SINGAPORE: Wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) said on Monday (Mar 2) that it has filed a police report after two pigeons were found with darts embedded in their bodies.

ACRES said it was alerted on Feb 28 by a member of the public, who had rescued a rock pigeon with a dart in its body at 864 Jurong West Street 81.

When ACRES arrived at the scene, another pigeon was found with two similar darts in its body, before flying away.

The rescued pigeon is currently recovering and will undergo a procedure to remove the dart safely, said ACRES.

The darts found were blowgun darts of about 10cm in length.

Cases have been filed with the police and National Parks Board for investigation, ACRES said.

“We suspect that some individual/s has access to a blow pipe or a dart gun in this location or the surrounding area and has used it on these birds,” ACRES wrote in a Facebook post.

“It is not only an act of cruelty and violence to put the innocent birds through pain and suffering, but possession of such weapons or sale of such items online should be strictly regulated considering the pain they can cause to any animal or human on whom it is targeted at.”

Anyone with relevant and useful information on the case can contact ACRES at acrescrime@gmail.com.

SINGAPORE: From Mar 1, full-time and operationally ready national servicemen (NSF and NSmen) across all ranks will get an increase of S$70 to S$120 in their NS allowance each month, Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How announced in Parliament on Monday (Mar 2).

Mr Heng was speaking during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.
 
The raise includes increments in both rank and vocation allowance components. As part of the revision, all national servicemen will get a vocation allowance of at least S$50 a month. Those who currently receive combat or operational allowance will get up to S$100 more.
 
This means that an NSF holding the rank of Recruit or Trainee will get S$630 a month, up from the current S$560.
 
A Singapore Armed Forces NSF naval diver, Singapore Police Force NSF Police Tactical Trooper, or Singapore Civil Defence Force firefighter holding the rank of Corporal will get S$1,050, up from the current S$930.
 
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the allowance supports national servicemen in their “basic personal upkeep” and is reviewed periodically, with Mr Heng saying the raise acknowledged the “contributions” of servicemen.
 
Mr Heng also announced other measures to improve the NS experience for every servicemen, as he stressed that the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) “greatest asset” is its people.
 
One measure is extending the PreEnlistees Exercise Programme for National Service (PREP4NS) trial, which gives future national servicemen a free one-year SAFRA EnergyOne gym membership, to ActiveSG gyms.
 
PREP4NS was announced last October to prepare future servicemen for their pre-enlistee Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) and the physical demands of NS.
 
MINDEF said more than 6,000 have signed up for the membership since its launch last November, adding that it is working with Sport Singapore to extend the trial to 24 ActiveSG gyms. Registration for the trial ends on Apr 30.
 
Still on the topic of pre-enlistees, Mr Heng said MINDEF has partnered with the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence to appoint dedicated NS coordinators to assist pre-enlistees from diverse backgrounds with their questions on NS.
 
These coordinators will come from Foreign System Schools and Privately Funded Institutions, he said, adding that some pre-enlistees are new citizens and permanent residents who might not have family or friends who have undergone NS.
 
“The inaugural NS Coordinator engagement session in May 2019 was organised by the United World College (South East Asia), to facilitate mutual learning and exchange of best practices among the NS Coordinators,” MINDEF said.
 
Moving on to improvements during NS, Mr Heng said MINDEF will fully subsidise Electronic Pre-Release Employment Programme (E-PREP) course fees, instead of the up to 90 per cent subsidy currently
 
NSFs can choose from more than 4,000 courses with the National University of Singapore and Institute of Technical Education coming on board, an increase from the 3,000 courses currently.
 
“NSFs devote two full years to serving the nation,” Mr Heng said. “It is therefore incumbent upon us as stewards of their time and talents to make sure that we support their aspirations.”

Mr Heng said MINDEF is also using technology to make various aspects of NS, like administration, training and healthcare, more seamless.
 
For instance, the Central Manpower Base (CMPB) is trialling a real-time queue management system and facial recognition technology to cut waiting times during the pre-enlistment process.
 
In June, it will implement improved eServices, like a single online transaction for bond and exit permit applications, so future servicemen can complete most transactions online.
 
“Once the Smart CMPB initiative is fully implemented, pre-enlistees will be notified of their pre-enlistment application outcomes, for example deferment and exit permit, up to 40 per cent more quickly,” MINDEF said.
 
On top of that, virtual consultations at SAF medical centres and telemedicine devices like digital stethoscopes will allow quicker and more convenient access to medical services.
 
MINDEF said trials conducted in 2019 at two medical centres found that the digital consultations were “effective and efficient”, with Mr Heng saying it allows SAF medical officers to remotely provide safe and effective treatment for soldiers with common ailments.
 
“Through whole-of-society commitment to our defence, we will demonstrate our will and resolve to protect Singapore’s freedom and sovereignty come what may,” Mr Heng said.

Beyond just improving the NS experience, Senior Minister of State for Defence Maliki Osman said strong family and societal support for national servicemen “will motivate them to give their best when performing their duties”.
 
To recognise and strengthen this support, Dr Maliki announced that MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs will launch the SAFRA Family Scheme and HomeTeamNS Family Scheme this year.
 
Under the schemes, NSmen can sign up for a family package for himself and his dependants regardless of the size of his family, Mr Maliki said, allowing “significant cost savings” as servicemen no longer need to pay individual membership fees for each dependant.
 
“We hope this will encourage more families to visit SAFRA and HomeTeamNS clubhouses, enjoy the facilities, and spend more quality time together,” he said, adding that the two will announce more details in the middle of the year.
 
Dr Maliki also revealed that MINDEF will conduct engagement sessions in the second half of this year to hear from Singaporeans on how Total Defence can be strengthened and better put into action.
 
“This will also allow younger Singaporeans to reflect on what Total Defence is to them and operationalise this as we respond to future threats and challenges,” he added.
 
“With a strong Total Defence, we have every reason to have confidence and a sense of hope for Singapore’s future.”

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is on a push to do its part for the environment, as it unveiled its first net energy positive building – a new eight-storey hangar that uses solar panels and natural ventilation features. 

The hangar at Changi Air Base (East), built for the SAF’s multi-role tanker transport, can generate 1,225 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity a year, enough to power 273 four-room Housing Board flats. This is 30 per cent more than the energy it consumes, with the leftover used in other parts of the base.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament on Monday (Mar 2) that the SAF is doing its part in line with the national response to tackle climate change.

“Adapting to use green technologies could also reap operational advantages,” he said in his Committee of Supply debate speech, highlighting that the navy is exploring using energy-efficient hybrid propulsion systems that can increase warships’ endurance.

READ: SAF to restructure intelligence and cyber defence units, acquire new ships for maritime security amid evolving threats

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said it is working with the Defence Science and Technology Agency to insert green features in new buildings during the design phase.

Some examples of energy-efficient buildings include the Ordnance Engineering School in Kranji Camp 3, which uses solar lighting and natural ventilation to generate its own electricity to fully meet demand.

The SAF will also install solar panels in 12 SAF camps to generate enough electricity to power 5,500 four-room flats.

“Besides making use of renewable energy and sustainable building materials, these facilities maximise water and energy conservation through water-efficient fittings as well as energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning systems,” MINDEF said.

“When fully realised, these efforts combined will reduce 11,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions by the end of March 2021.”

GREEN HANGAR

Leading the way is the multi-role tanker transport hangar, which is built facing the wind to optimise airflow. Large-span louvres also allow the air to escape for natural ventilation. This means the hangar does not need to have as many fans, reducing the energy it consumes.

The hangar also has a green roof with carpet grass that insulates the building against heat and doubles up as a recreation area. The moist soil under the grass acts as a layer against the heat, reducing the need for excessive air-conditioning in the rooms below.

Rainwater is also collected and recycled for general washing, flushing of toilets and irrigation of the green roof. Together with water-efficient fittings, MINDEF estimates that the building will each year save an amount of water equivalent to the consumption of 28 four-room flats.

The hangar comes with a panelled fabric door that allows some sunlight to pass through, reducing the need for excessive lighting. It also uses energy-efficient LED bulbs.

The head of the infrastructure and systems branch at the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s air plans department said the opportunity to make the hangar green came because of its sheer size. It has to be big enough to hold the tanker, which is the size of a commercial airplane.

“The large hangar offers the necessary space and area to incorporate these various technology,” Military Expert 6 Teo Keng Siang said, adding that this process of introducing green features at the design stage will “definitely” continue for future projects.

“For various projects, we see if it is cost-effective and sustainable. So whenever there is an opportunity, we will make it happen.”

ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE CARDS

Still on green buildings, Dr Ng said MINDEF is working with its counterparts in Australia to incorporate environmentally sustainable design measures in its overseas training facility, such as solar-powered lighting and using building materials that have a higher proportion of recycled content.

READ: Army combat soldiers get new uniforms that cool, dry faster

The upcoming NS Hub, to be ready in 2023, also aims to be among the top 10 per cent of energy-efficient buildings in Singapore.

Beyond that, MINDEF said it will replace its 400 administrative vehicles with hybrid models by 2023, reducing carbon emissions by up to two-thirds per vehicle, and eventually with electric vehicles when Singapore’s charging infrastructure is built up.

To combat rising sea levels, MINDEF and the SAF are also working with relevant agencies closely on coastal adaptation, particularly on Singapore’s first polder development at Pulau Tekong.

“MINDEF and the SAF are on track to meet national targets to reduce energy and water consumption,” Dr Ng said.

“In the grand global scheme of changes necessary to mitigate climate change,  our total reduction of carbon dioxide emissions might be considered insignificant, but all agencies and countries must start on this road to recovery.”

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will increase the scale and complexity of some of its overseas training, with new and vast training areas set to be ready before the end of the decade.

“In an uncertain landscape, we must raise, train and sustain units within the SAF to deal with both conventional and unconventional threats.,” Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said during his Committee of Supply debate speech on Monday (Mar 2).

“For conventional operations, the SAF aims to have the best training facilities globally.”

One such facility is the expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Australia, which will be ready in 2024.

This will be combined with the new Greenvale Training Area, ready in 2028, to form an area 10 times the size of Singapore, allowing training for up to 14,000 soldiers and 2,400 vehicles over 18 weeks in a year.

Currently, about 4,000 soldiers head to Australia each year to train in SWBTA, which is about three times the size of Singapore.

The new combined training area will contain next-generation facilities like combined arms air-land ranges and urban operations live firing facilities, allowing the SAF to conduct mass scale, air-land live firing across its services.

For instance, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, drones and artillery launchers can fight together at the brigade level, exercising big-picture tactics and realistic scenarios to hone operational capabilities.

“In essence, when completed, we can conduct complex training on a much larger scale, that only few militaries are able to, elsewhere,” Dr Ng said.

Dr Ng said there was a halt in construction activity at SWBTA because of a fear that it could accentuate the bushfires that raged in Australia this year. “So, we are watching it very careful and if we have to make adjustments, we’ll have to,” he said.

The expanded training area comes after the Defence Ministry (MINDEF) announced the expansion plans in 2016 following Singapore’s signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia, boosting ties and allowing Singapore troops to train in Australia for 25 years.

Another training facility in the works is the fighter training detachment in Guam, to be ready by 2029. Singapore will deploy its F-15SGs, F-16s and supporting assets in an airspace more than 80 times the size of Singapore, allowing larger scale and more complex live firing training.

The Guam detachment, alongside other fighter deployments in Australia, India and Thailand will allow quick re-deployment of assets back to Singapore when required, Dr Ng said.

This comes after Singapore signed a deal with the US last December agreeing to set up the detachment and deepen ties, following the renewal of a defence pact which allows American troops to use Singapore’s air and naval bases for another 15 years.

Dr Ng also provided an update on Singapore’s purchase of four F-35B fighter jets, with an option for eight more, for training and in-depth evaluation. 

The minister said MINDEF is in the final stages of the purchase after getting the green light from the US government and Congress, adding that he hopes to take delivery of the jets around 2026.

“The F-35B performed in the recent Singapore Airshow and its ability to swivel 360 degrees was simply, as some people said, awesome,” he stated. “But it can have a full suite of sensors and fighting capabilities.”