Commendation of Women for Sacrifices Made in Supporting National Service

19 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Defence whether there are any plans in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of National Service to honour women for the sacrifices they have made as mothers and wives of Singaporean men who have served National Service.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: As we commemorate 50 years of National Service (NS) this year, we are giving the NS50 Recognition Package to the more than one million NSmen who have served two or more years of NS duties, as a token of appreciation for their primary role in ensuring Singapore's defence and security. NSmen can enjoy the vouchers and free Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association (SAFRA) and Home Team NS membership in the package with their families.

The wider community – families, employers, volunteers, religious groups, businesses and other community organisations – also plays an important role. Their support enables our NSmen to serve with pride and dedication. We recognise these contributions through ongoing initiatives, such as the Total Defence Awards and annual tax reliefs for spouses and parents of NSmen. This year, we will continue to do so through the various NS50 events and activities, such as the NS50 Week and NS50 Dinner Reception.