TOTAL DEFENCE - OUR WAY OF LIFE

Singapore's investment in Total Defence has paid dividends for our people, and it will continue to do so, especially in such uncertain times, said Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, at the Total Defence Awards presentation ceremony held on 22 Jul.

"Total Defence has helped us deal with terrorism and not be paralysed by the fear of it," he said.

"We have strengthened our social harmony and unity, and the psychological resilience of our nation, even as we continue to harden our defences and enhance our operational capabilities to respond to the threat."

A demonstration of Total Defence can be seen in the response of the people in the face of challenges such as the Asian financial crisis of 1997, the SARS epidemic in 2003 and most recently, the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, he said.

"They demonstrated how Singaporeans rallied together to overcome challenges, and underscored how forging close and tight bonds with fellow Singaporeans are instrumental for the entire nation to be better prepared to deal with crises when they do strike."

Inaugurated in 1986, the annual Total Defence Awards were previously known as the SAF Awards for Employers and Total Defence Awards for Employers and Civil Resource Owners.

They recognise employer support for National Service and the important role of civil resource (CR) owners in helping the SAF maintain a high level of vigilance and operational readiness.

This year, a record number of 197 employers and CR owners received awards.

Twelve outstanding National Servicemen (NSmen) nine from the Army, one from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and two from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) received the SAF NSmen of the Year Award.

During the ceremony, employers and CR owners also signed a Declaration of Support Certificate to reaffirm their commitment to Total Defence.

First-time winner, Motorola Electronics Pte Ltd, which received the Meritorious Defence Partner Award, believes in a holistic wellness programme for its employees. It is also supportive of in-camp training (ICT) for its male staff.

Major (NS) Lim Boon Cheong, Motorola's Director of Business Development, credited his company's support, which enables him to carry out his NS duties with 9th Signal Battalion with peace of mind.

"I am an Officer Commanding, and over ten years, I have only deferred once and that was when my wife delivered our first girl," he said.

"So in this sense, the company has been very supportive. It gives me time out to do my NS because they know the importance of national defence."

A new addition this year is the introduction of the Minister for Defence Award (MiDAs) league, made up of companies that receive the top accolade the Minister for Defence Award.

MiDAs league members distinguish themselves not only as leaders, but also as strong advocates and partners for Total Defence.

This year's 21 recipients of the Minister for Defence Award will be the first batch of companies to be inducted into the league.