Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How announced in Parliament today (March 2) that all full-time national servicemen (NSF and NSmen) in Singapore will get an additional $70 to $120 for their monthly allowance starting this March.
This applies to servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force, across all ranks.
Under this revision, all national servicemen will get a vocation allowance of at least $50 a month. This vocation allowance replaces the combat allowance, which was given to servicemen in combat vocations in the SAF, such as armour, guards and infantry.
At the same time, those who currently receive combat or operational allowance will get up to $100 more.
This means that an NSF holding the rank of recruit or trainee will get $630 a month, up from the current $560.
Meanwhile, an NSF holding the Corporal rank will get $1,050, up from the current S$930.
Additionally, the base amount for an NSF lieutenant in the SAF or a police inspector is now $1,330, up from $1,260.
According to MINDEF, the allowance is reviewed periodically. The last increment was back in December 2015, by $80 across all ranks.
It added that such increments support national servicemen in their “basic personal upkeep”.
Mr Heng, on the other hand, said this increment is a way for the government to recognise the “contributions” of servicemen.
“NSFs devote two full years to serving the nation,” said Mr Heng.
“It is therefore incumbent upon us as stewards of their time and talents to make sure that we support their aspirations.”
Featured Image Credit: All Singapore Stuff
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