Modern Singapore

What were the aims and effects from national service?

Formed Racial Bonds (mixed)

Opened New Industries

Rite of Passage into Manhood

Created a Common Identity

Enforced Peace

Elaborate on Formed racial bonds

Firstly, National Service (NS) formed racial bonds with other races and religions for all male citizens of Singapore. Forced to train, live and cooperate with different people of different races and religions allowed young men to better understand others that are different from them fostering a sense of tolerance and acceptance through their daily interactions for a long period of time.

Elab on opened new industries

The SAF was not able to provide food for all its soldiers in 1973. The soldiers who were lucky enough to have food did not have good-quality food, as the food quality was not a priority at the time. Hence, the SAF saw the need to cater food from a reliable and specialised external vendor. Hence, the Singapore Food Industries (SFI) was started in 1973 and sold basic food items to the SAF in order to feed its growing population of hungry NS men and full-time soldiers. The SFI was hence a great success, as the SAF provided the necessary demand for their company to grow.

Elaborate created a common identity

NS strives to achieve having all its servicemen and women to have a common identity, whereby there is no segregation and no privileges are given and all are equal there. Even if family backgrounds are different, everyone starts from a common point. For example, having the same haircut, wearing the same clothes, sleeping in the same dorms is to forge a brotherhood.