About 10 to 11 NSFs died during service annually from 2016 to 2025: Chan Chun Sing

About 10 to 11 full-time national servicemen died during their service per year from various causes, including suicide, accidents and natural causes such as illnesses, said Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 3).

Chan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Public Services, was responding to a parliamentary question filed by MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC) in a written reply.

The first-term MP had asked for the number full-time national servicemen (NSF) who have died of unnatural causes over the past 10 years, and the main cause of such deaths.

He also asked what measures have been put in place to reduce the incidence of such deaths.

In his reply, the defence minister noted that about 45,000 male Singaporeans and permanent residents serve their national service in the three uniformed entities - the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

Between 2016 and 2025, he said that an average of 10 to 11 NSFs died during service per year from various causes, including suicides, road accidents and natural causes such as illnesses.

Among these deaths, the leading causes of death were suicide, followed by road accidents, consistent with the national trend for males aged 10 to 30, Chan said.

Going into further detail, the defence minister shared that an average of four NSFs per year passed away due to suicide over the 10-year period, translating to an average annual suicide rate of 0.009 per cent among NSFs.

"This is lower than the national suicide rate of 0.014 per cent for males in 2024, which is the most recent year for which national suicide numbers have been finalised," he elaborated.

'We take every loss of life seriously'

But Chan also pointed out every death represents a tragic loss of life that leaves behind grieving families and loved ones.

"We take every loss of life seriously, and our deepest condolences go out to the families affected," he said.

Both the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs take the safety and well-being of every NSF seriously, with each NSF death thoroughly investigated.

In addition, where relevant, measures are put in place to reduce the likelihood of recurrence, Chan added.

Over the past two months, two NSFs died after they were found unconscious at their place of service.

On Oct 8, a NSF was found unconscious at the foot of a building at the Basic Military Training Sector School 3 . He was evacuated by helicopter to the Singapore General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Separately, a 20-year-old Singapore Civil Defence Force NSF was found unconscious at the training yard of Marina Bay Fire Station on Sept 6 .

He was also taken to the Singapore General Hospital, where he later died.

The public was notified of both cases through the ministries' public channel and the media in both cases.

国防部长陈振声周二（11月3日）在国会表示，每年约有10至11名全职国民服役人员在服役期间因各种原因死亡，包括自杀、事故和疾病等自然原因。

兼任公共服务统筹部长的陈先生以书面答复的方式回应了议员法德利·法兹（阿裕尼集选区）提出的议会质询。

这位第一任议员要求提供过去 10 年中因非自然原因死亡的全职国民服役人员 (NSF) 人数，以及此类死亡的主要原因。

他还询问已采取哪些措施来减少此类死亡事件的发生。

国防部长在答复中指出，约有 45,000 名新加坡男性公民和永久居民在新加坡武装部队、新加坡警察部队和新加坡民防部队这三个制服部队服兵役。

他表示，2016 年至 2025 年间，平均每年有 10 至 11 名国民服役人员因各种原因（包括自杀、交通事故和疾病等自然原因）在服役期间死亡。

陈先生表示，在这些死亡事件中，主要死因是自杀，其次是交通事故，这与10至30岁男性的全国趋势一致。

国防部长进一步透露，在过去的十年里，平均每年有四名国民服役人员因自杀身亡，国民服役人员的年平均自杀率为 0.009%。

他进一步解释说：“这低于 2024 年男性全国自杀率 0.014%，2024 年是全国自杀人数最终确定的最新年份。”

“我们严肃对待每一条生命的逝去。”

但陈也指出，每一次死亡都代表着生命的悲剧性损失，都会给身后留下悲痛欲绝的家人和亲人。

他说：“我们严肃对待每一条生命的逝去，并向受影响的家庭致以最深切的慰问。”

国防部和内政部都非常重视每一位国民服役人员的安全和福祉，每一起国民服役人员死亡事件都会进行彻底调查。

此外，陈补充说，在相关情况下，还会采取措施降低复发的可能性。

过去两个月里，有两名国民服役人员在服役地点被发现昏迷不醒后死亡。

10月8日，一名国民服役人员被发现昏迷在第三基础军事训练区学校一栋建筑物的脚下。他被直升机送往新加坡中央医院，后被宣布死亡。

另据报道，9月6日，一名20岁的新加坡民防部队国民服役人员在滨海湾消防站的训练场被发现昏迷不醒。

他也曾被送往新加坡中央医院，后在那里去世。

这两个案件均通过相关部门的公共渠道和媒体向公众通报了情况。