‘Is NS training still relevant today?’ — S’porean asks because ’90s NSmen had ‘push-through endurance’ mindset, but NSmen now have ‘mental health safety’ mindset

SINGAPORE: Once upon a time, the SG’s rite of passage was defined by just mud, sweat, and the “push-through endurance” grit. But now, Singapore’s National Service (NS) has become a tale of two eras — and Singaporean Redditors are having a field day comparing them.

In a post on the r/SingaporeCitizens forum, the age-old question was reignited: Is National Service still relevant in the same way today?

A Singaporean mused that while NS is still respected for instilling “discipline, resilience, and a kind of brotherhood,” it’s clear that the times (and terrain) have changed. From the tales of the ’90s and early 2000s, NS was about rugged fieldcraft, minimal shelter, and keeping your mouth shut. “Tougher training, less tech,” the Singaporean observed, where the core survival tool was sheer brute will.

Today’s recruits, however, are stepping into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), which champions cyber defence, mental health support, and possibly even air-conditioned bunks.

It’s not just about whether NS is easier now — it’s about whether it’s evolving in the right direction. “Modern warfare, western doctrines… where lower ranks have more voice and leadership roles,” one commenter wrote.

The days of command-and-control/obey are giving way to decentralised leadership. Sergeants and Corporals First Class now lead, not always following orders. And with drone strikes and intelligence warfare replacing some boots-on-ground tactics, the SAF is adapting — but cautiously, commenters say.

Another commenter broke it down: “You can have all the computers and drones in the world. But you still don’t hold the objective until you have boots on the ground.”

So the final verdict was: “Still relevant, just need to keep up with the times.”

Even the loudest critics — who described NS as a “waste of time” or “just knowing how to aim and trigger the gun” — couldn’t deny that it teaches calm under crisis, first aid, or teamwork that kicks in when real life gets rough.

But relevance isn’t always about battle-readiness. Some pointed out NS’s secret weapon: connections.

“You may end up buddy-buddy with a rich guy whose father can put you with connections or even end up working in his company!” one Singaporean quipped. Another simply added: “Despite everything else, in the business communities of SG, it’s still ‘connections’ that matter much.”

Still, not everyone walked away a better man. One commenter admitted, “I hated my time initially… not a people person and made very few friends. I just shut up and went through it.”

Ultimately, NS may no longer be about just surviving the jungle — it’s about surviving in a world where leadership, mental strength, and adaptability matter just as much as physical muscle.

And in that light, NS isn’t obsolete — it’s just evolving.

Read related: ‘Can a S’porean get kicked out of National Service?’ — ‘Non-S’porean’ asks after a local told him he ‘got out of NS by faking a psychotic episode’