Can foreign citizens be trusted to defend Singapore?

[smoko]

Can someone who wants to renounce his Singapore citizenship be trusted to defend Singapore?

Is it worth the while to train him in military and leadership skills knowing that he has no plans to use those skills to defend Singapore?

Is this person a security risk? He can learn a lot about Singapore army during his two years of NS.

[PNGMK]

Can someone who wants to renounce his Singapore citizenship be trusted to defend Singapore?

Is it worth the while to train him in military and leadership skills knowing that he has no plans to use those skills to defend Singapore?

Is this person a security risk? He can learn a lot about Singapore army during his two years of NS.

Oh someone is bent out of shape here.

It's a legal obligation and there's every chance that while you stay bent out of shape you'll end up in the equivalent of a penal battalion on permanent KP or if lucky in the fire service (SCDF). No security risk there.

[smoko]

The smart ones will look very unbent. Get into OCC where he can have access to more information

[ecureilx]

how about the Gurkhas ??

[JR8]

If SGns who took up a foreign citizenship could simply avoid NS, then I imagine a material number of people would do it. So the policy (arguably something of a blunt tool) is to close that loophole.

If as you infer foreigners cannot be trusted to defend SG; then why does the government invite the US Pacific Fleet to moor-up off Changi, and why are the Istana, the Lee residence, and other key government buildings' security manned by Gurkha's rather than SGns?

[AngMoG]

They make PRs serve NS, that's even worse in terms of defense. Not sure how many of them would be ready to defend if anyone actually decides to attack.

[sundaymorningstaple]

AMG, you might be surprised. The are large numbers of US Green Card holders in the US military. As you are aware of, I'm sure, the US military has been a voluntary military since the end of the VN war. Considering they are not required to do military service at all as a Green Card (PR) holder, it says alot about PRs doesn't it? Sure there are a lot that wouldn't be great, but as cannon fodder, they'll do. They can spend the whole hitch peeling spuds. Once in, they will do with you as they wish. Not a real security problem.

In fact, my son-in-law, a Singapore Citizen, was a PR son of a PR and while he was in he tried and got into OCS and became a captain in the SAF where he commanded a training brigade out at P. Tekong. While he was in, they offered him Citizenship which he took. His Mother & Father are still PRs. He's now 29 years old.

[AngMoG]

SMS, not saying it does not happen... but depends on the situation. PRs who need to serve have grown up here, but it is not their country. I guess depends on the individual, and how the parents communicated their nationality and residency country to a certain extent. And also the fact that many of their home countries would not have military service anymore plays a role...

Also not to be mean, but defending US is a bit more "glorious" than serving NS here

[sundaymorningstaple]

I'm a pro- military veteran of VN, and you are aware of how much respect we got in the US after it was over, so I'll just back on out of here.

[nakatago]

Is this person a security risk? He can learn a lot about Singapore army during his two years of NS.

Judging from what some mates are saying, no intelligence leaks there.

[zzm9980]

Is this person a security risk? He can learn a lot about Singapore army during his two years of NS.

Judging from what some mates are saying, no intelligence leaks there.

Like squeezing water from a rock isit?

[nakatago]

Is this person a security risk? He can learn a lot about Singapore army during his two years of NS.

Judging from what some mates are saying, no intelligence leaks there.

Like squeezing water from a rock isit?

More like your typical, true-blue Singaporean NS-man don't give a s#!+. What more for PRs who are doing it just to get it done and over with?

[zzm9980]

Judging from what some mates are saying, no intelligence leaks there.

Like squeezing water from a rock isit?

More like your typical, true-blue Singaporean NS-man don't give a s#!+. What more for PRs who are doing it just to get it done and over with?

Ok I misinterpreted what you said. I was thinking because there was no 'intelligence' to actually leak, at least at that level.

[nakatago]

Like squeezing water from a rock isit?

More like your typical, true-blue Singaporean NS-man don't give a s#!+. What more for PRs who are doing it just to get it done and over with?

Ok I misinterpreted what you said. I was thinking because there was no 'intelligence' to actually leak, at least at that level.

That too. They also probably know that those knobs would only be good as cannon fodder.

[Mad Scientist]

smoko : you are hell bent to get the answers you want to hear eh?