Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian took to Facebook to share how he feels the allowance for NSFs should be increased to $1,500.
In his Facebook post, where he referred to himself in the third person, he said that Singapore soldiers should be taken seriously and agreed with a “Chiniwa Chiniwa” on increasing the allowances for NSFs.
He also added that some countries have national service terms of less than 12 months and are doing fine, and opined for similar lengths of NS servitudes in Singapore, suggesting NS to be cut to 8 or 12 months.
Tan Kin Lian’s Facebook post
Chiniwa Chiniwa said.
Help to Raise NS Fulltime Salary, Under $1,000 per month is too Little.
The Government needs to take its Soldiers Seriously, it needs to take National Security Seriously
Tan Kin Lian replied.
I agree. The NS allowance should be $1,500. If the government finds this to be too costly, they should cut down the full time NS to 8 or 12 months. Some countries have NS for less than 12 months. They are doing fine.
Current NS allowances
According to Central Manpower Base (CMPB)
“You will be given a rank allowance in recognition of your contributions. Those in higher ranks are given a higher quantum in recognition of their heavier responsibilities. You will also be given vocation allowance in recognition of the different vocational demands placed on you. Your total NS allowance comprise both the rank allowance and vocation allowance. (Note: Since 1 Mar 2020, combat allowance has been replaced by vocation allowance.)“
Monthly rank allowance
| Enlistees | Specialists | Officers | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Starting rank allowance | Rank | Starting rank allowance | Rank | Starting rank allowance |
| Recruit or Private | $680 | Specialist Cadet | $770 | Officer Cadet | $960 |
| Lance Corporal | $700 | Third Sergeant | $1000 | Second Lieutenant | $1200 |
| Corporal | $750 | Second Sergeant | $1100 | Lieutenant | $1380 |
| Corporal First Class | $790 | First Sergeant | $1170 |
Vocation Allowance
| S/N | Vocations | Monthly vocation allowance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Service and Technical vocations | $75 |
| 2 | All combatants except those under S/N 3 and 4 | $225 |
| 3 | AircrewArmour, Guards, InfantryCombat Medics, Specialists or Officers in the Medical Response Force or deployed on the Singapore Civil Defence Force ambulancesSeagoing | $300 |
| 4 | Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defence or Explosive Ordinance DisposalCommandoNaval Diver | $500 |