Has it really been ten reservist cycles and 13 years since I shaved my hair and reported to Tekong as a wide-eyed, hapless recruit? I’ve been asking myself that a lot because I cannot believe that I have finished my National Service obligations.

It’s very hard to articulate the feelings I have about something I used to dread but now feel quite sad to part. To ease myself into it, I’ll start by talking about the financial aspects of finishing one’s NS obligations, since this is a personal finance blog after all.

Thankfully, even after MR (placed in MINDEF Reserve), I am still eligible for NSman Tax Relief. As a puny Corporal First Class not holding any key appointments, I can claim $1,500 of tax relief every year just for having served National Service. It’s not much, but it’s something every year