SOLDIER ASSISTANCE FUNDS

Sometimes, all it takes is a little support to change someone's life for the better. Find out more about some of the funds and awards available in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) that help personnel tide over difficult times.

Care for soldiers is one of the eight core values of the SAF. While it usually means giving soldiers adequate rest and training them effectively with a personal touch, caring can mean so much more.

As our soldiers put their lives on the line to protect our country, the SAF has got their backs when it comes to their families.

Bursary boost

Getting an education does not come cheap. To provide financial support to families and ensure that their children have opportunities to succeed, the SAF Central Welfare Fund (CWF) Bursary Award was set up to subsidise the education-related expenses of servicemen's children.

Children who have excelled in their studies or co-curricular activities can also look forward to receiving the SAF CWF Merit Bursary, which helps to further subsidise education-related costs. And even if recipients have already received grants from the Ministry of Education or education-related awards from other organisations, they are still eligible for this award.

These bursary awards are some of the welfare initiatives provided by the SAF Welfare Council.

"Family support is very important, especially when our servicemen are performing onerous tasks. The organisation offers support in various ways, and for these bursary grants, we hope that they can alleviate the financial burden that some of our servicemen face as a result of educational costs,"said Mr Ong Koon Hong, Head of the SAF Personnel Service Centre.

"More importantly, we hope to encourage their children to continue doing well in school."

Lending a helping hand in times of need

When death or accidents happen, financial issues naturally become a pressing concern for families.

Set up in 1996, the SAF Benevolent Framework helps to provide financial assistance to Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)/SAF personnel and their immediate family members in the event of the servicemen's death or total incapacitation.

There are five grants under this framework, which assist the short-term, medium-term and longer-term financial needs of the families affected.

Public support

In December 2012, Navy serviceman Military Expert 2 Jason Chee lost three of his limbs during a ship accident. There was a great outpouring of public sympathy, and many people were looking for a way to donate money through the SAF to help him. However, no such channel existed.

Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen then announced in January 2013 that MINDEF would set up the SAF Care Fund, which could accept donations from both the public and in-service personnel. Said Dr Ng: "The harsh reality is that risks come with every soldier's duties. MINDEF has therefore decided to start an SAF Care Fund for severely disabled servicemen... This SAF Care Fund will be over and above MINDEF's existing compensation and welfare schemes."

Last year, the fund received a donation from the United Kingdom, courtesy of the SAF Central Band. The band had been performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the organisers had wanted to pay them. However, the band did not take the payment and, instead, requested that a donation be made in their name to the SAF Care Fund.

Public contributions to the SAF Care Fund are tax-deductible. To donate to the SAF Care Fund, call the hotline at 6373-1045 (during office hours on weekdays) or send an email to
saf_care_fund@defence.gov.sg.

Check out these examples of how the SAF Bursary Award has helped SAF/MINDEF personnel and their families.

Military Expert 3
Tan Hock Beng, 40
Chief Weapon Control System Expert, Headquarters 185 Squadron

Children:
Grace Tan, 13, St Hilda's Secondary School
Joyce Tan, 8, St Hilda's Primary School
Reine Tan, 5, Bedok Methodist Church Kindergarten

Both Grace and Joyce were awarded the SAF Bursary Award in 2014.

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"I've been a single parent since 2013, and with the awards, I've been able to help my daughters buy school books, new school bags and shoes. Having new things to start a school term motivates my kids to study harder. I also use the leftover money to buy treats to encourage them when they get good results."

2nd Warrant Officer
Ridwan Bin Abdul Rahman, 42
Senior Transport Leader, Transport Hub West

Children:
Nur Izzah Zarifah, 16, Woodlands Ring Secondary School
Muhammad Syahmi, 14, Woodlands Ring Secondary School
Muhammad Syakir, 9, Greenwood Primary School

The family has been receiving the SAF Bursary Award since 2008.

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"As the sole breadwinner, I've found the SAF Bursary Award useful in helping me to provide for my children's educational needs. Besides using it to buy school books, the money goes into paying for their enrichment classes and swimming lessons. The recognition of receiving the bursary award is a good motivation for my children to do better as well."

Michael Shankar, 45
Snr Supervisor Exam Section, Naval Military Institute

Children:
Alvin Aravinnth, 17, ITE College West
Ashley Ashivini, 14, Fuchun Secondary School
Aaron Ahkhilen, 10, Rosyth School

All three children received the SAF Bursary Award in 2014.

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"My wife was retrenched three years ago and with my in-laws staying with us, I was financially strained. The bursary really came in handy for us as we could buy food, study materials and school shoes, among others. My children are also more motivated now to do their best. My eldest son, Alvin, and my daughter, Ashley, are in the top 10 of their classes. I am very proud of them."