近日，一名母亲因为在兵营外等了儿子两个小时，不耐之下在脸书发文抱怨，引起网友热议。
这名母亲表示，这天是儿子服兵役的最后一天，她从晚上10点就在兵营外等待，到深夜11点38分，儿子都没出来！过去两年，一直在这种奇怪的时段给士兵训练，看他们有没有整理床铺，有没有扫地，实在太不合理了！
小科普：
国民服役赋予了服役者对于新加坡的认同感和责任感，这是新加坡兵役制度的政治和社会意义。军人的服役期分为两种：1年10个月、2年。在新加坡的服役人员，在服役期间，每星期是可以回家的！享受正常的公共假期待遇！如果在作战单位，一般是星期五傍晚或晚上回家，星期天夜里得回营报到。但是，特殊情况比如部队的训练安排到了周六周日，部队就会安排补休。
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这篇贴文引起了网友的注意。
一个由退伍军人运营的脸书页面“ The Reservist”很快对这名母亲进行了回复。他表示，孩子是在服兵役，不是在参加教育部的露营活动。
该用户也表示，正是因为这是服役的最后几天，士兵们正在进行最后的告别练习，所以才会超过预定时间，并不是有意让父母在外等待。
原文如下：
Just clarifying a point：
The issue here is NOT parents picking up their NSF boys. After all, you got car you are perfectly entitled to go fetch your loved one etc. NO issue there at all. Even in places like US it is very common for families to go wait and pick up their loved ones coming back from deployment etc.
What the REAL issue here is thst this complaint is really bo liao at best. This is the military, and unless it's ops, cannot always expect clockwork timing. Especially when it is a joyous event like milestone parade when he is probably celebrating, saying goodbye, etc with his friends and commanders. Or even enjoying some food and drink.
Yes it is sian to wait for 1.5hours (although you won't complain if it's hai di lao). But this is the military leh. The SAF is not some CCA UNIFORM group where you are obliged to cater to the preferences of parents every time. Yes it is important to engage parents, but first and foremost this is a military. Don't need to sound as though the SAF is really f up and that they owe you for your time waiting.
这个发帖获得了许多网友的赞同。
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当天，也有另一名用户发文为母亲辩护。
他认为，这名母亲的抱怨是合理的。虽然他不清楚细节，但如果要等上两个小时才能接到人，肯定是会生气的。国民服务不仅仅关乎服役人员，也需要父母的支持。每个服役人员可能都有因一些愚蠢的原因而被留下，导致家中上了年纪的祖父母只能等着他们迟迟才能回家吃饭。
国民服务的支持需要代代相传，所以我们必须保持着开放的心态接受一切反馈，这样才能让我们变得更好。
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原文如下：
Whilst I recognise this page aims to promote support for National Service, let’s not be too quick to judge this parent.
I personally feel his/her complaint is reasonable. Whilst I may not have been present or know the details behind the event, I think it’s fair to be annoyed when they have to wait till so late to receive their sons.
National Service isn’t just about the soldiers, the commanders, and anyone who wears green during those two years. If we want parents to be supportive, then we need to consider the repercussions of planning an event that potentially drags on till such a late time.
I’m certain we’ve all had unpleasant experiences of being held back for silly reasons before being allowed to book out. Imagine if there were elderly grandparents waiting to see their grandchildren to have a meal with them.
That being said, I’ve also had soldiers who had NO one to receive them. Soldiers who lived across the island from where their camps were situated, and had to journey home with all their gear by themselves. Instead of a pleasant conclusion to their final day in service, such an experience just reminds them once again why National Service is deemed inefficient and a “waste of time”.
Support for National Service stems from generation to generation. So please. Let’s receive this sort of feedback with open minds. We can do better. We SHOULD do better.