National Service

From today STRAITS TIME FORUM.

Sep 6, 2006
NSman called up for first ICT at age 36

I WAS surprised to receive notice recently of my first In-Camp Training (ICT) at the age of 36.

How could Mindef expect NSmen to complete the full cycle of their ICT if they start only at 36? Does it mean that NSmen have to go for longer and more frequent ICTs each year in order to do so?

As most NSmen of this age are at the peak of their careers and many are in senior-management positions, going for ICT would definitely affect business operations.

More importantly, most of these NSmen would have families with young children. They have to manage both busy work schedules and taking care of the family.

I have appealed for deferment after the first request was rejected. Until today, I have not heard from Mindef despite numerous calls to the National Servicemen Services Centre (NSSC). I was told by the NSSC staff that they could not transfer my call to the person in-charge, nor could the person in-charge call me or my employer.

I didn't even know which was my unit until I called the NSSC to find out, and even then the staff do not have the contact number of the unit.

Tan Thiam Huat


Look at this poor Thiam Huat, bickering about MINDEF calling him up at 36 for his first in-camp.

Firstly we do not know what rank Thiam Huat in holding, if he is an officer then he is eligible to serve until he is 50yrs (if I am correct). Say there is 10 cycles of reservist to served and by law MINDEF can recall you up to 40 days in a year. From my own experience, an in-camp will last you maximum 14-16days and a short one lasted 6 days. So mathematically and legally you can complete at least 4 cycles in a year.

Haha… so Thiam Huat logically can complete his ICT in 3 years time before he even reach the ripe old age of 40.

If Thiam Huat really is concern about completing ICT earlier or spending more time with his young children or busy carving out his careers, then what has he been doing from the time he ORD till now?? He should have jolly well wrote to MINDEF and request for ICT immediately after he ORD. Gosh! I bet he was happily hoping MINDEF had forgot about him and will not call him up till he is 40yrs old which will be too old if he is not holding on to a commanding position. Guess he had even forgot to downgrade himself during this time!

AND… doesn’t all other Nsmen in have families and career to balance? Some even have studies to balance too! So Thiam Huat, if you can't balance you career and family life, you should renounce your citizenship and move to some nice country that does not required National services.