RECORD V UPDATE: MORE RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTED
PHOTO // Chua Soon Lye
With 80 percent of the initiatives now in place, PIONEER susses out the latest updates to the efforts to recognise the contributions of national servicemen.
Since the Government accepted the 18 recommendations by the fifth committee to Recognise the Contributions of Operationally Ready National Servicemen to Total Defence (RECORD V) in September 2009, the changes in policies and improvements to facilities have been carried out at a steady pace.
Training convenience
In the past year, help in training for the annual Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) for Operationally-ready National Servicemen (NSmen) has been gathering steam as Phase I of the IPPT-in-your-community project came to a close in June 2010.
Phase II, which is ongoing, will see at least 50 more fitness corners in public housing estates being spruced up across the island. To date, work on 20 Phase II facilities (see table) has been completed. Each of these enhanced fitness corners will feature training facilities for the IPPT static stations, as well as clearly demarcated 2.4km running routes.Each fitness corner selected for upgrading has had to fulfil stringent criteria.
"They must have at least 250 NSmen living between five and 10 minutes away, or approximately 500 metres from the facility," said Colonel (Volunteer) Chan Chee Pong, Chairman of the 10-member "Fitness Corner for NSmen" committee. For NSmen who live in northwest Singapore, there will be a new Fitness Conditioning Centre (FCC) in Kranji.
For a start, Phase I of the construction work, which is slated to end by May, will see Remedial Training and IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT) facilities being raised. Phase II, to be completed by September, will see the inclusion of full FCC facilities.
Striking a balance
Other measures include making it more convenient for NSmen to stay connected to work during In-Camp Training, through the business centres and new rules which permit certain electronic devices such as official laptop computers into camps.
With the completion of the pilot phase, the Singapore Armed Forces is currently studying the details of this new initiative.
In addition to the three existing business centres in Jurong Camp II, Kranji Camp III and Sungei Gedong Camp, up to 20 more business centres are expected to be enhanced from work year 2011 onwards.
To better serve the burgeoning number of families in Punggol and upcoming residential clusters in the area, there will be a new SAFRA clubhouse next to the Punggol river. The new clubhouse is expected to be completed by 2015, when the town becomes more populated.
With implementation work of the recommendations in its final phases, there is no better time to be an NSman.
With 10 sites completed under Phase I, look out
for at least 50 more IPPT-in-your-community
projects to spring up this year.
Twenty of these planned sites have already been
completed in Tampines, Tanjong Pagar,
Bishan-Toa Payoh, Sembawang and West Coast
areas. All 50 fitness corners are expected to
be enhanced by October this year.
| Tampines | Tampines North Park (Near Blk 450C Tampines St 41) Tampines Park (Near Blk 147 Tampines St 12) Tampines Central Park (Near Blk 855 Tampines St 83) Near Blk 288 Tampines St 22 Recreation Park (Near Blk 127 Tampines St 11) |
|---|---|
| Tanjong Pagar | Near Blk 35 Jalan Rumah Tinggi Near Blk 27A Jalan Membina |
| Bishan- Toa Payoh | Near Blk 228 Lor 8 Toa Payoh Near Blk 267 Bishan Street 24 Toa Payoh Lorong 7 Park (Near Blk 2 Lor 7 Toa Payoh) |
| Sembawang | Jelutung Harbour Park (Near Blk 488 Admiralty Link) Vista Park (Near Blk 583 Woodlands Drive 16) Near Blk 281 Yishun St 22 Near Blk 503C Canberra Link Near Blk 126 Yishun St 11 |
| West Coast | Near Blk 522 Jurong West St 52 Near Blk 665A Jurong West St 64 Near Blk 64 Teban Garden Near Blk 520 West Coast Road Near Blk 208 Boon Lay Place |
2011: A good year to be an NSman
Revised allowance for NSmen commanders
NSmen who hold key command appointments received a 20 percent allowance hike over and above existing allowances for key appointment holders from May 2010.
Allowance Increments for NSmen
Since April 2010, faster and larger increments to NSmen's allowances have been put in place based on the following formula: NSmen who have served a Low-Key training stint will receive a five percent increment, while those who have gone on High-Key training stints will receive a 10 percent increment for every active work year they are called up.
Family Recognition Vouchers
Since June 2010, the top 10 percent of NSmen undergoing ICT and training courses have been receiving vouchers worth $100 to be used at attractions related to defence and national education, such as SAFRA clubhouses and SAF holiday resorts. As of end January, more than 5,000 such vouchers have been awarded to NSmen for their good performance.
Support letters for university admission
Implemented since May last year, full-time national servicemen commanders may request for an endorsement letter in support of their university or scholarship applications.
