Higher allowance for National Service

I welcome the decision to give a higher allowance for our National Servicemen.
http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC120307-0000076/Rank-allowance-up-by-S$60-for-NSFs,-NSmen

More needs to be done to level the playing field for our NS men who are disadvantaged in competing in the job market against foreign workers and females. The allowance need to be increased further and the period of National Service shortened in stages, eventually to 12 months.

I like the system of conscription in Switzerland. Like Singapore, Switzerland is a small country that needs a strong defense capability to ensure their independence. They are able to find a system that is fairer to their citizens. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_service

Quote:

Switzerland has mandatory military service for all able-bodied male citizens, who are conscripted when they reach the age of majority, though women may volunteer for any position. People determined unfit for service, where fitness is defined as "satisfying physically, intellectually and psychically requirements for military service or civil protection service and being capable of accomplishing these services without harming oneself or others", are exempted from service but pay a 3% additional annual income tax until the age of 30, unless they are affected by a disability. Almost 20% of all conscripts were found unfit for military or civilian service in 2008; the rate is generally higher in urban cantons such as Zurichand Geneva than in the rural ones. Swiss citizens living abroad are generally exempted from conscription in time of peace while dual citizenship by itself does not grant such exemption.^[26]\

Quote:

Military service for Swiss men is obligatory according to the Federal Constitution, and includes 18 or 21 weeks of basic training (depending on troop category) as well as annual 3-week-refresher courses until a number of service days which increases with rank (260 days for privates) is reached. (It is also possible to serve the whole requirement at one piece, meaning no refresher courses are required.) Service for women is voluntary, but identical in all respects. Conscientious objectors can choose 390 days of community service instead of military service. Medical deferments and dismissals from basic training (often on somewhat dubious grounds) have increased significantly in the last years. Therefore, only about 55% to 60% of Swiss men actually complete basic training.

^{My view. The duration of National Service is too long in Singapore. I suspect that it has cause harm to the education and employment prospects of our male citizens. I hope that we can adopt the Swiss model.}