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NS rank allowance to increase by S$80 for all servicemen

SINGAPORE — All full-time national servicemen (NSFs) and operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) across all ranks will get S$80 more in their monthly allowance starting tomorrow (Dec 1), the Ministry of Defence said in a press release today.

TODAY file photo

TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — All full-time national servicemen (NSFs) and operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) across all ranks will get S$80 more in their monthly allowance starting tomorrow (Dec 1), the Ministry of Defence said in a press release today.

This hike in the National Service rank allowance applies to those serving in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

With the latest increase, a recruit or trainee will receive a monthly NS rank allowance of S$560, up from the S$480 he currently receives. The last time the NS rank allowance was increased was in 2012. That time, the increase was S$60.

On top of the NS rank allowance, those deployed in combat vocations in the SAF get combat allowances. Similarly, those in frontline vocations in the Home Team also get operational allowances. 

These allowances can range from S$100 to S$300 for NSFs and S$200 to S$400 for NSmen.

A typical NSF enlistee in such vocations gets about S$730 per month in allowance, after factoring in his combat or operational allowances. Examples of such vocations include a trooper holding the rank of Lance Corporal (LCP) in an Infantry battalion in the SAF, or a Public Transport Security Command officer holding the rank of Special Constable 2 in the SPF, or a paramedic holding the rank of LCP in the SCDF.

A typical NSF officer holding the rank of 2nd Lieutenant or national service police inspector will receive a gross allowance of S$1,230 per month.

NSFs receive an increment equal to 5 per cent of the base quantum of their rank for every 12 months that they serve in that rank, while NSmen receive an increment equal to 5 per cent or 10 per cent of the base quantum of their rank, if they satisfactorily complete an NS activity in the preceding work year.

Commenting on the higher rank allowance, recruit Bryan Chan, 20, who started Basic Military Training last month, said it would serve as motivation to perform better. “It’s a good thing, because the current allowance is so little,” he said.

Fellow recruit Ryan Leau, 20, hopes to put aside more of his NS rank allowance for his studies. “Some families are not so well-off, so the allowance also contributes to the families’ income,” he said. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STACEY LIM

 

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