SAF WINS S'PORE HR AWARDS 3 YEARS IN A ROW

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has been recognised for its sustained efforts in developing its people, and in delivering excellent electronic Human Resources (e-HR) services at the Singapore Human Resources Awards 2016.

The SAF clinched the Leading HR Practices Award in e-HR Management, as well as in Learning and Development - for the third year in a row.

Organised by the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI), the annual awards recognise organisations with commendable HR and people management practices.

For winning the two awards for three consecutive years, the SAF was also conferred the corresponding HR Advocate Awards in the same categories. It also won a fifth award this year - the Leading HR Practices Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility.

Colonel (COL) Lee Yem Choo, Commander of Personnel Command (PERSCOM), received the awards on behalf of the SAF at the presentation gala held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on 8 Jul.

PERSCOM is the main driver of HR functions in the SAF, which brings together the key HR agencies as well as HR administrative elements of the ground units.

Seventy-one awards were given out to organisations in both the public and private sectors. The recipients included Bloomberg, Singtel, the SAF and Public Service Division, Prime Minister's Office.

In his speech, guest of honour Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin noted that the majority of the winners were from the public sector: "This acknowledges the government's efforts in driving good HR practices."

He added that good HR practices is about "how we treat our people, how we look after them well, how we treat them better, how we cherish them (and) how we nurture them."

Nurturing people

These were exactly the principles that drove the HR management policies in the SAF, said COL Lee. "Serving our people is at the heart of what we do."
For example, in the area of Learning and Development, the SAF partnered with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency to accredit skills that Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) picked up during their NS.

The accreditation, an initiative being implemented gradually, helps employers to understand how various skills learnt in NS are relevant in the workforce, said COL Lee.
For instance, the life-saving skills that SAF medics are trained in are highly sought after in the paramedic profession.

Better HR services

The SAF is constantly looking for ways to provide better HR support for both its commanders and servicemen.

For instance, the SAF is developing a mobile-friendly website that allows its personnel to apply for leave using their smartphones, said COL Lee. Commanders will be able to approve the leave application online. Currently, such HR matters can only be done through the internal network within SAF camps. The mobile website will be ready in 2017.

Asked why the SAF was able to win the awards three years in a row, COL Lee credited the achievements to all personnel in the SAF's HR community.

"A strong HR community will deliver positive experience for the SAF. Our vision is to provide service excellence for our people. No matter what we do, be it in the forefront (or the backend of various HR functions), we make sure that when we serve, we go the extra mile to provide excellent service," she said.