The National Day Rally Speech was different this year. The Prime Minister actually announced what appears to be a tangible recognition of the contributions of male citizens who serve full-time National Service (NSF) and Operationally Ready NS (ORNS) or more commonly known by NSmen who serve our reservist liabilities.
Goodies for the New NSF/NSmen
The Mindef article, "Details of award to recognise citizens' NS contributions unveiled" shared more about the actual details of the award. What the Government is doing is giving $9,000 to $10,500 depending on whether you have completed your key milestones:
- Completes full time NS
- Midway through ORNS cycle
- Completion of ORNS training cycle (typically end of 10 years comprising 7 high key and 3 low key in-camp training or age 40 for Warrant Officers, Specialists and Enlisted (WOSE) and 50 for officers)
The consequence of the Government's measure is predictable, many including myself, feel that it is a way to recognise those who are pressed into NS for duty, honour and country. However, this award has the (unintended?) consequence of pissing off most of the NSmen who have already reached Mindef Reserve, i.e. they have completed their 10 years (earlier was 13 years) of ORNS and/or those officially demobilised upon reaching age 40 (WOSE) and 50 for officers.
I am in this group as I was transferred to Mindef Reserve Status a few years ago after serving 10 years of 7 high key (including two operational deployments doing protection of KINS) and 3 low key in-camp training. I never missed any of my reservist obligations and did my IPPT annually without fail and without ever getting RT.
The Government is trying to mitigate the consequences of their "grow the GDP by importing all and sundry foreigners" policies which result in direct job/educational competition for male citizens who are unfairly handicapped by joining the work force or higher education two years behind their female citizens and foreigners.
Frack the Old (NSmen)
While those who receive the $9,000 may applaud the Government for this award, many of us who have sweated blood and tears for duty, honour and country cannot feel bitter about the treatment given to the newer male citizens who are now serving NS. Those who serve the 13 year cycles feel even worst given they had long reservist liabilities coupled with relatively poor compensation as they will not be receiving anything beyond the additional GST credits given out by the Government now and then.
While some observers may feel that we old NSmen are just being sore for being left out, I for one feel that the Government has still failed to address the fundamental issue, that is the lack of a level playing field in jobs and education for male citizens vis-a-vis female citizens and especially foreigners.
No amount of money can compensate NSF and NSmen who die in their service to their country. I have seen a fellow reservist collapse and subsequently die, during the 2.4km run of the in-camp Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT). How does any monetary amount compensate us for the risks of dying and permanent injuries caused by our NSF or ORNS stints?
In putting a dollar value on NSF/NSmen contributions, Mindef has inadvertently opened up pandora's box. They have monetised the value of us risking our lives. For older NSmen, the value is near to ZERO. For newer NSF and NSmen, it is $9,000. The Temasek Review article on this issue is pretty spot on with some of its observations on how meagre this sum is if we use the market to determine if the $9,000 fairly reflects the opportunity cost lost by male citizens vis-a-vis a foreign counterpart or female citizen.
This $9,000 award basically doesn't go enough to address the inequalities between male citizens and foreigners/female citizens. To add insult to injury, old NSmen are all left out totally in the cold. I for one don't need the $9,000 as it's not enough to even pay for the interest costs I incurred on funding my own home. The bigger issue is how does the country recognise the role we play in protecting Singapore for all residents regardless of whether they are citizens, permanent residents or transient foreign workers?
Why not give children of NSmen priority in education i.e. priority in good schools?
Why not given NSmen privileges to cut queues at the post office, the cinema etc?
In Singapore, as a male citizen, you are good enough to die for your country, but not good enough to given a level playing field to compete against female citizens and foreigners for jobs and education.
Majullah Singapura.
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5 comments:
ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for the country.
I served, completed my reservist and am not getting anything for it. But what I learnt in the 2yrs will be with me for life. Its a unique opportunity. Sure, two years is not insignificant, but its up to the individual to make the best of those 2 years, or squander it away. If you squandered it away, you will likely do so anyways outside of the military.
If we don't protect our little red dot, then who will? Foreign workers? Should we outsource that too?
Dude, frack them all. They should have given one time payment to the old timers as the ultimate vote-buying. They didn't.
Hi TS
I agree that how we serve during the two years makes a difference in terms of the experience we gain.
But the more fundamental question is, why do you and I NOT have a CHOICE in deciding whether to serve the country in the military or not. It's not a question about patriotism, FYI, I also serve 2.5 years of full-time NS in combat units and 10 years of reservist including two operational deployments protecting KINS without any deferment.
You've raised an important issue. Why must you as a citizen serve and yet get so little in terms of economic benefits compared to PRs and foreigners who are competing with you on this little red dot for the same public services, jobs and educational opportunities?
Public goods such as security and safety provided by YOUR time and YOUR sacrifice in blood, sweat, tears are enjoyed by ALL whether they serve or not. Hasn't it ever crossed your mind the fairness of a system where you NEED to contribute but others do not and they ENJOY the same benefits WITHOUT having to sacrifice ANYTHING?
Actually, we have already outsourced a part of our policing to Gurkhas, Malaysians (there are many Malaysians who sign on as policemen and are PRs), i.e. part of our internal security has already been outsourced.
Taking JFK's quote to the extreme, if your country asks you to make the ultimate sacrifice to die to protect foreigners and their business investments in this little red dot, and assuming you have your own money outside of Singapore and your immediate family are all safely in another country. Would you sacrifice your life for Singapore Inc?
Our country is not ours anymore. Foreigners (PRs and newly converted citizens) are close to 40% of our population. Eventually, Singapore-born and bred Singaporeans will become a minority in our own country.
@The Void Deck
Bro, frack them all indeed. I'm not hard-up for $9,000 in CPF but they should give us TANGIBLE recognition.
I think minimally priority to good schools for our children, healthcare for our aged parents and priority in queues for postal services etc are things they can do but choose not to.
It is Mindef and the MIW who have cheapened our service to the country. This is not the right path towards building an inclusive and cohesive society. They had a chance to include ALL reservists and CHOOSE not to.
We as citizens should CHOOSE our votes carefully in the coming elections for the good of the country as a whole. Singapore's future is more about all the 5 million residents and not just the group of people who are in the upper echelons of society.
Majullah Singapura.
Hi Panzer, good reply to TS. I'm the blogger of NS-Singapore for Lesser Mortals. Please contact me on my blog or email niss9008@hotmail.com as I need some feedback from you on the subject of Conscription is SG.
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