COMPANIES HONOURED FOR MAKING TOTAL DEFENCE THEIR BUSINESS

Making special manpower arrangements, rewarding the staff for good performance in their yearly National Service (NS) training and putting in place no-deferment policies. These are just some of the ways which companies support their employees who are Operationally-Ready National Servicemen (NSmen).

"National Servicemen form the backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), and your making provisions for your NSmen employees to participate in their In-Camp Trainings (ICTs) is critical to ensuring that they remain operationally ready," said Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the annual Total Defence Awards (TDA) presentation ceremony held at the Shangri-la Hotel on 27 Jul.

Employers who have shown support for NS and civil resource (CR) owners who have made their vehicles and equipment readily available to the SAF during resource requisition exercises are presented TDAs, in recognition of their contributions to the security of Singapore.

This year, 10 companies received the pinnacle Minister for Defence Award (MDA) for their exemplary support for Total Defence; 115 companies received the Distinguished Defence Partner Award (DDPA) and 334 companies received the Meritorious Defence Partner Award (MDPA).

At the ceremony, Dr Ng emphasised the importance of being prepared for crises and the continued ability to withstand adversities as they come. "We must expect the unexpected, and whenever a crisis hits, we need to be prepared," he said, citing unforeseen events such as SARS and the H1N1 flu pandemic which threatened lives and the economy in Singapore.

These messages were not lost on this year's recipients. "As a company invested in Singapore and a fully participating member of the community in which we operate, it's important to play our part in the security of the country," said Mr Christopher Snook, Group President, Novartis Asia Pacific Pharmaceuticals, a recipient of the MDA.

At the multinational company, which has 35 NSmen employees, support for NS is not just rhetoric. As part of its no-deferment policy, the company projects its manpower requirements six months in advance so that its staff can fulfil their NS duties without worries.

"We realise that if NSmen are to be fully committed to their training, it's important that they feel completely relaxed about their employer's support, to the extent that they don't have to worry about leaving a gap at work. The commitment from our side to the NSmen is to make sure that they are covered and to assure them that we make such provisions on their behalf," explained Mr Snook.

This is something that the employees at Novartis are grateful for. "When I report for ICT, knowing that I won't have to worry about my work really gives me the motivation to do well in my ICT," said Mr Kalaiasaran K, Regional Head for Asia Pacific, Middle East and African countries, Novartis.

The company also takes performance in ICT and other NS-related activities into account during staff appraisals. "When a staff member does exceptionally well during ICT, the company receives a commendation letter from the Ministry of Defence. We also monitor individual staff fitness levels so that they can perform well in their annual Individual Physical Proficiency Test," explained Mr Kalaiasaran who is a Brigade Sergeant Major in his NS unit.

Toll Logistics (Asia), also an MDA recipient, is another company which sees commitment to NS as part and parcel of its operations. This civil resource owner has placed up to 85 of its vehicles for CR requisitions. The company responded within two hours - well within the stipulated timing of 10 hours - during a CR requisition exercise conducted by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) last year.

Their employees' NS training has also proved beneficial to the company. "We reap the benefits of having a physically-fit workforce because of NS," said Chief Executive Officer Wayne Hunt, who also cited the NS-imbued values of teamwork and adaptability as valuable assets for the company.

"Those skill-sets which they learn during their NS duties result in tighter camaraderie and cooperation amongst the staff as well," said Mr Hunt.

"My NS call-ups are always met with positive responses from my bosses and they try not to call me while I'm on ICT!" laughed Mr Sum Kar Yin, Assistant Operations Manager (Warehousing).

"This is important to me because I believe in doing my best for each and every one of my NS training and this level of support gives me the space to perform well," said Mr Sum, who holds the rank of Captain (NS). As Officer Commanding of a support company in 428th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment, he was surprised that his superiors encouraged him to attend half-day planning briefs conducted by his NS unit. "They would tell me that it's only for a few hours and I should attend. Work matters could be handled by my other colleagues," said Mr Sum, who estimated that one employee in Toll Logistics (Asia) would be away on ICT every four months.

Over at DNI Technology, a home-grown medium-sized engineering firm which received the DDPA, care for its staff who are NSmen includes monetary awards. The company has a long-running policy of matching awards which their staff receive for good performance in IPPT and other NS-related tests.

"I've always supported NS because defence is everybody's business," said Managing Director Yong Kok Kong, who had worked for 15 years at what is now-known as the Defence Science & Technology Agency, before starting his own company.

Mr Wong (extreme right) speaking with some of the MPDA recipients.

"Rather than viewing NS as an obstacle to his company's operations, he sees his employees' NS commitments as a boost. After a few ICTs, I see that they have become more confident and are better able to handle situations," said Mr Yong.

At the ceremony, Dr Ng also presented honorary awards to eight Minister for Defence League members who have displayed strong commitment to Total Defence in the past five years; while Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong presented the DDPA. Mr Wong had presented the MPDA in a separate ceremony held on 20 Jul.

Introduced in 1984, Total Defence brings together Singaporeans in a comprehensive framework to respond to challenges of any kind. Support from employers and CR owners has grown steadily over the years, with a total of 467 companies honoured for their outstanding contributions this year.