National Service Pros and Cons

[MSG USA (RET) 2000]

I have a friend who is a US Citizen by birth and a Singapore Citizen through his Singaporean mother. He has a National Service (NS) obligation to fulfill in SG as I understand it, he just turned age 18 and will graduate U.S. high school soon. What are the Pros and Cons of NOT performing his National Service?

[offshoreoildude]

I have a friend who is a US Citizen by birth and a Singapore Citizen through his Singaporean mother. He has a National Service (NS) obligation to fulfill in SG as I understand it, he just turned age 18 and will graduate U.S. high school soon. What are the Pros and Cons of NOT performing his National Service?

The single most important negative is that he will close the door on Singapore for good if he doesn't fulfill this obligation. He will effectively become a criminal to Singapore and not be able to even visit without risking imprisonment followed by servitude (i.e. forced service in the SAF). IF you search this forum there are heart rending stories of older folk who want to return to Singapore but can't because they skipped out on NS.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Search threads in the Strictly Speaking Forum. Thread abound on all aspects of the NS problems.

[MSG USA (RET) 2000]

Thanks to "Grouchy Old Expat" for your sage advice. Thanks, also, to the moderator.

[JR8]

A couple of other things to consider, that are slightly less direct in nature:

- He has a career in a multi-national company, they offer him a transfer to Singapore for a prized role, but he has to decline it.

- In x years time he's flying off on his honeymoon with his new wife. They're going to Polynesia (or wherever)! The plane has to divert via SG, and he gets arrested at immigration and jailed.