NSmen attend ceremonies to mark SAF Day

NSmen and employers attend the SAF Day combined rededication ceremony at the Singapore Institute of Technology on July 1, 2016. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
(From left) Professor Tan Thiam Soon, president, Singapore Institute of Technology and Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, reciting the pledge at the SAF Day combined rededication ceremony at the Singapore Institute of Technology. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

SINGAPORE - More than 660 NSmen and their employers, from 303 companies, gathered for SAF Day rededication ceremonies which were held at four locations around Singapore on Friday (July 1).

The ceremonies were held at the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI), Safra Punngol, Singapore Institute of Technology and Biopolis.

Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen, who was at the ceremony held at the SCCCI, urged Singaporeans to support national service.

Dr Ng said: "On this SAF day, the men and women of the SAF reaffirm their individual pledge to perform their duty to the best of their ability and to faithfully and diligently protect Singapore with their lives.

"What we inherited from our founding generation - our home, our Singapore - is precious and our way of life is worth defending together."

A local training and consultancy firm, eLC, was one of companies represented at the rededication ceremony held at the Singapore Institute of Technology.

Its human resources executive, Ms Ivy Ang, said that, as part of eLC's efforts to support NSmen, it rewards those who do well in their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT).

She said: "Once they get their awards from Mindef, we will match it dollar-for-dollar. So if they attain the gold award which pays out $500, they will get to take home $1,000."

NSman Lincoln Wong, who is a trainer at eLC subsidiary Powerdrive, said that such benefits were among the reasons he chose to work for eLC.

He said: "This is one of a kind; it shows that they take care of us when we have national service."

About 250 retailers and merchants will be offering discounts and other benefits to NSmen on SAF day this year.

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