Singaporean Benjamin Matchap recently graduated from Lasalle College of the Arts with a diploma in broadcast media, an occasion where newly credentialed graduates would normally leverage their new skills to enter the work force and launch upon career paths.
But for Matchap and the other young men in his graduating class, there’s another high hurdle to clear before they may enter the city state’s professional working class: National Service, commonly known here as NS, a long-standing policy of mandatory conscription of males into either the armed forces, police force or civil defense force.
Most conscripts complete a two-year full-time stint, followed by annual in-camp training obligations. It’s trumpeted by the Ministry of Defense as critical for the tiny country’s “continued survival and success” and “freedom to act in Singaporeans’ best interests” in a geography long vulnerable to big external threats and often volatile neighbors.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the policy’s birth, triggering glorifying state-led commemorations throughout the year collectively branded under the banner of “NS50.” But new generation graduates’ reactions to the mandatory obligation are mixed.
“I just graduated and instead of being excited and dreaming of taking on the world and doing work, I have to try to still stay relevant when I book out [of NS] to refresh my videography and photography skills,” said fresh graduate Matchap.
Grumbling is common over social media but rarely crystallizes into real resistance to the policy.
Although the percentage of defaulters from National Service is minuscule—a 2006 parliamentary speech by the then defense minister stated that an average of 12 defaulters are charged in court each year—the High Court set out a new more severe sentencing framework for defaulters in July after upping the sentences for three offenders.
Under the new framework, the starting sentence point for conscription evaders for two to six years will be two to four months in prison. The penalties then increase to a starting point of 24 to 36 months behind bars for those who have evaded National Service for over 17 years.
A young man was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment on October 10 for failing to report for enlistment and remaining overseas without an exit permit, even though he had been raised in the Philippines from the age of nine after his Filipino mother split up with his Singaporean father.
Beginning with the enlistment of just 900 of the 9,000 eligible male citizens in 1967, National Service has since grown into a core component of Singapore’s defense policy.
Long-term government projections into the year 2040 indicate that the Singapore Armed Forces would in an emergency be able to mobilize around 300,000 soldiers, made up of regular full-time personnel as well as citizen soldiers. As Singapore has not been in a state of war since achieving independence, such a large-scale mobilization has never occurred.
“Institutionally, the Singapore Armed Forces—and especially the Army—is organized around conscription,” said Chong Ja Ian, assistant professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.
“Any changes to this structure of staffing and planning necessitates significant organizational restructuring, which will almost certainly be complicated given the relatively small number of professional volunteer service members.”
National Service’s objectives, of course, aren’t just about national security. When then-minister for defense Goh Keng Swee argued for the policy’s introduction in 1967, he emphasized its utility in fostering a sense of belonging in an island country still finding its feet after splitting from Malaysia in 1965.
“Nothing creates loyalty and national consciousness more speedily and more thoroughly than participation in defense and membership of the armed forces,” he said. “The nation-building aspect of defense will be more significant if its participation is spread over all strata of society.”
That nationalistic message still rings true in many quarters of Singaporean society. “A lot of the experiences of the citizen population is built around National Service, whether this has to do with people actually serving or having family members who do so,” said academic Chong.
Some men find their yearly in-camp training obligations put them at an early disadvantage in an increasingly competitive work force
“There is a common understanding that National Service is a great social leveler. Service is mandatory regardless of class, confession, or ethnicity. For much of the citizen population, this makes National Service look and feel like an emotional, cultural, and political anchor for being Singaporean.”
At the same time, the male-only policy is under growing scrutiny, particularly in regard to gender relations. As Matchap observed, the two-year obligation is not negligible; it puts Singaporean men two years behind women when it comes to entering university or the job market. The labor force participation rate for Singaporean women is around 60.4% and 76.2% for men.
Some men find their yearly in-camp training obligations put them at an early disadvantage in an increasingly competitive work force. Indeed, the fact that women do not have National Service obligations has complicated issues of gender justice and equality, making it difficult for women to talk about sexism and patriarchy without being told “but you didn’t serve NS.”
Those gender-related tensions sometimes boil over. In 2013, when the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), a local nongovernmental organization, raised concerns over a military marching song’s lyrics that say “kill the man, rape my girlfriend, with my rifle and my buddy and me”, they became targets of outrage and harassment.
Singaporean men referred to them on Facebook as “feminazis” and even “sensitive little bitches.” Aware and their supporters were also harassed online and via phone calls, with one supporter lodging a police report after the backlash led to the publication of her personal information online.
“For some people, conversations on other areas of gender inequality should be silenced because NS is taken to eclipse and perhaps justify all other gender inequalities that women face,” said Jolene Tan, head of advocacy and research at Aware.
“For some people, conversations on other areas of gender inequality should be silenced because NS is taken to eclipse and perhaps justify all other gender inequalities that women face” – Jolene Tan, head of advocacy at Aware
“As women are sometimes held to benefit at the expense of men because of NS, this can create sensitivities for how we are perceived when we discuss [the policy],” she said. To level the playing field, Tan suggests National Service should include more options than military service, and the roles of those serving should be decided by a combination of need, interest and aptitude rather than strictly gender.
The allowances paid for National Service, meanwhile, are extremely modest in Singapore’s otherwise high-wage context: a recruit or private’s allowance begins at S$560 (US$412) per month, with an additional ‘combat’ stipend depending on the assignment.
The government emphasizes appreciation of its citizen soldiers by providing them benefits in basic necessities like healthcare, education and housing. But some say that such support should be available to all citizens, rather than doled out as a perk only for military service.
Discussions of the need to reform National Service continue in fits and starts, popping up occasionally on social media before dying down again. But no matter what is said online, for young men like Matchap, like every Singaporean son, enlistment remains a mandatory obligation, not a freewill choice.
So wait a minute, women who don’t do military service should get all the perks the cosncripts get for being used as unfree labour?
If you are drafted against your will, you are entitled to SOME kind of reward.
NS has served its purpose but needs a radical rethink. Either it should be cut back to an intensive 6 months or you should be able to study part-time while serving.
What’s the point of your article? What is your stand? Your writing cleverly weaved in the negative aspects but left out the positives….
There will always be questions and complaints about anything. If Singapore does reduce or eliminates national service, there will also be plenty of complaints and questions. Such is the "argumentive" Chinese. However writers like this exploit it to turn it into a political tool to side with one side of the story or to fit a narrative. Thats the curse of free speech.
As a foreigner who lived in Singapore for close to four years, I find NS a little bit of an outdated concept that doesn’t necessarily meet the current threat environment. And surely Singapore can afford to have a professional, decently paid standing army, rather than forcing young men paid a pittance to defend their nation?
It is our nation, and we shall defend and protect it, regardless if it is decently paid or not? With that being said, even if the military pay well I don’t think we have enough men to serve. In fact, Singapore have only an estimation of 1.3m reserve personnel (made out of national service men) out of the 5.6million population that they have now. And out of the 5.6 million people, how many are foreigners like you? Would you help to defend Singapore? Compulsory military services sucks, but it is still necessary, it is so that people like you can sleep well at night.
Okay, do what Israel does, Draft the women too, shorten the training to 1 years. Problem solved.
Next issue…
Women there are often "skinny fat" so could potentially use some exercise. 🙂
There are go-getters of BOTH sexes that shrug off the limitations and prejudice that an archaic mindset places upon them. These guys are true class acts that go on to become role models for young girls and boys.
And then there are journalists (and recently, influencers) who turn a topic of national debate and a very promising narrative into a backhanded and honestly petty argument, while imposing a very shoddily substantiated worldview upon any parties unfortunate enough to read this.
My heart goes out to your newsmakers, who probably expected more from this story. Also, as any stern Chinese teacher would have marked out in Red Leaf Signature Red: Li Ti (lost the thread.)
"Those gender-related tensions sometimes boil over. In 2013, when the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), a local nongovernmental organization, raised concerns over a military marching song’s lyrics that say “kill the man, rape my girlfriend, with my rifle and my buddy and me”, they became targets of outrage and harassment."
Toxic male-culture that could negatively shape young Singapore’s men perception of women; which could perhaps be better weeded out and corrected with more female military officers around exerting their views within the system.
But how are the victims of previous male-mandatory national service + disruptive reservices gonna be compensated for their sacrifice?
This article isn’t about eliminating national service. But about making it inclusive to both genders — doubling the number of service people.
Your comment on the "curse of free speech" is just so insane btw. What if it is YOUR speech that is oppressed then? Why are you so afraid of allowing people who you do not agree with have a voice, so that you could debate them with words, rather than prefering for their banning? — as your words obviously implies.
Patrick Tan This article isn’t about eliminating national service. But about making it inclusive to both genders — doubling the number of service people.
Not at all. I am not implying anything. I am complaining about exploitation of free speech just as Aaron did. I didnt make a speech at all. I made an observation. If I want to make a speech, it would be about something worth talking about and not exercising my free speech.
Jun Qiao No one was compensated in Taiwan or South Korea when the same type of policies was changed… Shortened. That’s life. The society reevaluated, there is a date that policy change will go into effect and people move forward. Life is rarely ever 100% fair to everyone, that is only in children’s fairytales. The only thing you can do is improve things for tomorrow.
Lam Jayson Oh please, spare me with your victim mentality — comparing this to what black people ACTUALLY face. My post was in DIRECT response with the toxic maculinity as expressed by that lyrics, and various deplorable attitudes and views towards women that ARE actually common place within the army. I know. I’ve served my NS myself, go figures.
Lam Jayson Oh please, spare me with your victim mentality — comparing this to what black people ACTUALLY face. My post was in DIRECT response with the toxic maculinity as expressed by that lyrics, and various deplorable attitudes and views towards women that ARE actually common place within the army. I know. I’ve served my NS myself, go figures.
GOD made men and women for different purpose. Men is macho and strong and women is weak and is protected by strong men in the army. Women should shut up and know your place in society and not spread stupid feminazi. Trump has won in America for a very good reason. You libtard feminazi are taking over with your fighting to control of the nature and instinct of men and need to be stopped. Men serve NS to protect you women and you should be greatful to us and stop complaining so much. Thank you very much!
GOD made men and women for different purpose. Men is macho and strong and women is weak and is protected by strong men in the army. Women should shut up and know your place in society and not spread stupid feminazi. Trump has won in America for a very good reason. You libtard feminazi are taking over with your fighting to control of the nature and instinct of men and need to be stopped. Men serve NS to protect you women and you should be greatful to us and stop complaining so much. Thank you very much!
UNGREATFUL WOMEN!!!
UNGREATFUL WOMEN!!!
NS is important to Singapore to turn ah boy to men. Real men who are strong and can contribute to society and protect our women.
NS is important to Singapore to turn ah boy to men. Real men who are strong and can contribute to society and protect our women.
NS is important to Singapore to turn ah boy to men. Real men who are strong and can contribute to society and protect our women.
NS is important to Singapore to turn ah boy to men. Real men who are strong and can contribute to society and protect our women.