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SINGAPORE: More frequent and larger increments in the rank allowance for NSmen is among the recommendations put up by the fifth committee set up to Recognise the Contributions of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence or RECORD V (Five).
Releasing its recommendations at a news conference Thursday, the committee chaired by Minister of State for Defence Associate Prof Koo Tsai Kee also listed proposals such as enhanced fitness corners in housing estates for the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), a new SAFRA clubhouse in Punggol, and a HomeTeam NS clubhouse in the eastern part of Singapore.
Singapore's Defence Ministry convenes the RECORD committee once every few years to review the recognition given to national servicemen.
Said Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, chairman of RECORD V: "Singapore would not have been where it is today without the security provided by our NSmen. Our recommendations serve not only to recognise the contributions of our NSmen, but also the support by (their) families.
"We also aim to better help them keep fit on their own time and to minimise disruption to their work during ICT. However, our recommendations are not meant to fully compensate for the sacrifices made by our Nsmen. Rather the recommendations are meant as simple and tangible means of expressing our nation's gratitude to them."
The present committee considered five key areas in their recommendations – rising aspirations, the importance of leadership, encouraging fitness, globalisation and increased work demands, as well as building cohesion.
To meet rising aspirations, the committee recommends more frequent and larger increments in rank allowance.
It said the quantum of each increment should be varied based on the contribution of the NSman since his last increment.
To better recognise NSmen in combat vocations, the committee urges the combat allowance be increased so that the allowance premium given remained substantial throughout their operationally ready NS cycle.
It also recommended that those holding command appointments should be given an "add-on allowance" to recognise their heavier responsibilities.
Said Frederick Tan, a member of RECORD V: "A lot of NSmen do not even submit their make-up pay, so in this situation they can actually have their pay increased in terms of their rank pay."
Continued Koo: "Another feedback we received was that the rank allowance for NS specialists and warrant officers should reflect their duties and responsibilities. In view of the important roles they play in the SAF, the committee felt that their allowances should be increased.
"Today, the monthly rank allowance of a third sergeant is S$630, which is only marginally higher than that of a corporal at S$490 per month. To better reflect the greater role and larger responsibilities of our NS specialists and warrant officers, RECORD V recommends that their rank allowances be increased."
However, the committee did not make any tax-related proposals this time round.
Said Koo: "This year's Budget is full of goodies, we thought that this RECORD V does not need to delve into more tax goodies. In any case NSmen have been receiving tax deductions for many years. It is still on-going.
"If you look through the recommendations of RECORD One to RECORD Four, you find that many of those recommendations have stayed and not have been taken away. Many of them deal with tax issues."
Keeping fit is also critical for any NSman.
Hence, the committee recommends fitness corners in housing estates be enhanced for them to keep up their exercise regime.
Said Indranee Rajah, Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC: "Putting it in HDB estates means you are covering 80 per cent of the island and that will facilitate it for the NSmen."
Another recommendation was to allow NSmen to bring their company-configured laptops, blackberries and PDAs for use during non-training hours.
The SAFRA clubhouse in Jurong is the result of a key recommendation made by the previous RECORD committee.
If the government accepts the recommendations made by the current committee, then NSmen and their families living in the Punggol area will soon see a new SAFRA clubhouse in that vicinity.
The Home Team has also been urged to consider building another clubhouse for their NSmen in the eastern part of Singapore.
The government is expected to respond to RECORD Five's proposals next month.
- CNA/sf/yb
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