Higher allowance for NSFs from July 1; new training areas in Pulau Tekong

Helicopter-borne and amphibious training on island; bilateral air I patrol by Singapore and Indonesia

- Mike Yeo

New military training areas in Pulau Tekong and higher allowance for full-time national servicemen (NSFs) were among several announcements made during the debate on the Ministry of Defence's (Mindef) budget.

Here are six key announcements Mindef made in Parliament on March 3.

NSFs' MONTHLY ALLOWANCE WILL BE RAISED

Mindef will raise the monthly allowance for NSFs by between $35 and $75 from July 1, according to Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How. This is an increase of about 4 per cent to 5 per cent for most NSFs. It is the fourth adjustment in the last 10 years.

The allowance is periodically reviewed to ensure that it remains adequate. The last revision came in July 2023.

Following the increase, recruits in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and trainee special constables in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) will see their allowance rise from $755 to $790.

At the other end of the scale, an NSF SAF or SCDF lieutenant and an inspector in the SPF will have his monthly allowance increased from $1,455 to a minimum of $1,530 and up to $1,955, depending on his vocation.

EXPANDED TRAINING AREAS IN PULAU TEKONG AND SAFTI CITY

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the SAF training area in Pulau Tekong will be expanded, with a 10km-long section set aside for manoeuvre training using vehicles.