Forum: Matching NSmen roles with civilian skills shows willingness to adapt NS to changing realities
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I refer to the article “ Mindef pushes to match NSmen with specialised civilian skills to relevant military roles
As an operationally ready national serviceman, I appreciate Mindef’s efforts to better match NSmen roles with the civilian skills we acquire over time.
Like many NSmen, my professional experience has evolved since my full-time national service days, and it is encouraging to see these skills recognised.
When in-camp training duties draw on what I do in my civilian job, my time in camp feels more purposeful. It also strengthens my sense of contributing meaningfully to the SAF, beyond fulfilling an obligation. This makes a real difference in sustaining motivation and commitment over the long term.
Such an approach is especially important as security challenges increasingly extend into non-kinetic areas such as information, digital resilience and psychological defence. Mindef’s outreach to identify and deploy specialised expertise shows a willingness to adapt NS to changing realities.
Overall, aligning civilian expertise with military needs reassures me that NS is evolving in a thoughtful and practical way, while remaining credible and effective.
K.B. Ryan Joshua Mahindapala
