NSmen and employers reaffirm commitment to Singapore's defence at SAF Day ceremonies

Some 460 Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) from 290 companies and organisations gathered with their employers across four locations in Singapore on 1 July 2026 for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Day Combined Rededication Ceremonies (CRCs), pledging their renewed commitment to the nation's defence.

The annual ceremonies, held since 1 July 1987, were organised on a voluntary basis by civilian partner organisations at Temasek Polytechnic, Marina Bay Financial Centre, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) Building, and Suntec City Convention Centre.

Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing officiated at the Zone 3 ceremony at the SCCCI Building, one of four ministers who presided over the respective ceremonies. He thanked the business community, servicemen and women, and their families for sustaining the nation's defence ecosystem.

"I want to thank you all — the business community, servicemen and women on duty, and families," Chan said in his closing remarks. "You are the people who are doing the extraordinary work behind for us to have an ordinary day in Singapore. For us to have every normal day, every ordinary day itself, is an effort amidst all the turmoil of the world."

Chan noted that Singapore's standing on the international stage was directly tied to the credibility of the SAF. He cited the recently concluded Shangri-La Dialogue as evidence of the country's reputation. "People listen to us, people talk to us seriously. People want to partner us because they know that we are trustworthy. Nobody in the world will want to deal with us if we do not have a credible SAF," he said.

The minister also cautioned against complacency, stressing the asymmetric nature of deterrence. "We need to get it right first time, every time, all the time, but any adversary will just need to get it right one time, anytime," he said.

The theme for this year's SAF Day — "平凡后的非凡", translated as "The Extraordinary Behind the Ordinary" — was personally chosen by Chan, who said he had selected the Chinese phrase before its English rendition.

"It is very easy for us to see the normalcy and forget the extraordinary work that is required," he said.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat officiated at the Zone 1 ceremony at Temasek Polytechnic, organised by the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME) in partnership with Temasek Polytechnic. A total of 191 NSmen from 141 companies participated, led in the SAF pledge by LTC(NS) Soon Kong Yong of HQ 6 Division, who works as a Partnership and Business Development Manager at ASME.

Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung presided over the Zone 2 ceremony at Marina Bay Financial Centre, organised by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) in partnership with DBS Bank. LTA(NS) Chen Jiajun, Jeryl, a Sustainability Advisor at the SBF Net Zero Transition Programme Office, led 97 NSmen from 32 companies in reciting the pledge.

At Zone 4 in Suntec City Convention Centre, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli officiated at the ceremony organised by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation. The pledge was led by LTA(NS) Gareth Pang, a Manager for Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of National Development, with 116 NSmen from 51 companies participating.

In total, four pledge leaders drawn from civilian and business roles — all NSmen — led participants at their respective zones. The ceremonies are intended to underscore the complementary roles of servicemen and the private sector in sustaining Singapore's national security.

An SAF Day video highlighting the work of servicemen and women in safeguarding Singapore's daily way of life was also screened at all four ceremony locations.