When Singapore separated from Malaysia and became an independent nation in 1965, building the capability to defend herself became her top priority.

Being a small nation, it was not viable to sustain a large regular standing army hence National Service was introduced in August 1967 under the National Service (Amendment) Bill, and the acronym NS (National Service) has since become part of the Singaporean identity.

Did You Know? • NS was first introduced in August 1967. • The Singapore Police Force introduced full-time NS in 1975 when they were required to undertake new responsibility of protecting vital installations during peace time. • The NS system for Singapore Civil Defence Force was established in 1981.

Under the NS Bill, all eligible male Singaporeans were required to enlist for full-time National Service (2 to 3 years) in the Armed Forces and part-time service (12 years) in the People’s Defence Force (PDF), the Vigilante Corps (VC) and Special Constabulary (SC).

The pioneer National Servicemen (Full-time) of 40 years ago could not be more different from today's recruits. The first draft consisted of young men born in 1949 and training for the NS recruits then was a case of mutual learning as they were trained by newly-commissioned officers who were just a few steps ahead of them.

Training was tough, but this was what made the Basic Military Training (BMT) experience totally unforgettable.

Transforming a group of disparate individuals into a dynamic team is what NS training is all about. Each team is part of a bigger fighting machine, and the stronger the team spirit, the more formidable the machine.

Forty years down the road, NS remains the key national institution that forges strong bonds among Singaporeans and it is the backbone that have made the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) a strong organisation.

The three basics; equipping, training and feeding have made quantum leaps ahead, however, some things have not changed. No amount of sophisticated equipment can replace our NS Forces securing his piece of turf as the signal of ownership.

Whatever the changes, defence needs, the rationale for NS and the mission of SAF, SPF and SCDF remains the same. The strong commitment of Singaporeans to National Service is vital to Singapore's security.

NS 40 Exhibition

The NS40 Exhibition which is held from 12-15 April at Ngee Ann City, Civic Plaza, salutes the contributions of our National Servicemen over the last 40 years.

It comprises three main sectors, namely “The Essentials”, “Our Workday” and “Leaving My Mark”.

	The Essentials		Our Workday		Leaving My Mark
My Enlistment The evolution of enlistment processes over the last 40 years and the common processes amongst the different services will be displayed. Our Training/Safety Get a feel of how training is conducted. This includes the usage of simulators and photographs showing live firing at the range. This booth also features the development and inculcation of safety culture in the various services. My Bonding Visitors wil be able to upload photographs from the electronic time capsule. My Routine To have enough sleep, that's what keeps our NSmen going. Get a close look at their bunks. Our Operations This booth features the involvement of our personnel in various operations such as Homeland Defence, Police Operations, SCDF fire-fighting and rescue ops, as well as Humanitarian and Disaster Relief operations such as Hotel New World, SARs and Nicoll Highway Collapse. My Recognition, My Wishes, My Hopes This booth gives recognition to the outstanding service personnel who have contributed to Singapore over the years. It also features the evolution of SAFRA and HomeTeam NS over the years.

Highlights of the Exhibition Enjoy the following highlights at the NS40 Exhibition from 13 to 15 April 2007: • Daily:    Jack Neo will perform ‘live’ with SAF Music & Drama Company from 8pm-9pm. • 13 Apr:    SCDF Musical CPR performance at 5pm. • 14 Apr:    “Live Outdoor Broadcast” by SAFRA Radio at 11am. • 15 Apr:    “Best of Times” Finals by SAFRA Radio at 11am.

NS 40 Exhibition Roadshow To bring the exhibition closer to the heartlands, we will be holding roadshows at the open fields near Jurong East MRT and Tampines Mall.  The timings are as depicted: Jurong Open Field near Jurong East MRT, Jurong East Street 12 21 & 22 April 2007, 11am - 9pm   Tampines Open Field in front of Tampines Mall, Tampines Central 5 28 & 29 April 2007, 11am - 9pm