Chitchat Mindef Director: "NS Is Priceless! Worth More Than $100 Voucher"

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:



More than one million men who have performed their national service (NS) and those who will do so this year will each get $100 in vouchers, which they can use at retail and food and beverage outlets.

The vouchers are part of a recognition package to mark 50 years of NS.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef), which announced the goodies yesterday, said the token of recognition can never repay servicemen for sacrifices made in serving the nation.

Mindef's director of manpower Lee Chung Wei said focusing on the dollar value of the vouchers and other initiatives rolled out this year to celebrate NS "cheapens" the institution. He said: "NS is priceless - you can't put a dollar value to it... If you focus on a dollar value, you are actually cheapening NS."

He was speaking to reporters at a media briefing last Thursday, ahead of yesterday's announcement.

The NS50 vouchers are funded by Mindef and the Ministry of Home Affairs, and not retailers and merchants, said Mindef.

Besides the Singapore Armed Forces, national servicemen are also enlisted into the Home Team, where they serve in the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Mr Lee said: "What we want to achieve this year is for the community to step forward to show their appreciation, through their own events."

Aug 1 to 10 has been designated NS50 Week, during which there will be activities like an NS50-themed picnic in partnership with Families for Life, a non-profit organisation that promotes resilient families.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...crifice-mindef


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