From National Service to Rooting in Singapore - How Singapore Builds a Cross-Generational Shared Commitment
SMC May | Reservist Commander Month
“Welcome home” — this phrase has taken on a heavier meaning in recent times.
When the situation in the Middle East suddenly changed and Singaporeans were stranded overseas, as conditions rapidly deteriorated, the state activated its response mechanisms and deployed the Singapore Armed Forces to bring every citizen safely home.
At the May 1 Labour Day Rally organised by the National Trades Union Congress, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong became emotional when speaking about this evacuation operation. He said that “bringing them home” was not just a summary of an operation, but a reflection of national commitment. At the end of his speech, when he reached “applause broke out as the plane left the runway,” he paused, choked with emotion; and when he continued with “someone began to sing the national anthem,” he could no longer hold back his tears.
Lawrence Wong pointed out that the core spirit of Singapore lies in never giving up and never abandoning one another, and in demonstrating mutual support in every crisis. In such moments, “going home” is no longer just a direction, but a certainty — and it becomes the deepest source of reassurance for many.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, when speaking about the Middle East evacuation, was moved to tears as Singaporeans on the plane sang the national anthem together.
Security is never a given: a long-term national choice
When different parts of the world continue to face conflict and uncertainty, we become even more aware that security and stability are never to be taken for granted.
What Singapore has today is never accidental. It is built upon a policy choice that many countries find difficult to sustain over the long term.
Since its introduction in 1967, National Service has continued for nearly sixty years, mobilising around 20,000 young men each year, with more than one million Singaporeans having participated in total. At the same time, Singapore has consistently committed around 3% to 4% of its GDP to defence, with defence spending remaining the largest single item in the national budget.
This is not merely a policy arrangement, but an intergenerational national practice — enabling an entire generation to personally take part in “defending the nation.” This is the essence of National Service.
From system to identity: diverse participation in a shared commitment
Many people understand National Service as a defence arrangement. But in Singapore, its deeper meaning lies in making the “nation” no longer just an abstract concept, but a lived reality that can be experienced and collectively remembered.
When a person has stood guard, trained, and taken responsibility for the country, the nation is no longer distant, and responsibility is no longer abstract. Therefore, in Singapore, discipline is not a slogan, trust is not an assumption, and cohesion is not a temporary mobilisation, but a reality built over generations through shared experience.
If National Service shapes national security, its deeper significance lies in shaping a society — one that is willing to take responsibility.
Since its implementation in 1967, this commitment has never been interrupted. It connects the individual with the nation, the present with the future, and binds different generations through a quiet but steadfast sense of responsibility. But it must also be acknowledged that not everyone living in Singapore has personally experienced National Service. Some new immigrants do not have sons, some families have children who have passed the enlistment age, and others arrived at different stages of life. Does this mean they are not part of this “shared commitment”? The answer is precisely the opposite. National Service has never been only about “whether one has served,” but about a deeper spirit — whether one is willing to take responsibility when society calls, and whether one chooses to contribute beyond institutional obligations.
In Singapore, there is more than one way to participate in this shared commitment. Some protect the nation in the military, some create value in business, some nurture the next generation through education, and others contribute quietly in the community. The forms differ, but the essence is the same — choosing to take responsibility for this place.
From “staying” to “putting down roots”: true integration
As a fourth-generation Singaporean and also a son-in-law from China, coming from a large family spanning six generations with over a hundred relatives, I have gradually come to understand that what Singapore values as “putting down roots” is never simply about “staying,” but about participating. Many people can live here, but not everyone truly takes root. True “putting down roots” means being willing to take responsibility in critical moments, to contribute consistently in everyday life, and to step forward when society needs you. Many long-established immigrant families have already demonstrated this over time. Their descendants not only complete National Service, but continue to serve in the reservist system and even take on command roles. This continuity is not driven solely by institutional requirements, but by a sense of identity, eventually becoming a conscious choice.
SMC May | Reservist Commander Month: From Service to a Lifetime
At the upcoming 127th and 128th SMC Hiking Library sessions, two speakers — Dr Stephen Ho, Group CEO & Executive Director of Skylab Group, and Lien Chong Luen, President of Singapore Athletics — will share their journeys from active service to reservist roles, and their continued contributions across different sectors of society. Their stories remind us that service is not just a phase, but a sense of responsibility that can last a lifetime.
Please sign up for our 9th May hike at https://lnkd.in/gCZaBtAj
The SMC Youth Hiking Library is a twice-monthly experiential platform that connects students and professionals through curated outdoor dialogues. With rotating conversations and invited speakers, it fosters diverse perspectives and meaningful cross-generational connections.
Conclusion: Responsibility is where “putting down roots” begins
Many speak of “loving Singapore” in words, but what truly sustains this country has never been slogans, but people who quietly and consistently take responsibility over time.
Therefore, when we speak of “integration,” the answer may not be complex: it is not about how long you have been here, but whether you are willing to take responsibility for this place. New immigrants bring perspectives and vitality, while established communities provide stability and continuity. When mutual understanding and contribution take place, “integration” ceases to be a goal and becomes a natural outcome.
As Singapore moves towards SG60, and further towards SG100 and even SG200, what the nation truly needs is not more slogans, but more people willing to take responsibility. If you choose to build your future here, perhaps you can ask yourself a simple but important question: are you merely living here, or are you willing to take responsibility for this place? Because the future of a nation is never planned into existence, but built gradually by generations of people who choose to take responsibility.
May we encourage one another: to “put down roots” in Singapore is not just to stay, but to understand; not just to integrate, but to move towards true cohesion. Singapore welcomes new immigrants who are willing to put down roots, and also welcomes global citizens who are ready to create value for the world.
Forward, Singapore.
Majulah Singapore. 🇸🇬
Dr. David Ong
Founder & Chairman
Singapore Mentorship Committee (SMC)
Media Contact:
Singapore Mentorship Committee (SMC)
Email: singaporementorshipcommittee@gmail.com
Website: https://www.smcmentorship.org/