Tag Archives: SAF Volunteer Corps

The Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) accepted its first batch of volunteers on Tuesday. The corps has 68 Singaporeans and permanent residents. The SAF plans to deploy these volunteers alongside active servicemen (NSFs) from September onwards. The SAFVC received 900 applications since it was set up in October last year to allow more Singapore citizens and permanent residents to contribute to Singapore's defence. The SAFVC then screened these applications to assess the candidates' suitability.

Okay first, calm down. Set your hard feelings aside. I know it’s hard to, and you might say I’ve never been through NS so I don’t know shit and should keep my mouth shut. Singapore is a small country, and we need an army to defend ourselves should we ever be at war, but with such a small population it would be hard to make up the numbers needed to form an army big enough that we wouldn’t be pushed over by the enemy. I know all guys give up 2 years of their life just to serve and defend us, and still have to be subject to reservist call-ups even after they ORD, and I truly respect all your determination and willpower that is needed to go through and serve NS.

Volunteers can choose to serve in wide-ranging fields, from operational deployments such as Auxiliary Security Trooper and Bridge Watchkeeper, to professional roles such as legal specialist staff and doctors — alongside regular soldiers in active units. They can switch roles during their stint and there is no minimum period of service. They are expected to be called up seven days a year.

Continuous stay-in-camp training or training sessions spread over several weekends. Two weeks of basic training to pick up basic soldiering skills. A week of qualification training to prepare volunteers for their specific roles. A week of advanced training for volunteers in more demanding roles to learn about close combat training and live firing.

AFTER hanging up his army boots a decade ago, Mr Calven Bland is thirsting for another spell in the military. The New Zealand-born Singapore permanent resident (PR), who was a logistician with the New Zealand Army for 12 years before coming to Singapore in 2005, plans to sign up with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Volunteer Corps as a security trooper.