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Alumni programme to help Home Team NSmen find comrades

SINGAPORE — Home Team national servicemen (NSmen) who lose touch with their comrades can now reconnect through an alumni programme announced yesterday.

From left: LTC (NS) Mohamed Razaleigh (SCDF), DSP Terence Matthew Choo (SPF) and NS Probationary Inspector Victor Gwee (SPF) checking out the app. Photo: HomeTeamNS

From left: LTC (NS) Mohamed Razaleigh (SCDF), DSP Terence Matthew Choo (SPF) and NS Probationary Inspector Victor Gwee (SPF) checking out the app. Photo: HomeTeamNS

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SINGAPORE — Home Team national servicemen (NSmen) who lose touch with their comrades can now reconnect through an alumni programme announced yesterday.

Dubbed Singapore’s first NS “social broker” programme, HomeTeamNS Alumni Connect will provide secretariat services and help to reconnect NSmen with their comrades from the same training batch or division.

Mr Desmond Lee, president of the HomeTeamNS and Second Minister for Home Affairs, made the announcement to more than 1,000 HomeTeamNS members and their families at a film premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming held at Shaw Theatres Lido.

Organised as part of the HomeTeamNS NS50 celebrations, the event paid tribute to Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force NSmen for their contributions to Singapore’s safety.

Mr Lee said the idea was conceived last year and highlighted how there were many networks of NSmen alumni but no formal platform for them to tap.

“Some are (wondering) where their buddies have disappeared to, because they might have changed their phone numbers, so we hope this programme will serve to build communities, deepen bonds and bring our NSmen even closer to the Home Team family,” added Mr Lee.

The HomeTeamNS also unveiled its NS50 mobile app, which aims to provide a one-stop platform for users to access NS50 activities, Alumni Connect, promotions and announcements, for instance.

HomeTeamNS members and NSmen interested in the alumni programme can form alumni groups and request secretariat services via the app. Over the next two years, the target is to build a network of 65 NS alumni groups. The HomeTeamNS can then seek ideas from groups and members to conceptualise future NS clubhouses and activities.

HomeTeamNS chief executive Agnes Eu urged NSmen to take the chance to create new memories and rekindle friendships forged during NS: “Such initiatives underscore HomeTeamNS’ efforts to stay relevant to our NSmen and to continuously pay tribute to their contributions.”

Col (NS) Edwan Nizar, 44, said such platforms could be helpful in maintaining relationships and reaching out to old batch mates from his enlistment in 1995. They have previously kept in touch by email.

“Everyone’s on their mobile phones, so it’s very convenient to (reconnect) with the app,” he added. “It’s good to meet up and see how we’ve changed.”  

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