SINGAPORE: All full-time national servicemen (NSFs) in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) will receive an increment of S$35 to S$75 (US$26 to US$56) in their monthly allowances, starting from Jul 1.
This translates to an increase of about 4 to 5 per cent for most servicemen.
The allowance supports NSFs' personal upkeep and recognises their service, and is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains adequate, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How said on Monday (Mar 3) during the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) Budget debate in parliament.
This will be the fourth adjustment to allowances over the last ten years, the ministry said separately.
The previous increase was in July 2023, when allowances were raised by S$125 to S$200, depending on the serviceman’s rank and vocation.
With the latest revision, an NSF holding the rank of recruit or trainee will receive an allowance of S$790, up from the current S$755.
For an SAF NSF naval diver, SPF NSF police tactical trooper or SCDF NSF firefighter holding the rank of corporal, the monthly allowance will increase to S$1,290 from S$1,250.
The SAF has also been reviewing its medical classification system to move away from a binary combat-fit or non-combat fit model.
Mr Heng first announced the shift during his ministry's budget debate in 2021.
"The new system will assess each serviceman on a more granular scale, allowing better characterisation of their medical fitness and functional capacity so that they can be better matched to more operationally effective roles," he said on Monday.
"This is a fundamental change that we are carefully studying and determining how to implement."
Over the past two years, the SAF has been conducting functional assessments for pre-enlistees with selected orthopaedic conditions, in addition to the standard medical screening.
Since 2022, about 300 pre-enlistees have undergone selected functional assessments and 230 - or two-thirds of them - were able to contribute more effectively over a wider range of roles, Mr Heng said.
The SAF has also continued to leverage technology and redesign jobs to expand servicemen's deployment opportunities.
Since 2021, it redesigned 2,000 roles across 25 vocations, such as combat medics, infantry carrier vehicle operators and military police.
More than 1,000 NSFs have also been deployed in a wider range of operational roles to date, MINDEF added.
As part of improving the NS experience, the new Central Manpower Base (CMPB), located opposite Cashew MRT station, will progressively open in phases from May 2025.
Mr Heng previously announced the new facility during last year's Budget debate. It will replace the current one at Depot Road.
The new CMPB will serve as an integrated "one-stop" service centre for NS administration. This includes completing medical screenings, attending NS fitness activities at the all-weather fitness conditioning centre and purchasing NS necessities, said Mr Heng.
Illustration of the new Central Manpower Base in Bukit Gombak. (Image: MINDEF)
The new CMPB will also house the SAF's second regional health hub - with the first being at Kranji Camp III.
Spanning two levels, the CMPB hub will consolidate key healthcare facilities into one location, said Mr Heng.
"Today, a pre-enlistee with pre-existing medical conditions will have to visit multiple locations on different days for his medical classification test and specialist reviews.
"At the (regional health hub), which will come up at the new CMPB, this pre-enlistee will be able to complete his medical assessments in a single visit, with specialist appointments scheduled on the same day."
There will also be an improved queue management system to reduce waiting times, he added.
"By streamlining these medical processes, the hub is expected to serve around 200 servicemen daily, ensuring prompt and comprehensive healthcare support throughout their NS journey."
Meanwhile, the public can access exercise facilities at the new CMPB, such as an outdoor running path, fitness zone and football field.
The public can also enjoy amenities such as a childcare centre, a cafe and a food court.
Continue reading...
This translates to an increase of about 4 to 5 per cent for most servicemen.
The allowance supports NSFs' personal upkeep and recognises their service, and is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains adequate, Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How said on Monday (Mar 3) during the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) Budget debate in parliament.
This will be the fourth adjustment to allowances over the last ten years, the ministry said separately.
The previous increase was in July 2023, when allowances were raised by S$125 to S$200, depending on the serviceman’s rank and vocation.
With the latest revision, an NSF holding the rank of recruit or trainee will receive an allowance of S$790, up from the current S$755.
For an SAF NSF naval diver, SPF NSF police tactical trooper or SCDF NSF firefighter holding the rank of corporal, the monthly allowance will increase to S$1,290 from S$1,250.
REDESIGNING ROLES
The SAF has also been reviewing its medical classification system to move away from a binary combat-fit or non-combat fit model.
Mr Heng first announced the shift during his ministry's budget debate in 2021.
"The new system will assess each serviceman on a more granular scale, allowing better characterisation of their medical fitness and functional capacity so that they can be better matched to more operationally effective roles," he said on Monday.
"This is a fundamental change that we are carefully studying and determining how to implement."
Over the past two years, the SAF has been conducting functional assessments for pre-enlistees with selected orthopaedic conditions, in addition to the standard medical screening.
Since 2022, about 300 pre-enlistees have undergone selected functional assessments and 230 - or two-thirds of them - were able to contribute more effectively over a wider range of roles, Mr Heng said.
The SAF has also continued to leverage technology and redesign jobs to expand servicemen's deployment opportunities.
Since 2021, it redesigned 2,000 roles across 25 vocations, such as combat medics, infantry carrier vehicle operators and military police.
More than 1,000 NSFs have also been deployed in a wider range of operational roles to date, MINDEF added.
CMPB TO OPEN PROGRESSIVELY
As part of improving the NS experience, the new Central Manpower Base (CMPB), located opposite Cashew MRT station, will progressively open in phases from May 2025.
Mr Heng previously announced the new facility during last year's Budget debate. It will replace the current one at Depot Road.
The new CMPB will serve as an integrated "one-stop" service centre for NS administration. This includes completing medical screenings, attending NS fitness activities at the all-weather fitness conditioning centre and purchasing NS necessities, said Mr Heng.
Illustration of the new Central Manpower Base in Bukit Gombak. (Image: MINDEF)
The new CMPB will also house the SAF's second regional health hub - with the first being at Kranji Camp III.
Spanning two levels, the CMPB hub will consolidate key healthcare facilities into one location, said Mr Heng.
"Today, a pre-enlistee with pre-existing medical conditions will have to visit multiple locations on different days for his medical classification test and specialist reviews.
"At the (regional health hub), which will come up at the new CMPB, this pre-enlistee will be able to complete his medical assessments in a single visit, with specialist appointments scheduled on the same day."
There will also be an improved queue management system to reduce waiting times, he added.
"By streamlining these medical processes, the hub is expected to serve around 200 servicemen daily, ensuring prompt and comprehensive healthcare support throughout their NS journey."
Meanwhile, the public can access exercise facilities at the new CMPB, such as an outdoor running path, fitness zone and football field.
The public can also enjoy amenities such as a childcare centre, a cafe and a food court.
Continue reading...