[ Defending the Lion City ] The heavy burden of NS

Pic source: The Singapore Army FB Page - Photo by: 2SG Ian Ng (10 C4I Bn)

NS, and missed opportunities. These are two extremely emotive issues as far as S’poreans are concerned. Every year, thousands of S’porean males will put pause to their life plans and enter National Service to the country for 2 years (previously 2.5 years).

Losing your hair is the first thing that you "sacrifice" in NS
Pic source: Cyberpioneer

Ben Davis, by all accounts a talented young soccer player, had signed a two-year professional contract in June 2018 with EPL club Fulham FC. Due to enter NS in Dec 2018, Ben had applied long-term NS deferment and was rejected by Mindef.

Mindef stated that Ben’s application does not meet the criteria.

 "Since the inception of National Service (NS), all male Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) are required to serve NS at the earliest opportunity after reaching 18 years of age.

Through the years, support for NS has been maintained because this requirement is applied strictly and fairly to all individuals. Each year, the Ministry of Defence does receive requests for long-term deferment from Full-time NS, often with reasons that NS will impede their development and ability to fulfil aspirations.

As all male Singaporeans liable for Full-time NS put aside personal pursuits to dutifully enlist and serve their NS, it would not be fair to approve applications for deferment for individuals to pursue their own careers and development. Very few applications have been approved over the years and based on criteria which are made known to the public.

In sports, deferments are granted only to those who represent Singapore in international competitions like the Olympic Games and are potential medal winners for Singapore. In the last 15 years, only three* have met this criteria.

Benjamin James Davis' application for deferment was not approved as he does not meet the criteria for long-term deferment from Full-time NS.

This decision was made in consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth and was communicated to Mr Davis and his parents on 11 June 2018. Mr Davis was also notified that he is due for enlistment and must dutifully serve NS along with others in his cohort." 

Mindef's reply to media query, 16 July 2018

*Note: The three athletes who have been granted long-term NS deferments are: national swimmers Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen, and sailor Maximillian Soh.

============================

Update: Mindef released a following up media reply (18 Jul 2018)

"The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) recognises Mr. Benjamin Davis' achievement in securing a senior contract with Fulham Football Club (FC).  

However, deferment from National Service (NS) is granted for exceptional sportsmen to represent our national interest and not their own career development. When granted, deferment is given for a defined period after which these sportsmen must return to fulfil their NS duties. Mr Davis' application does not meet the deferment criteria and was therefore turned down. 

When asked during the deferment application process when Mr Davis intended to return and serve NS, Mr Davis' father would not commit to a date and expressed that he would put Mr Davis' professional career first. Mr Davis went on to sign the contract despite the rejection for deferment and his father has publicly stated that he would encourage Mr Davis to renounce his Singapore citizenship in order to pursue his career.  

Mr Davis' actions are meant to further his own professional career, not national interest. As his father openly admitted, he is looking out for his son's future, not Singapore's. They have no intention of returning to fulfil their son's NS duties, especially if Mr Davis is given a full professional contract after the two years of his senior contract. To allow deferment for this type of appeal, would severely undermine the ethos and sacrifice of Singaporeans who have all put aside their personal interests to complete their NS duties.   

Many talented sportsmen, including footballers, have completed their NS dutifully first before pursuing their professional careers. MINDEF has in place schemes during full-time NS to enable them to continue training to retain and improve their skills. We also provide additional training opportunities in the lead-up to major games such as the Southeast Asian and Olympic Games where our sportsmen represent Singapore and do us proud."

Mindef,  18 Jul 2018

============================

When Ben’s case made the news, it quickly gained widespread attention and attracted much support for his case for deferment, and naturally, harsh criticism of Mindef and its deferment policy.

But is the criticism of Mindef’s decision and the deferment policy justified?

Here is the crux of the issue as I see it.

Everyone who is liable for NS, will also be forgoing/postponing various opportunities for their two year service.

So what exactly is it then which makes Ben’s case for long term NS deferment to be exceptionally different/special?

Is it the fact that he has an opportunity to become a professional soccer player in the English Premier League, and in future perhaps improve the state of local soccer? 

Or is it because he has popular support (or at least so it seems to be on social media), including that of the Football Association of Singapore, for his deferment? 

(This raises another hard question – should “popular support” matter? Is it fair and proper for Mindef to even take “popular support” into consideration? After all, how does one define “popular support” and how does one objectively measure and compare it? But let’s put that aside for now.)

How is Ben’s case so compellingly different from another gifted S’porean who is accepted into a prominent medical school, and can become a brilliant doctor who saves countless lives or discovers a cure for some fatal disease?

What about a creative artist who could be the next Picasso? A talented musician that might be the next Michael Jackson? Or marvelous chef who could be a Michelin Star chef? All of whom have been given the opportunity to further develop their talents.

Are these S’poreans’ situations/aspirations deemed less worthy of deferment consideration than Ben’s? In addition, it is hard to argue that their pursuits will contribute any lesser towards Singapore than Ben's.

Perhaps more significantly, what about the rest of us ordinary, mundane S’poreans, who may not have any particularly special opportunity or situation?

If Mindef allows NS deferment based on “missing out rare golden opportunities”, does that imply that ordinary S’poreans are to be considered less important than these “talented” guys? Does it mean that our own sacrifices and missed opportunities, no matter how normal or mundane, are any lesser than that of Ben’s?

Would allowing for Ben’s, or any other person’s deferment on the basis of not missing out a “once in a lifetime opportunity” undermine or strengthen the very lynchpin of National Service - that NS is a social leveler and a necessary rite of passage for all S’porean males regardless of race, language, religion and social background?

Where and how should the line be drawn? Would such a change in NS policy be fair and equitable? These are very hard, soul-searching questions that are not quite so easily answered.

Ultimately, Mindef’s decision to reject Ben’s deferment and many other similar cases, will come across to many as seemingly cold, cruel, inflexible and devoid of any emotions and compassion.

But unfortunately, I believe such tough decisions have to necessarily be so in order to be unscrupulously fair to all who have served, will serve NS, and especially to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The bar for long term NS deferments, including any change in deferment policy, must be placed so high such that if any deferments are granted, each case must be, and will be clearly seen by S’poreans as being dispassionately logical,  unbiasedly reasonable and indisputably justifiable to warrant granting deferment.

Mindef has the unenviable task and responsibility of ensuring that the heavy NS burden continues to be borne fairly and equitably by all generations of S'porean males, or risk NS becoming a divisive institution that will ferment resentment amongst S’poreans and ultimately tear apart our country’s military defense and nation-building efforts, instead of uniting us all as one Singapore.

To Ben, this would be what I would advise: Serve out your Full time NS commitment. Take it as a way of expanding your horizons/experiences and improving your overall toughness. 2 years will pass quickly. After that, you are free to do as you please. Deferments for reservist/ORD training are much easier to get.

Read more here:

CNA: Sport Singapore (SportSG) supports MINDEF's decision to reject Ben Davis' deferment application (18 Jul 2018)
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/sport-singapore-supports-mindef-decision-to-reject-ben-davis-10541308

Mindef Reply to Media Queries on the Rejection of Benjamin Davis' Deferment from Full-time NS (18 July 2018)
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2018/july/18jul18_mq

TODAY: Ben Davis won’t give up Fulham dream, may forgo S’pore citizenship if NS deferment appeal rejected (16 Jul 2018)

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ben-davis-wont-give-fulham-dream-may-give-sporean-citizenship-if-ns-deferment-appeal

Mindef Reply to ST Query on Benjamin Davis' Request for Long-Term Deferment from Full-Time NS (16 July 2018)
https://www.mindef.gov.sg/web/portal/mindef/news-and-events/latest-releases/article-detail/2018/july/16jul18_mq

Straits Times: No National Service deferment for Fulham teen Ben Davis, says Mindef (14 Jul 2018)

https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-no-national-service-deferment-for-fulham-teen-ben-davis-says-mindef

TODAY: High Court sets new sentencing benchmarks for NS dodgers (25 Jul 2017)
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/high-court-sets-new-sentencing-benchmarks-ns-defaulters

Straits Times: Fairness, sense of purpose key to maintaining support for NS (6 Apr 2017)

https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/fairness-sense-of-purpose-key-to-maintaining-support-for-ns

Straits Times: 28-year-old jailed 16 weeks for evading NS (3 Feb 2017)

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/28-year-old-jailed-16-weeks-for-evading-ns

Senang Diri: 45 Years of National Service: NS defaulter's homecoming for National Museum concert (30 Dec 2011)

http://kementah.blogspot.com/2011/12/45-years-of-national-service-ns.html