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Supporting Special Needs Enlistees: What You Need to Know from the Pre-NS Forum

HomeOur Blog Supporting Special Needs Enlistees: What You Need to Know from the Pre-NS Forum
April 11, 2025 by blackboxes Our Blog

Caregivers often face stress and uncertainty when their dependants go through major life transitions — and National Service (NS) is one of the biggest. To help ease this journey, CaringSG, in collaboration with SGFamilies, SAFRA Toa Payoh, and SPARK, organised a special Pre-NS Forum on 5 April 2025.

If you missed the session, we’ve compiled key takeaways for caregivers and persons with disabilities (PWDs) 😊😊

Special Needs ≠ Automatic Exemption

Having special needs does not mean automatic exemption from NS. All pre-enlistees will go through a medical screening at CMPB (Central Manpower Base) to decide their PES status (Physical Employment Standards).

Prepare all necessary reports, medical and/or assessment reports to be submitted when it is time to complete their Medical Screening Questionnaire.

Make sure all required medical and assessment reports are completed in time to submit with your Medical Screening Questionnaire.

📌 Tip: Be transparent with medical history. It helps the SAF provide better support.

BMT School V: Inclusive Training Since 2018

For those with special needs or lower PES status (PES C/E), BMTC School V in Kranji offers tailored training:

– Service-Fit Fitness Programme adapts training to the individual’s capabilities.

– Care Hub provides 24/7 support from counsellors, medical officers, and psychologists.

– All recruits take part in shared NS milestones, such as the Weapon Presentation Ceremony and Graduation Parade.

Each Soldier Is Seen as a Singaporean Son

The SAF adopts an individualised approach, focusing on:

– Assigning vocations based on strengths

– Offering medical accommodations like dietary adjustments, extra explanation of commands, and flexibility for sensory sensitivities

– Ensuring a supportive environment that enables each recruit to thrive

Advice for Parents & Pre-Enlistees

🧠 From CPL Gabriel Tan:
“Go in with a positive mindset. Trust your commanders – they will respect your needs.”

💬 From LCP Isaac Tan:
“Don’t give up. If things don’t work out, speak to your sergeant. The system is there to help.”

👩‍👦 From Ms Tan Yen Yen (Isaac’s mother):
“Be supportive and learn to let go. Let your son grow into a young man.”

NS as a Growth Journey

NS may come with challenges, but with the right preparation and mindset, it becomes a valuable opportunity for growth, resilience, and contribution—regardless of ability.

Thanking our Guests, Host, and Speakers

We woud like to take the opportunity to thank our speakers who shared their experience and invaluable information on the mechanisms available to facilitate a seamless transition into National Service:

Dr Sng Hock Lin
Chief, Silver Generation Office (SGO), AIC and former Commander overseeing BMTC Sch 5

COL (NS) Darren Tan
Family Coach and National Service Commander

BG (RET) Ishak Ismail
Ex-Commander BMTC, ACCORD Resource Partner

CPL (NSF) Gabriel Tan
Administrative Support Assistant

LCP (NSF) Isaac Tan & Yen Yen Tan
Administrative Support Assistant & mother

💜 Featuring CAREcottage @ SAFRA

In addition to the seminar, participants also got to visit our CAREcottage booths, where caregiver and PWD-run enterprises showcased their talents. The community was introduced to a vibrant marketplace of amazing handicrafts and bakes by caregivers and persons with disabilities.

Visitors to this year’s forum could once again support and interact with social enterprises like AusomeSuds,  Bead by Bead, Crochet_Connectz, Crunchy Teeth, EVOLSTUDIO, Jojomama, Kairos_moment, SNAIL Handmade Ceramics, a celebration of creativity, resilience, and empowerment.

Caregivers also benefitted from caregivers resources by CaringSG, SG Assist and Kaleidoscope Therapy Centre. We would also like to thank Kaleidoscope for generously supporting us for childminding, and 13 of our volunteers for helping with this event!

Other Updates

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On 19 June 2025, CaringSG conducted our “How to Just Be There” training for 37 Mendaki staff, introducing the P.A.U.S.E.™ method — Prepare, Acknowledge, Understand, Sit with, Empathize — to equip participants with the mindset and tools to support individuals with special needs through presence, not pressure. Led by trainer Jansen Sng, the session was highly praised for its engaging approach, real-life relevance, and emotional impact.

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Supporting Special Needs Enlistees: What You Need to Know from the Pre-NS Forum

A big part of the joy in caregiving for children comes from being made to see things from a fresh child-like perspective. Teaching autistic children requires one to go beyond that. Often, one has to tap on that perspective and the child’s interest to engage them in learning about our neurotypical world. This is the story of Eliz’s creative teaching journey inspired by her fostered child, Eugene.

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