UNIFORM OF NATIONAL SERVICEMEN

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan asked the Minister for Defence whether all operationally ready National Servicemen are given up to five pairs of No. 4 uniform and, if so, what is the rationale of giving so many sets to them as they wear them for two to three weeks only every year.

Dr Lee Boon Yang: In April this year, I announced that the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) had recommended letting NSmen keep more of their personal equipment to give greater recognition to the operational status of NSmen. NSmen had earlier expressed their desire to retain and maintain their own personal equipment such as their helmets and equipment pouches.

After careful consideration, MINDEF decided to let NSmen keep the full complement of their personal equipment upon completing full-time national service, including the 5 pairs of No. 4 uniform that had been issued to them. Such a move enhances the operational readiness of the SAF by enabling faster mobilisation and equipping of NSmen, who form the bulk of the SAF's fighting strength.

Therefore, from now on, NSmen will be equipped with all the necessary personal equipment when they respond to a call-up. They will only have to collect their weapons to be ready for deployment, regardless of whether it is for a peace-time training mission or for an actual emergency. This significantly reduces the time and effort spent in transforming civilians into highly trained and fully equipped operationally ready NSmen. The reduction in time spent on sorting and issuing personal equipment to NSmen is critical in an emergency when it is vital to get fully-equipped and combat-ready NSmen to the frontline at short notice.

Letting soldiers fresh out of full-time national service keep as much of their personal equipment as possible also gives NSmen a sense of ownership and responsibility for their own equipment. It is a clear signal to them that they have come of age and are operationally ready at any time.