Forum: Good reasons why NSmen serve with conviction
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Follow topic:
I refer to the Forum letter “Could NSmen’s mental resilience be a weak link?”
National service is sacrosanct to Singapore’s defence, given the limitations of our population and fiscal resources. Tens of thousands give their time to do their part year after year in training.
Realism in training is what NSmen expect each time because of the price we and our families pay to serve.
Every commander strives to achieve training realism, while ensuring every man returns home safely. This includes caring for the mental well-being of our soldiers.
Our commitment may not have been tested in war, like the author rightly points out, and we hope it never will.
Our commitment is built upon the challenges and struggles we face in juggling work, family and NS responsibilities.
I have seen many doing their part even in extenuating personal circumstances, and not shirking because they know someone else would have to take on their role if they were away. That sense of responsibility is the strongest link in our defence, knowing we serve together.
A large part of resilience comes from knowing why we serve. Training must be and indeed is as realistic as can be safely allowed.
If the test truly comes, what would keep us from caving in would be the clarity of conviction of who and what we are defending in the first place. Our families, our way of life and the very ones we fight alongside with – that is why we serve.
Desmond Fu
