rank will recognise the larger responsibilities and supervisory roles of certain Lieutenant-Colonel appointments in the SAF, for example, the Brigade 2IC appointment.

In summary, we will have three military schemes that have distinct roles and functions. The Officer Corps will continue to provide the senior military leadership; the Warrant Officer Corps will provide leadership to the rank and file and take on greater responsibilities in tactical training; the Military Experts will anchor deep professional expertise for key military domain areas for the SAF. Each of these three schemes of service will offer opportunities for personal and professional development, job growth and advancement, so that our servicemen can fulfil their aspirations and the SAF can benefit fully from their potential. The changes to the SAF's military schemes of service will be implemented on 1st April 2010.

Key provisions of the Bill

Mr Speaker, Sir, the SAF (Amendment) Bill will provide the proper legal framework to effect the key changes to the military schemes of service for the SAF. Please allow me to highlight some aspects of this Bill.

For the new Military Expert, Third Warrant Officer and Senior Lieutenant-Colonel ranks, the Bill proposes to amend the various provisions within the SAF Act to fit these new ranks into the current military law and discipline structures, and accord them the relevant disciplinary powers. A new section 10C has been introduced to provide for the appointment and cancellation of appointment of Senior Military Experts by the President or the proper authority. Amendments are also made to section 118 to reflect the appropriate scale of punishment that such personnel can be awarded by the sentence of a subordinate military court.

A new section 205D has been proposed to allow for the change of ranks when servicemen are transferred from the Military Domain Experts Scheme to the Officer or Warrant Officer schemes. This is intended to cater to two situations.

First, a Senior Military Expert might resign or be released from regular service before he completes the prescribed minimum term of service. This minimum term of service is a period of regular service needed before he is deemed to have fulfilled his full-time National Service liability. He might then have to be transferred to the Warrant Officer scheme with an appropriate rank to serve out his remaining term of fulltime National Service.

Second, a Military Expert, who has served the minimum term of service and who resigns or is released from the SAF, may have to be assigned to a suitable post to serve his operationally-ready National Service. The amendments in section 205(d) provide for the transfer of these operationally-ready National Servicemen to the Warrant Officer Corps at the appropriate rank to serve their operationally-ready National Service if there are no suitable MDES appointments. Those who have been commissioned as officers will return to the Officer Corps in their operationally-ready National Service. This will be done taking into account their background and experience.

In view of the changes made to the SAF Act, there will also be a consequential amendment to the Enlistment Act which is required to subject Senior Military Experts to the statutory age of 50 for operationally-ready National Service. The statutory age is the same as that stipulated for officers in operationally-ready National Service under the same Act.

Sir, the SAF is the guarantor of our national security and peace. The SAF has developed into a strong, credible and highly capable Armed Forces today because of the quality, character and professionalism of its people. We need to continue to attract able and committed people to the Third Generation SAF. The enhancements to the SAF's military schemes of service enable us to continue to do so.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Dr Lam Pin Min: Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Bill.

In May this year, MINDEF announced the introduction of the new Military Domain Expert Scheme (MDES), which is scheduled to take effect from 1st April next year.

To facilitate the implementation of the MDES, this Bill has been introduced to make the necessary amendments to the SAF Act. The MDES introduces a rank structure for Military Expert that is parallel to the existing Officer and Warrant Officer rank structure. The primary effect of the amendments proposed by the Bill is to bring the Military Experts appointed under MDES within the purview of the Act. The Military Expert will be entitled to exercise the same powers and will be subject to the same punishments for offences as his Officer or Warrant Officer counterparts. Indeed, the introduction of the MDES is a positive step towards refining the organisational structure of the SAF. From inception, the SAF has been made up of a myriad of professionals with a wide range of expertise.

Being a small island country, the SAF recognises that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations posed by Singapore's small population. Technology is without a doubt an important element in the SAF's transformation into a Third Generation fighting force. Research and experimentation to develop a technological age began as early as in the 70s. Today, MINDEF is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Singapore. However, the existing scheme for Officers and Warrant Officers is tailored mainly for combat-trained soldiers and servicemen. While over the years, engineers and specialists in military intelligence have been accommodated within this rank structure, it may not have been an accurate reflection of their expertise and job scope. The MDES will, in my view, serve to give due credit and recognition to this important group of professionally trained SAF regulars and clearly demarcate their roles within the SAF. I do however have a concern with the MDES parallel rank structure. Would the parallel rank structure result in the creation of a second class officer, a Warrant Officer within the service? While the amendments to the SAF Act expressly provide that the Military Expert of a certain rank is entitled to exercise the same powers as the Officer or Warrant Officer of the equivalent rank, the question is whether this is sufficient.

Frontline combat-trained professionals or personnel are often perceived as being superior in some ways, more important to their counterparts who are support personnel and who may not be at the frontline of battle. MINDEF and the Armed Forces have worked hard to dispel this fallacy. By implementing the MDES rank regime, will MINDEF be creating the perception that MDES officers are somehow less important than their counterparts? If so, this may defeat the purpose of the MDES as an incentivised scheme for the Military Experts. Perhaps the Minister can share how MINDEF can avoid this perception, arising from inception, and how it intends to deal with it if it arises in the future.

The other concern I have is with regard to retirement age. Under the MDES, Military Experts are able to stay in service until 60 years of age. Prior to the changes to the Officer's Scheme, Officers were expected to serve until the age of 45. When these officers retire at the age of 45, they are already at a borderline age where it may be a challenge for them to secure employment in the competitive private sector, given their advanced age and lack of relevant experience. Very often, even if they are able to find employment, they may have to accept a substantial pay cut. Will this situation be aggravated for MDES personnel who retire at the age of 60? They would have to compete harder with workers who already have experience and a track record in the private sector.

What opportunities will be open for MDES personnel when they retire at age 60? How will the re-employment legislation and the guidelines on re-employment of older workers affect this group of servicemen? While it is a good thing that those under MDES are able to remain in service for a longer time, the flipside of the coin is that when they do retire at age 60, many would still be bearing the financial burden of putting their children through tertiary education and maybe even still paying off their mortgage and other loans. Is age 60 too late in the day for a second career?

On a related issue, Sir, the original intention of the Savers and Premium Schemes for Officers and Warrant Officers respectively was to keep the SAF young and vibrant. MINDEF launched the Savers Scheme for the SAF regular officers more than a decade ago. It promised the SAF regulars a sum for their retirement upon completion of 23 years of active service with the SAF. During the introduction of this scheme, it was clearly stated that the objective was to keep the SAF young. Since the retirement age for the regulars has now been extended, can the Minister clarify if the Savers and Premium Schemes should continue to extend beyond the maturity and throughout this extended period?

Moving forward, I think that it would be good if MDES could be extended to other professionals such as the Medical Officers in the SAF Medical Services as well, beyond the engineers and specialists in the Military Intelligence domain who are currently envisaged to come under this scheme. The job scope of the military doctors and the specialisation that is required of them is more akin to the Military Expert than the combat-trained officer. Does MINDEF have any plans to bring the medical officers under the MDES and why have they not been included from the outset? The objective and focus of the MDES on encouraging development of their specialisation will benefit the individual. I believe that the SAF will also stand to benefit from the better expertise that their doctors are able to provide.

Mr Speaker, with that, I support the Bill.

Mr Speaker: Order. I propose to take the break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 4.00 pm.

Sitting accordingly suspended

at 3.40 pm until 4.00 pm.

Sitting resumed at 4.00 pm

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]:

SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES (AMENDMENT) BILL: Debate resumed.

Dr Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): The Singapore Armed Forces is one of the largest public institutions, which started from scratch and developed into the state-of-the-art military we have today. Over the years it has evolved to adapt to changing needs, times and capabilities, expanding its roles to include civil military co-operation, humanitarian assistance as well as collaboration to support social operations. The changing global face of threats and terrorist activities, in a completely new security environment, calls for further strategic developments and enhancements. All these are in alignment with the introduction of the Military Domain Experts Scheme. With the transformation to the Third Generation (3G) SAF, there comes a greater need for professionalism and for professionals to possess deeper expertise in key areas or professional domains, as we call them. These Military Experts will be uniformed personnel trained in specialised areas such as engineering, nursing, technical military operations and even intelligence. I feel this is in alignment with the increasing expectations of our younger generation, who crave for more, who often ask, "What's in it for me?", who are considering to make the armed forces their preferred career choice. It is about developing excellence through professionalisation with the increasing level of education and qualifications we are seeing in our young of today.

The proposed changes to the terminology to be used (eg, Senior Military Experts), falls in place nicely as they certainly do give a more professional ring to the positions and the posts in alignment with the greater depths that will come with the revision and also enhancement in job descriptions.

With greater definition and delineation of posts and professionalisation, would come a need for greater training budget, remuneration and promotion packages, attachments, overseas postings and the like. There will be changes in job descriptions and responsibilities as well. Can the Minister please update us how on target we are with this and in implementing all the suggested changes? Also, one of the concerns I have is that, with the increasing of the retirement age of SAF personnel, once they exit from the Military, will they have an exit plan management for them? Perhaps, we can consider some collaboration or partnership with relevant companies to help these people in starting up their second career because as we know, with increasing age, certainly there will be challenges in looking for second jobs.

Finally, I support this Amendment Bill, in line with our practice of retaining talented, good and committed people, who are the only resource for our little red dot. The Military Domain Experts Scheme is a step in the right direction to nurture our men and women into military leaders: leaders with character, presence and intellectual capacity.

(In Malay) : [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A.] The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) serves Singapore, protects our national interests and carries the responsibility of defending Singapore. The introduction of the Military Domain Experts Scheme will help the SAF to continue working hard to pursue excellence, build its capacity and increase its professionalism. With the available choices provided, our young people will be given the opportunity to gain higher and deeper knowledge, in addition to enhancing their skills. I hope that the programme will also include features like core leadership competencies and life-long learning.

This scheme will also bring about a positive effect to the public in terms of their perception towards our military men and women, as they enhance their own confidence and resilience. They will become men and women who are able to think of solutions with proper judgment, by inculcating innovation, interpersonal tact and knowledge of their domain. This domain expertise encompasses tactical and technical skills as well as cultural and geo-political awareness.

With this, the SAF will become a strong institution that we can be proud of. But let us ponder for a moment. We did not achieve all these by chance. It was achieved through visionary strategic planning and a political will to build a military that is integrated, relevant and can adapt itself to any situation or challenges. Mr Speaker, I support this SAF (Amendment) Bill.

*Cols. 1821-1822.

Mr Christopher de Souza: **** Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. I speak in support of the Bill as the new class of specialist servicemen from the Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) will enable the SAF to defend Singapore even more effectively against the evolving threats among others, of terrorism and piracy. Today, counter-terrorism and counter-piracy measures take on even greater importance and urgency and require deeper involvement of the SAF. In addition to hardware (ie, fighting with rifles and machines) we need to keep pace, as a 3G SAF, with the rapid advances in technology involving sophisticated computerised machinery. Where the defence of our country is concerned, man and machine must work closely together to provide a more effective SAF.

Therefore, it is timely that our specialist soldiers be given more time and niche training to specialise in fields such as maintenance, air force engineering, naval warfare, air operations and systems and military intelligence. Such deep specialisation will enable them to study and train adequately to master the knowledge and skills necessary for them to be members of a high-tech 3G defence force.

The scheme also promotes nursing, which displays SAF's resolve to continue to provide responsive medical care to our soldiers. When I perform my reservist In-Camp Training, I continue to be impressed by how the SAF continues to use advances in computers and technology to make it an even more proficient force. The Scheme will help cement this force-wide practice.

The Scheme will also secure Singapore as one of the few Armed Forces in the world to have such a specialised corp. I believe that such innovation and resolve will assist in maintaining the high standards the SAF expects of itself. I share SAF's confidence that this forward-thinking strategy will offer even greater protection for Singaporeans and our country.

I support the Bill.

Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan: Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts on this important Bill. The Bill addresses the development of a new SAF uniformed track, the Military Domain Experts Scheme, which will be implemented in the first quarter of 2010. This scheme is part of the Ministry of Defence's plan to build a strong and dynamic Third Generation Army. I appreciate the argument that a separate track for key military domains will allow the SAF to recruit, groom and retain talents for deep specialisation in engineering, intelligence, nursing, among other areas.

As a specialist track, the MDES has four distinctive noteworthy features which sets it apart from the existing arms of the SAF: a later retirement age (at 60 years), a remuneration scheme which comprises a variable component that is pegged to similar jobs in civilian industries, opportunities for professional and academic development and progression and a separate rank structure – which this Bill addresses in detail.

May I first comment on the implications of a separate specialist track on the SAF. I have a limited knowledge of the military so I humbly request that the Minister excuse me if I do not reflect all the facts in my discourse. Notions of social cohesion and esprit de corps are critical attributes of any military force. Effective combat performance is very much determined by the extent of group solidarity, both horizontal as well as vertical cohesion. An effective military must have soldiers who, in addition to having strong affiliation to his own primary group, they must also see and identify with the larger military organisation. If I may quote from Fredrick Manning's work on morale cohesion in military psychiatry, I quote, "High levels of esprit mean that the soldiers' loyalties go beyond their primary face-to-face peers and immediate leaders. This is an important step if morale is to be maintained in combat, for hard fighting will result in losses, no matter how good the unit is." In other words, for an Armed Forces to be effective, each and every soldier must identify with a singular, unified military.

On this point of promoting solidarity within the SAF, I would like to raise two questions. First, can the Minister comment on how a separate track, specialised corps, may affect social cohesion in the SAF. I am particularly concerned with the differential terms of employment for the MDES and how SAF personnel in the existing arms may view the extended tenure, professional development opportunities and, in particular, varied remuneration terms of colleagues in the MDES. Second, in order to learn from best practices elsewhere, can the Minister share with us other military forces which currently have similar structures, and how these have worked?

The SAF (Amendment) Bill tabled today addresses extensively the new rank structure in the MDES, and how this new rank structure will be integrated with the existing rank structure for the Army, Navy and Air Force. With your permission, Sir, I would like to focus on the possible implications of this new rank structure on the SAF. From my limited understanding of military forces globally, the Singapore Armed Forces is one of the few military forces which has a unified rank structure, with identical rank names and insignia for Officer, Warrant Officers, Specialists, and enlisted men throughout the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This varies from how the military is organised in the United States or the United Kingdom (which uses the NATO rank code). I see this unified rank structure as a strength, a structural characteristic that contributes to the esprit de corps in our SAF. With the development of the MDES, a new rank structure will also be created. This will further set the MDES apart from the Army, Navy, and the Air Force.

Sir, I have two questions relating to the new rank structure for the MDES. First, I would like to ask the Minister to share with us the rationale for a new rank structure for this new arm of the army. Why is a new rank structure needed for the MDES? What is the intent of having a separate and distinct rank structure for SAF personnel on this specialist track?

My second question is on the perceived impact of this new rank structure for the MDES staff on social solidarity in the SAF. A SAF personnel on the MDES will have to work side-by-side with uniformed colleagues in the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Will the different rank of an MDES soldier affect how he is received by the rest of the team?

While I appreciate the benefits of having a specialised military expert scheme that will serve to attract talent as well as grow deep specialisation and expertise that is essential for a Third Generation Military Force, we must also be mindful that the introduction of the MDES, with its differential terms of engagement and rank structure, will not cause segregation and result in a "separate but equal" organisational structure in the SAF.

These comments aside, I stand in support of the Bill.

4.15 pm

Mr Teo Chee Hean: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank Dr Lam Pin Min, Dr Fatimah Lateef, Mr Christopher de Souza and Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan who have spoken in support of this Bill. I would like to thank them for that and for their concern and support for our men in uniform, serving in MINDEF.

Let me try and address the questions that they have raised. Dr Lam Pin Min and Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked if a parallel Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) would impact teamwork and social cohesion in the SAF and whether our military experts would be accorded the same military status and professional respect and be accepted as part of the team by their colleagues. We have already different vocations, based on different qualifications, training regimes, pay scales, and schemes of service in the SAF. These three schemes of service and what now, in particular the MDES do for us, is give us a wider scope to bring in and develop different types of people with different abilities, qualifications and aptitudes, and to meet their aspirations better as well as the needs of the Third Generation SAF better. If we were to try and fit everybody into the same mould – same progression rates, same types of training and pace, and same retirement ages – then, we would be sub-optimising our people. These new schemes of service allow us to achieve an optimal balance between the need for dynamism and the demand for deeper knowledge and expertise in certain fields. With these enhancements, the three schemes are complementary. We have the Officers, Warrant Officers and Military Experts, who will provide the SAF with the range of people that we need – leadership, and personnel and expertise to operate as an effective and credible fighting force.

I should stress that the MDES people will be in uniform and serve together with the Officers, Warrant Officers onboard ships, in airbases and in the field as well. Military Experts will be accorded – in status, in regimentation – practices similar to their Officer and Warrant Officer counterparts. And as military personnel, their status and salutation will be commensurate with their rank and appointment. It is important to recognise that Military Experts wearing the new and distinctive ranks are uniformed professionals who will be serving the same mission, sharing the same mission and value system as the other uniformed personnel in the SAF. Those in position of responsibility will be expected to manifest leadership and care for their people. And for those with deep expertise in their respective domains, whether they are soldiers, sailors or airmen, must continue to demonstrate strong commitment to the defence of our nation along with applying their professional expertise. And in any particular unit, the command structure of the unit will be determined by who holds those appointments. So if you are the Commanding Officer, or if you are in-charge of a particular section or division, then you hold the responsibility and have the powers that come with that appointment. This is provided for in the amendments that we are making to the SAF Act. So the command structure, the cohesion of the unit, the clear lines will still remain.

While there may be different schemes of service, Officers and Warrant Officers and Military Experts therefore operate still as members of a cohesive unit with a common mission. They work in partnership and leverage on our collective strengths to achieve the desired mission outcomes together.

Assoc. Prof. Straughan asked if other armed forces have a similar domain experts structure and she was also concerned about how the different remuneration, employment package and retirement age would be viewed by our Officers and Warrant Officers. Like us, other armed forces do have different vocations and schemes of service. We try and learn from other armed forces how they deal with similar situations, missions and structures. However, the SAF has reached the level of maturity where we cannot always find ready-made solutions elsewhere, and we must develop innovative solutions on our own to face our unique circumstances and be ready for the future. We do not know of a similar scheme in any other armed forces. But we do know that they do face the same problems, and they are not able to resolve them, many of them, with the same structure that they have. So many of them are looking at what we are doing, with considerable interest. So we design these three schemes, including the MDES, based on an analysis of what our HR environment is going to be. We consulted closely with the people who are in-service. We also asked the people who are going to join us, what their aspirations are; and we have designed it to try and meet those aspirations, and at the same time, meet the needs of the Third Generation SAF as best as we can.

Today, the retirement ages of Officers and Warrant Officers are already different. The remuneration package is also structured differently for Officers and Warrant Officers. Therefore, different retirement ages and remuneration packages for our military personnel are not new and already exist. The Military Domain Expert Scheme will likewise need to be different, because it targets a different group of servicemen with different career aspirations and capabilities, and who can serve the SAF in a different way. So we will recognise the Military Experts for their fields of specialisation, skills and expertise, and we will ensure that their remuneration is market competitive, as we will ensure market competitive and fair remuneration for the other schemes of service as well.

Dr Lam highlighted the job scope of our doctors in the SAF, and that this is more aligned to the Military Domain Experts Scheme due to their specialised nature. This was one particular vocation that we studied carefully and we consulted with people in our medical corps. We have come to the conclusion that the needs of the SAF and the aspirations of those who wish to join the SAF as regular medical officers, are best met through the Officers' scheme. Our medical officers form the leadership core of our military medical community and this requires them to go out to the field to be dynamic and vigorous, lead medical contingents overseas and innovate and come up with new ideas for operational medical support. But there are a number of niche medical specialties, in which the SAF would like to develop deep expertise in. These include medical psychiatry, ophthalmology and sports medicine. Selected medical officers who wish to and have the deep professional expertise, experience and seniority in these fields, may be appointed as Military Experts, sort of like doyens under the Military Domain Experts Scheme, who provide that kind of deep expertise needed in the medical corps in those specific areas. But after careful analysis, we find that the field leadership of the medical corps needs to be closer to that of the military officers in the SAF.

Dr Fatimah Lateef expressed her hope that lifelong learning and core leadership competency will be inculcated in our Military Experts and Dr Lam Pin Min asked if the retirement age of 60 will pose a career transition issue. Well, we will continue to encourage continuous learning and lifelong education, and this is in fact one of the key features that we are strengthening in all three schemes. We are encouraging Warrant Officers who can, who have the background and qualifications and pre-requisites, to go to university and to prepare themselves. The officers will have schemes with universities in Singapore for them to go on and take their degrees (if they do not have them already), and to go on to do their Masters degree, and prepare themselves to be able to serve the SAF better and subsequently when they do leave the service. We would provide ample opportunities to groom and train our Military Experts as well as our Officers and Warrant Officers, to grow as individuals and to grow in their ability to serve in the SAF.

For the MDES, they will deepen their expertise, and develop their full potential to better contribute to the SAF in their domain areas. When our military experts leave the SAF at age 60, they would have had a fulfilling, rewarding and full career. But should they desire to continue working after their career with the SAF, they would also have acquired relevant qualifications and considerable experience to allow them to transit to a related professional field quite confidently.

Dr Lam Pin Min also asked about the Saver and Premium schemes, whether with the extension of service particularly for the officers, whether this will continue beyond the original retirement age. We are not changing the length of service for Warrant Officers. In fact, there is no change in the Premium scheme for Warrant Officers. Warrant Officers retire at age 55, and it will remain so. We have extended the retirement age of the officers to age 50, to allow for more time for professional training and grounding without losing the dynamism which is critical to the SAF. But the Saver scheme will not continue beyond the original Saver end date, which is typically in the early to mid-40s. Officers can choose not to extend their service to age 50, in which case, they can leave at the original retirement age and take along with them all that they could have from the retirement account, as is currently the case. For those who choose to have their careers extended, there will be no further contribution to the retirement account beyond their original retirement age. But instead, they will be given service bonuses for their extended service till their new retirement age of 50. In this way, our officers would be fairly compensated for the lengthened service that they have, while at the same time, they will not receive double windfall or have further retirement benefits being paid to their saver account, plus longer service, plus bonuses and so on. We will keep the two separate. This also gives them the flexibility of leaving at an earlier age if they want to, to pursue a second career.

Dr Fatimah Lateef asked for an update on the implementation of the new and enhanced schemes. The enhancements to the Officers and Warrant Officers scheme and new Military Domain Experts Scheme will be implemented on the 1st April 2010, as I indicated earlier. The Commanders in the SAF have conducted extensive dialogues and communication sessions with our servicemen to explain enhancements and address their concerns on the changes. These have been going on for the past year or so, and in fact before the schemes were developed and the changes to the various schemes were made. There was comprehensive consultation with our servicemen. The things that were announced did not come as a surprise to them. Servicemen, whose jobs are transferred to the new MDES scheme, are given the choice to opt for the new scheme or to remain in their current scheme. This exercise is currently ongoing and has been well-received by the vast majority of servicemen. More than 90% of them have indicated that they would accept such an option when they are so offered. Of course, some servicemen who are close to their original retirement ages and have already made alternative career plans, have understandably not seen much benefit or much point in transferring to a new scheme when they are just about to retire and leave the service. Some proportion of them have decided that that is what they want to do. I think that is fair enough. Once again, Sir, I would like to thank Members for their support and their care and concern for our soldiers.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Mr Teo Chee Hean].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.