MINDEF launches SG Defence Volunteer Network, bringing all volunteers under one office

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) have announced the establishment of the SG Defence Volunteer Network to strengthen the volunteer ecosystem and bring all volunteers under a central administrative office.

On Feb. 27, Senior Minister of State for Defence, Zaqy Mohammed, announced the decision in his Committee of Supply (COS) speech for MINDEF.

In his speech, Zaqy said, "beyond NS, we will be expanding avenues for women, Permanent Residents, new citizens, and foreigners to step forward and play their part".

Around 2,000 existing volunteers will be subsumed under the SG Defence Volunteer Network.

With 1,500 volunteers from the Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) and 500 from SAFRA and other MINDEF-related volunteer organisations under one common identity.

Expand civilian volunteering opportunities across MINDEF-related organisations

Zaqy said that civilian volunteer pathways will be expanded through the creation of new opportunities across MINDEF, SAFRA, Defence Collective Singapore and other agencies.

The network aims to create volunteer opportunities for Singaporeans to contribute to defence roles "in ways that better match their skills, interests and life stages".

Two new volunteering schemes were established this year: the National Education (NE) Ambassador and the Total Defence Champion (TDC) would also be established in support of the network.

The NE Ambassadors scheme "lets individuals with a passion for Total Defence speak to students, youths, and the public".

Zaqy said that MINDEF now has "more than 100 NE Ambassadors from various professional backgrounds".

The TDC scheme engages communities on how to respond during a crisis or disruption by organising grassroots volunteers and engaging in house calls.

SAFVC will also be integrated more closely into Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) units "to fulfil operational tasks alongside SAF personnel, beyond peacetime support functions".

"As we expand these opportunities, we welcome Singaporean women, new

citizens, and PRs aged 18 to 45 who wish to serve."

Ease transition across volunteer roles

At a media doorstop on Feb. 24, Senior Lieutenant Colonel (SLTC) Psalm Lew, Director of the Engagement and Volunteer Office at Nexus, said "volunteering in defence is one way the public can play their part for total defence".

Lew mentioned that prior to the establishment of the SG Defence Volunteer Network, the volunteer schemes operated independently, and once volunteers completed their term of service, it was difficult for them to find other opportunities to volunteer.

Total Defence Champion Samantha Ng, 36, who had volunteered with the SAFVC since 2015, started volunteering with SAFVC as an Information media volunteer and was part of its first batch, undergoing basic training for two weeks.

Ng currently works as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Lead in a multinational corporation (MNC).

She said she was drawn to volunteer as she could apply her professional skills as a communications professional to the matters of defence and geopolitics.

Lew noted that Ng was an exception who stood up and found volunteering opportunities herself, which allowed her to stay in the SAFVC's volunteering system for over 10 years.

"We just want to make it easier for other people who complete their volunteering terms."

Top photo from Mothership