Accuracy of National Service’s Physical Employment Standards System

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Defence what measures are or will be taken to ensure accuracy in the Physical Employment Standards (PES) system in National Service where the recommendation to downgrade comes from a private medical practitioner.

National Servicemen are assigned a Physical Employment Standard (PES) based on their medical condition. The assigned PES grade helps the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) determine the type of vocations that are compatible with the serviceman’s medical condition.

The PES grade is first assigned to the serviceman at the Central Manpower Base as part of pre-enlistment medical screening. This is based on a review of the serviceman's medical history, including pre-existing medical conditions, and a medical examination. Servicemen are expected to declare any pre-existing medical conditions or diagnosis and provide relevant information from their personal medical practitioners. Where needed, servicemen will be referred for further specialist assessment at a public restructured hospital. All this information is taken into account to ensure accuracy of his PES grading.

A serviceman's PES grading is updated as and when there are changes to his medical condition or health status, to ensure that his PES grade is accurate. A PES grade re-assignment is undertaken by the SAF Medical Board through an objective and thorough review process. The SAF Medical Board is chaired by a senior regular Medical Officer holding the rank of Major (MAJ) or Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC), with two other Medical Officers. Where the servicemen’s medical condition is complex and requires further specialist opinion, these cases will be referred to the Specialist Medical Board. Specialist Medical Boards are chaired by an SAF Medical Officer who holds the rank of LTC and is a certified medical specialist. The board also includes a civilian senior medical specialist who is appointed by the SAF to provide objective specialist advice.

Medical assessments of our servicemen made by medical practitioners in both the private and public sectors will be considered objectively by Medical Officers in the SAF and are not treated differently. While these medical practitioners may make recommendations for changes to a serviceman's PES grade based on his clinical diagnosis, his final PES grade will take into account the operational context and requirements of the SAF, thus ensuring that each serviceman will contribute optimally during his National Service.