For S$1,000 a year, NSmen can enjoy ‘premium concierge service’

SINGAPORE — Operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen) who fancy having their boots and crisply clean uniforms delivered to their military camps at the start of in-camp training (ICT), with their full battle order items replenished, can now do so via a new concierge service.

The cost? Up to S$1,000 a year, based on the price list unveiled by army equipment cleaning, storage and delivery service provider Halps.

Last month, TODAY reported that a group of NSmen came up with the business idea for Halps, which stands for Helping Arms in Laundry, Packaging and Storage Services for NSmen in In-Camp Training.

The service provider recently finalised its prices and came up with three packages — basic, standard and premium — costing an annual fee of S$240, S$360 and S$1,000 respectively. For its two cheaper packges, Halps is offering them at half price — S$120 and S$180 — for a limited period and subject to a qualifying condition.

All three packages provide a year of storage service, but the basic package is only for NSmen on the holding list who have not been assigned to units, while the standard package excludes add-on fees — ranging between S$40 and S$80 — when NSmen are activated for mobilisation and require their equipment at short notice.

NSmen can also pay additional fees — on a “cost recovery basis” — for Halps to replenish items. Other add-on fees include a payment of between S$100 and S$200 should an NSman be called up for ICT more than once within the same billing period. The Ministry of Defence had earlier said that NSmen should consider carefully before using this service. They should think about “whether any third-party service provider is consistently able to deliver the agreed services on time, so that their operational readiness is maintained”, said Colonel Terry Tan, Singapore Armed Forces’ chief supply officer.

Responding to TODAY’s queries on Friday (June 23), the business co-founder Weiss Ang, 35, said that when clients are mobilised, they can inform Halps through its notification channel.

Those on the standard package, for example, just have to wear their uniforms and make their way to their mobilisation centre. They will meet the Halps personnel to collect their equipment at a specific location near the centre 1.5 hours after the mobilisation is activated. After the NSmen are done with the mobilisation exercise, they can drop off their equipment at a designated location.

There is also insurance coverage for the equipment based on its declared value, or S$200, whichever is lower, in the event of damage or loss caused by the service provider. NSmen can arrange for greater insurance coverage if they deem it insufficient.

NSmen approached by TODAY had mixed views on the costs of the various options provided by Halps. Nevertheless, they generally welcomed the concierge service. Mr Jonathan Wong, 25, said that he would consider the standard package. The mechanical engineering undergraduate added that the packages would probably appeal to NSmen who lack space at home for their equipment. He felt that the standard package, which comes at “not a small sum”, should go beyond offering just cleaning and safekeeping.

Mr Siang Xuan Yu, 26, said that he would pay for the standard package for its convenience. “Some camps are extremely remote and this service comes in handy,” the executive said. However, he baulked at the price for the premium package.

It is “far more expensive” and he is unlikely to go for it, he said.