Ho Kwon Ping
The writer suggests starting with short stints of a few months for all women to learn the skills needed by a rapidly ageing society
For The Straits Times
In a recent dialogue session, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen was asked about female conscription, and he answered that it should not be for reasons of equity. In other words, it should be only for demographic reasons - if there are not enough young men to defend the country. To start young women thinking about this possibility, a volunteer corps has been started.
I wholly agree that female conscription should not be undertaken simply for equity reasons. It has been argued that the moral equivalence of national service for women is bearing children, and while this is not directly comparable - not all women bear children, and some bear more than one, for example - the debate quickly degenerates into a male-female divide with emotionally competitive overtones.
The reasons for female conscription must instead be underpinned by national need. However, as I argued in my recent Third S R Nathan Lecture at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on the topic of Security and Sustainability, national need can be more broadly defined than as simply military defence.
In the Singapore 50 years from today, there will possibly be a defence need - but most certainly a social need - for all our young women to be trained in the skills needed by a rapidly ageing society. Therefore, we should start to prepare for this eventuality.
The whole notion of Total Defence, which Singapore subscribes to, is that for a small city-state, military defence is only one part of a more complex equation.
Whatever is critical, not only to the sovereignty of Singapore but also its economic, social and political sustainability, is a strategic imperative which requires full support from its citizenry. In this context, female conscription for military defence should be considered only as a final resort should male conscripts be unable to fulfil military needs.
But conscription may still be warranted, to serve the equally important social and community needs of an ageing population whose well-being is a strategic necessity. That would still fall within the ambit of Total Defence.
But let us deal with purely the defence need first.
The defence imperative
WILL the time ever come when universal female conscription becomes necessary to infill for male soldiers? And even if it does not become an absolute necessity, should we prepare for the possible eventuality, given the very long timeframe required for debate and preparation before any implementation?
After all, much debate and preparation will clearly be necessary. There is a huge caveat or qualifier to the overwhelming 98 per cent support of NS by our citizens, which an IPS survey discovered. The same survey revealed that only 9 per cent of all Singaporean women surveyed - and 13 per cent of those under 30 - supported female conscription.
A different study found broadly the same results: A higher proportion - 22 per cent - of Singaporean women support female conscription, but only 9 per cent said they were willing to do it for two years.
In other words, it's great for my father, husband, boyfriend or son to do NS, but not me.
If we are to change young Singaporean women's views about female conscription - which by the way is gender-neutral in the Conscription Act - the first challenge is to convince them that there is indeed a demographic dilemma.
In a recent dialogue session, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen was asked about female conscription, and he answered that it should not be for reasons of equity. In other words, it should be only for demographic reasons - if there are not enough young men to defend the country. To start young women thinking about this possibility, a volunteer corps has been started.
I wholly agree that female conscription should not be undertaken simply for equity reasons. It has been argued that the moral equivalence of national service for women is bearing children, and while this is not directly comparable - not all women bear children, and some bear more than one, for example - the debate quickly degenerates into a male-female divide with emotionally competitive overtones.
The reasons for female conscription must instead be underpinned by national need. However, as I argued in my recent Third S R Nathan Lecture at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) on the topic of Security and Sustainability, national need can be more broadly defined than as simply military defence.
In the Singapore 50 years from today, there will possibly be a defence need - but most certainly a social need - for all our young women to be trained in the skills needed by a rapidly ageing society. Therefore, we should start to prepare for this eventuality.
The whole notion of Total Defence, which Singapore subscribes to, is that for a small city-state, military defence is only one part of a more complex equation.
Whatever is critical, not only to the sovereignty of Singapore but also its economic, social and political sustainability, is a strategic imperative which requires full support from its citizenry. In this context, female conscription for military defence should be considered only as a final resort should male conscripts be unable to fulfil military needs.
But conscription may still be warranted, to serve the equally important social and community needs of an ageing population whose well-being is a strategic necessity. That would still fall within the ambit of Total Defence.
But let us deal with purely the defence need first.
The defence imperative
WILL the time ever come when universal female conscription becomes necessary to infill for male soldiers? And even if it does not become an absolute necessity, should we prepare for the possible eventuality, given the very long timeframe required for debate and preparation before any implementation?
After all, much debate and preparation will clearly be necessary. There is a huge caveat or qualifier to the overwhelming 98 per cent support of NS by our citizens, which an IPS survey discovered. The same survey revealed that only 9 per cent of all Singaporean women surveyed - and 13 per cent of those under 30 - supported female conscription.
A different study found broadly the same results: A higher proportion - 22 per cent - of Singaporean women support female conscription, but only 9 per cent said they were willing to do it for two years.
In other words, it's great for my father, husband, boyfriend or son to do NS, but not me.
If we are to change young Singaporean women's views about female conscription - which by the way is gender-neutral in the Conscription Act - the first challenge is to convince them that there is indeed a demographic dilemma.
[This is a devious argument.
First, he agrees that conscription of women should be for demographic necessity, as Ng Eng Hen has reiterated.
Then, he also agrees that it should not be for reasons of equity, but for "national needs".
Then, he reasonably points out that "national needs" can be "more broadly defined" than simply Defence. Total Defence encompasses many aspects. Military Defence is just one of them.
Then, he suggest, let's talk about military defence. Is there a possibility that in some future time, we might need women to be conscripted? In the future anything is possible, so of course it is entirely possible that conscription for women is necessary.
But, he points out, studies today show that women are not prepared to be conscripted. Arguing about this will take a long time. So to prepare women for conscription we should start now.
The problem is convincing them that there is a "demographic dilemma".
That is the gist of his argument.
Do you see how he has twisted from "yes, there is no demographic need to conscript women" to "but we should conscript women now... just in case... to get them used to the idea of conscription... and the possible demographic dilemma."]
Going by past attempts to raise the issue and the lukewarm response, much convincing remains to be done.
Current demographic trends from the United Nations show that in a "no-change" scenario - meaning we assume current total fertility rates (TFRs) and no in-migration - the male population aged 15 to 24 will decline by around 35 per cent between now and 2040. That is a drop of one-third in 25 years.
The rate of decline will continue so that in 50 years' time - by 2065 - the same male NS-age cohort then will be less than half of its size today.
As the nature of warfare changes, the classic image of thousands of foot-soldiers charging up a hill will necessarily evolve, possibly to one with armed drones skilfully and remotely controlled - by women.
New technologies requiring more brain than brawn are inherently female-friendly and will increasingly enable women to serve meaningful roles in the military.
Today, women make up 33 per cent of the Israel Defence Forces, 15 per cent of the US military, and 7 per cent of the SAF regular forces. More than 90 per cent of the positions in the Israel Defence Forces are available to female soldiers. Starting next year, 100 per cent of vocations in the US military will be available to women.
While it is premature today to conclude that military conscription for two years for women will definitely become necessary, I would argue that we need to start changing mindsets soon. Otherwise it will be too late should the need actually arise one day.
Short-term stints
ONE way is to introduce universal female conscription for a form of non-military, shorter-term duration focused on supporting our civil defence, Home Team, community and health-care institutions.
Universal female conscription could start with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) taking the lead, and with the Ministry of Defence only providing whatever necessary technical support is needed, so that this massive undertaking does not divert our military from its main role.
It could last several months and be held during the interlude between graduating from secondary school and entering tertiary institutions or entering the workforce. Decentralised to the schools level for logistical purposes but with expertise provided by the uniformed services - the Home Team as well as SAF - the programme organised by MCCY could comprise a mix of school-level day classes, field practices and Outward Bound-style residential training.
An annual equivalent of reservist training lasting several weeks during school term breaks could enhance the relearning and refinement of paramedical, para-civil defence or para-police capabilities.
Social imperative
WE NOW come to the social reason for female conscription. The intention is to train future generations of female citizens who are not just actively engaged in the ongoing Total Defence of the nation but also equipped with real-life skills which are different from, but no less important than, those of their male counterparts.
Current demographic trends from the United Nations show that in a "no-change" scenario - meaning we assume current total fertility rates (TFRs) and no in-migration - the male population aged 15 to 24 will decline by around 35 per cent between now and 2040. That is a drop of one-third in 25 years.
The rate of decline will continue so that in 50 years' time - by 2065 - the same male NS-age cohort then will be less than half of its size today.
As the nature of warfare changes, the classic image of thousands of foot-soldiers charging up a hill will necessarily evolve, possibly to one with armed drones skilfully and remotely controlled - by women.
New technologies requiring more brain than brawn are inherently female-friendly and will increasingly enable women to serve meaningful roles in the military.
Today, women make up 33 per cent of the Israel Defence Forces, 15 per cent of the US military, and 7 per cent of the SAF regular forces. More than 90 per cent of the positions in the Israel Defence Forces are available to female soldiers. Starting next year, 100 per cent of vocations in the US military will be available to women.
While it is premature today to conclude that military conscription for two years for women will definitely become necessary, I would argue that we need to start changing mindsets soon. Otherwise it will be too late should the need actually arise one day.
Short-term stints
ONE way is to introduce universal female conscription for a form of non-military, shorter-term duration focused on supporting our civil defence, Home Team, community and health-care institutions.
Universal female conscription could start with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) taking the lead, and with the Ministry of Defence only providing whatever necessary technical support is needed, so that this massive undertaking does not divert our military from its main role.
It could last several months and be held during the interlude between graduating from secondary school and entering tertiary institutions or entering the workforce. Decentralised to the schools level for logistical purposes but with expertise provided by the uniformed services - the Home Team as well as SAF - the programme organised by MCCY could comprise a mix of school-level day classes, field practices and Outward Bound-style residential training.
An annual equivalent of reservist training lasting several weeks during school term breaks could enhance the relearning and refinement of paramedical, para-civil defence or para-police capabilities.
Social imperative
WE NOW come to the social reason for female conscription. The intention is to train future generations of female citizens who are not just actively engaged in the ongoing Total Defence of the nation but also equipped with real-life skills which are different from, but no less important than, those of their male counterparts.
[Right. Women are currently ill-equiped with real-life skills. That is a wonderful assumption. The even more wonderful assumption is that ONLY National Service for women will be able to teach them these "real-life" skills.]
Singapore in the next 50 years will certainly need a far more comprehensive voluntary services sector; national servicewomen could clearly contribute to their country in this area.
One may object at this juncture to say this is tantamount to getting young women to perform cheap labour in place of foreign nurses on full wages.
My answer is yes: Female conscription for social purposes would indeed supplement and to some degree even replace foreign professional caregivers.
And what is wrong with that?
It will be a bleak and dismal Singapore when our own citizens do not feel it is their duty to perform vital tasks critical for the well-being of our society, on the grounds that it can be equally performed by foreign workers. If the same reluctance is applied to soldiering, then one might argue that it is better to outsource this to foreign mercenary soldiers than to require our young men to be conscripted.
One may object at this juncture to say this is tantamount to getting young women to perform cheap labour in place of foreign nurses on full wages.
My answer is yes: Female conscription for social purposes would indeed supplement and to some degree even replace foreign professional caregivers.
And what is wrong with that?
It will be a bleak and dismal Singapore when our own citizens do not feel it is their duty to perform vital tasks critical for the well-being of our society, on the grounds that it can be equally performed by foreign workers. If the same reluctance is applied to soldiering, then one might argue that it is better to outsource this to foreign mercenary soldiers than to require our young men to be conscripted.
[And now we come to the usual, "women don't have to be soldiers. they can be nurses and care-givers as their national service."
Right.
You are a man. You have been conscripted. You hate National Service. Kill the enemy.
You are are woman. You have been conscripted to be a nurse. You HATE nursing. You can't stand the sight of blood. Please care for this frail, elderly woman.
You have a sick parent, going to hospital for extended stay. How assured are you that the conscripted nurses and healthcare attendants looking after your frail, vulnerable parent will provide PROFESSIONAL care? Or can you expect at best, NATIONAL SERVICE LEVEL care?
Your daughter has been conscripted to be a nurse. She hates nursing. But she does her NS as well as she can. Someone dies anyway. They try to blame her. She says it is not her fault - she did as she was taught. The authorities say she should have use a different procedure.
Ya, but that is the same situation Men face. In training exercises sometimes people get hurt or even die. Yes. And there are training and safety protocols, and every accident or death is investigated, and safety recommendations made. How often do people die in hospitals? Sure, they are mostly unsuspicious. So if a NS girl looks after your ageing mother and your mother dies in unsuspicious circumstances, it is only natural causes. No way the NS girl who didn't want to be a nurse or is not trained to be a nurse, who just wants to be a dancer, could have done anything wrong that might have caused your mother's death. Right?]
Your daughter has been conscripted to be a nurse. She hates nursing. But she does her NS as well as she can. Someone dies anyway. They try to blame her. She says it is not her fault - she did as she was taught. The authorities say she should have use a different procedure.
Ya, but that is the same situation Men face. In training exercises sometimes people get hurt or even die. Yes. And there are training and safety protocols, and every accident or death is investigated, and safety recommendations made. How often do people die in hospitals? Sure, they are mostly unsuspicious. So if a NS girl looks after your ageing mother and your mother dies in unsuspicious circumstances, it is only natural causes. No way the NS girl who didn't want to be a nurse or is not trained to be a nurse, who just wants to be a dancer, could have done anything wrong that might have caused your mother's death. Right?]
Singapore is one of the fastest- ageing countries in the world. If our birth rates remain as they are now and there is no net in-migration, in the next 50 years the percentage of people over 65 years old will jump threefold and even overtake Japan, which is acknowledged as a fast-ageing society.
Today only about one in 10 Singaporeans is considered elderly; in 50 years this will be nearly one in two. While the elderly can try to be more self-reliant - with the aid of robots, for example - the strain on our social services will be enormous. Singapore already does not have enough trained nurses to service current hospital needs; imagine the strain on community services for the elderly by then.
The silver tsunami advancing our way needs an interpretation of Total Defence which involves our young women being trained to counter this threat, while being psychologically prepared to also undergo military training in a more distant future should the military need become a necessity.
An important point, however, is to maintain the fundamental ethos of universal national service - so it should be truly universal for all young Singaporean women and not be on a voluntary basis.
The argument for equity is applicable here: If our young female citizens are needed for defence of the nation or for community and social work in an ageing and declining population, that responsibility should fall onto every young female citizen.
Today only about one in 10 Singaporeans is considered elderly; in 50 years this will be nearly one in two. While the elderly can try to be more self-reliant - with the aid of robots, for example - the strain on our social services will be enormous. Singapore already does not have enough trained nurses to service current hospital needs; imagine the strain on community services for the elderly by then.
The silver tsunami advancing our way needs an interpretation of Total Defence which involves our young women being trained to counter this threat, while being psychologically prepared to also undergo military training in a more distant future should the military need become a necessity.
An important point, however, is to maintain the fundamental ethos of universal national service - so it should be truly universal for all young Singaporean women and not be on a voluntary basis.
The argument for equity is applicable here: If our young female citizens are needed for defence of the nation or for community and social work in an ageing and declining population, that responsibility should fall onto every young female citizen.
[And now the other shoe drops. After paying lip service to "it should not be for equity reasons", he now turns around and argues for equity. Man, this guy could write Shakespeare. "I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him." What a Mark Anthony!]
Young men may well counter: Why not let NS be totally neutral and allow men to opt for caregiving and women for two-year military service?
I think the answer is obvious: It should be fine for women to opt for two-year military service rather than three- to five-month community conscription. But to allow men to swop a two-year military regime for several months of Home Team training is obviously to undermine the whole egalitarian intent of NS.
In the course of preparing my lecture, and now article, for this topic, I've spoken to many young women on the subject of female conscription. Once I made clear that the proposal is for only several months during an educational transition, I found the response to be overwhelmingly positive.
Most young women I met are keen to acquire practical skills in physical self-protection, civil defence and paramedical care. Their love of country and society is certainly no less than that of their male brethren, and they are keen to demonstrate it. Let's give them a chance to show it.
The writer is executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and the 2014/15 S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore at the Institute of Policy Studies.
[I LOVE this speech. It is incredibly devious, sly, slippery, and sneaky. It starts out agreeing with EVERY SINGLE ARGUMENT against conscription of women for NS, and then in the course of the speech turns everything around.
If he had this facility in the 70s, I can see why he was incarcerated under the ISA - with this gift of eloquence, he can convince you Black is White, Day is Night, Light is Dark, and while NS for women is not necessary right now, we should have it anyway.
Brilliant. This guy is bloody brilliant!]
[AFTERNOTE: Conscription is an infringement of one's liberty. The reason why people do not like conscription is because it takes away a fundamental freedom or civil liberty - the freedom of choice. As such, the imposition of such violation of civil liberties CANNOT be frivolously made. Hence the inherently stupid and unjustified decision of Malaysia to impose "national service" on randomly selected youths for insipid reasons.
Similarly, NS for women MUST be justified by critical and dire need. Not contingent need. Not for inane, insipid reasons. If you are going to VIOLATE women's civil liberties it MUST be for good reasons, and no, because the men's rights have been sacrificed is NOT GOOD ENOUGH.]
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