NEW MDES CAREER SCHEME TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENT FOR THE SAF

Come Apr 2010, expect to see some Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel donning distinctly different rank insignias. In order to attract and retain talent, the SAF has rolled out a new career initiative: the Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) as well as other enhancements to existing officers' and warrant officers' schemes.

In order to maintain a strong and capable SAF, it is imperative to continue recruiting and retaining able and committed people, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean during a visit to Sembawang Air Base on 14 May.

To do just that, selected SAF personnel known as Military Experts (MEs) will be allowed to develop deep specialisations in key military domains such as engineering and military intelligence, to the age of 60, under the MDES.

SAF personnel whose vocations fall under the MDES umbrella will be given letters of offer to convert to the new scheme from 12 Oct, and those who opt-in will get to wear the new rank insignias from Apr 2010.

The MDES comprises an eight-rank structure, from ME1 to ME8. There are two main entry points at ME1 and ME4, with the former for those holding diploma qualifications and below, while university graduates can expect to start at ME4. Like other existing SAF career schemes, salaries will be benchmarked against similar jobs in the private sector.

"The new career schemes will allow the SAF to keep people who have a breadth of experience coupled with the depth of knowledge," said Brigadier-General (BG) Chan Chun Sing, Chief of Staff-Joint Staff.

One of the many who have opted for the MDES is Second Warrant Officer (2WO) Zulkarnain of the 9th Army Maintenance Base.

"The MDES will give me the potential to move deeper into my specialisation of automotive maintenance. The longer service term of up to age 60 also gives me a chance to contribute more to the SAF by imparting my skills and knowledge to the junior technicians," said the Master Technician Trainer.

One of the key ideas behind MDES is to allow SAF personnel to continue doing jobs that they are interested in.

"The SAF needs different kinds of people for different roles and the MDES will allow personnel who wish to immerse themselves in a particular field of knowledge to do so," explained BG Chan.

"We need to appeal to a whole spectrum of people to attract the talent that the SAF needs and it would be quite silly to have a one-size-fits-all scheme. It is about having a more diverse set of career schemes to suit diverse job requirements."

In fact, the MDES has been so well received that it is attracting people before its official roll-out in 2010.

One such person is 17-year-old Ng Jie Min, a first-year student at the Singapore Polytechnic, who expressed interest in joining the SAF after he learnt about the MDES.

"Since young, I have been interested in planes and how they work. I think the MDES will allow me to pursue this interest yet provide me with a meaningful career," said Ng, who hopes to join the Republic of Singapore Air Force after he graduates.

Apart from the MDES, enhancements to existing Officers' and Warrant Officers' career schemes will also allow regulars to enjoy a longer career.

Officers can expect to serve up till the age of 50, from 45 before. Likewise, warrant officers will be able to serve an additional five years, to the age of 55.

In addition, under the Enhanced Warrant Officers' scheme, outstanding performers of each cohort can receive the new Third Warrant Officer (3WO) rank as early as their sixth year of service.

The three new SAF career schemes will function together towards a common mission: to ensure that the SAF has the right people to deliver a swift and decisive victory against aggressors if ever called upon.

The MDES will include specialised vocations such as:

- All Engineering and Technical vocations in the Army, RSN and RSAF
- All Combat and Combat-Technical vocations in the RSN (less Naval Divers) and selected Combat-Technical vocations in the RSAF
- Air Operations System Specialist, Aviation Material Specialist and Aviation Vehicle Specialist vocations in the SAF
- Naval Chefs
- Bandmaster and Musician vocations in the SAF Band
- Selected Intelligence vocations
- Nursing Officers and Combat Medic vocations
- Other vocations may be added subsequently if deemed suitable

07 Oct 09 - Fact Sheet: Military Domain Experts Scheme

14 May 09 - New and Enhanced Career Schemes for SAF Personnel