SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) will launch several initiatives geared towards supporting national servicemen, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Monday (jan 18).
These initiatives, which will further efforts made by the Committee to Strengthen National Service, include providing basic life and personal accident insurance coverage for NS men, Dr Ng said in his ministry's Addendum to President's Tony Tan Keng Yam's address at the opening of Parliament last Friday (Jan 15).
Here's a look at some key points he made:
Strengthening NS system
* Mindef will provide basic life and personal accident insurance coverage for NSmen
* Gifts for active NSmen who are newly married or have babies
* Rewarding those who perform well during their NS training with gift vouchers
* Launch of an accreditation scheme called "NS Mark" which will recognise companies with human resource practices that go the extra mile to support their NSman employees
* To celebrate the 50th anniversary of national service in 2017, Mindef will plan a series of NS50 activities to recognise the contributions of NSmen past and present
* Expand efforts for the new Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Volunteer Corps
Preparing for wider range of threats to Singapore's security
* SAF to develop new fighting concepts and pursue technological advancements such as unmanned systems and robotics
* Mindef and SAF will develop new capabilities to defend against cyber threats
* To continue participating in overseas deployments, such as to the anti-ISIS coalition in the Middle East, and contribute to international peace and stability
Deepening bilateral ties, strengthening regional security architecture
* China: Strengthen cooperation through the 2014 Four-Point Consensus
* US and India: Implement recently enhanced and revised Defence Cooperation Agreements
* Australia: Conclude defence cooperation agreements as part of the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
* Continue to work with partners to grow multilateral platforms such as the Shangri-La Dialogue and Asean Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus
* Co-host the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise, involving 10 Asean countries and eight key partners, in May 2016
