On Sunday, 9 November 2025, SAFRA held its 52nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at SAFRA Toa Payoh, and brought together members, volunteers, and partners to reflect on the past year and look ahead to a bold future. It was a gathering that celebrated not just SAFRA’s achievements as a social and recreational club, but emphasised SAFRA’s commitment to serve our national servicemen and involve the community in our defence movement.
In his keynote address, Mr Desmond Choo, Minister of State for Defence and President of SAFRA, reaffirmed the organisation’s enduring purpose – “Every day, a son, a father, a husband, or a brother puts on his uniform. He serves to protect our way of life. For the past years, SAFRA has served him. We have been a place to unwind, to connect with fellow servicemen, to build a community. And we have done it well.”
But Mr Choo made it clear that SAFRA’s journey is far from complete. “Being an excellent social club is no longer good enough,” he said. “We can be a place that simply appreciates our NSmen. Or we can be a place that stands with them, involves every part of our community, and becomes part of a shared, national mission. This is the future I see for us. We can transition SAFRA from being an excellent social club to becoming a vital defence movement.”
From Appreciation To Action
The AGM highlighted how SAFRA is already moving beyond appreciation to meaningful action. Mr Choo cited examples from the past year: over 30,000 preschoolers crafted appreciation drawings for their fathers, 5,800 swimmers participated in Swim for Hope raising $300,000, 180 partner merchants joined the We Support NS initiative, and 90 NSmen and their families experienced Our NS Family Camp at SAFRA Yishun.
These were not just events, as Mr Choo explained, but expressions of solidarity, understanding, and a shared commitment to support our NSmen and their families. Each initiative represented SAFRA’s philosophy that building community and supporting National Service should extend beyond its clubhouses and into the lives of servicemen, their families, and society at large.
Strong Foundations, Bold Future
SAFRA’s vision for the future is built on a strong foundation. With over 428,000 members making 10.78 million visits last year, and a Group net surplus of $8.1 million, SAFRA firmly has the trust of its community and prudent stewardship of its resources.
The AGM also unveiled exciting plans for growth: the PREP4NS programmes will be ramped up to better help pre-enlistees prepare for NS; a military-inspired Fitness Festival that brings NSmen together to build camaraderie and fire up their warrior spirit; SAFRA Jurong will be upgraded and reimagined as an “Urban Oasis” and a sanctuary for families; and SAFRA Bayshore, set to open in 2030, will be the largest clubhouse and a landmark of sustainability and innovation.
The AGM concluded with an award ceremony to honour the recipients of this year’s SAFRA Bond-Free Education Scheme, followed by an exciting lucky draw session with 10 winners walking away with prizes. Attendees adjourned to the neighbouring event space to enjoy local delights like Nyonya dry laksa, kueh pie tee and mantou with chilli crab sauce, accompanied by the soothing sounds from a string quartet.
BE@SAFRA Festivities
Many attendees also took part in the festivities of BE@SAFRA, at SAFRA Toa Payoh’s atrium. BE@SAFRA was a community event that filled the clubhouse with boundless energy. Children eagerly took to conquering missions in the Game Zone, unleashing their creativity in the Craft Zone, and challenging themselves with tabletop games.
Families bonded over hands-on fun at the Families for Life booth and took photos with the popular Becky Bunny mascot, while delicious bites and balloon-sculpting kept the attendees full and entertained. Those who came early in the morning were also treated to free breakfasts at McDonald’s.
A Call To Build The Defence Movement
As Mr Choo emphasised in his speech, SAFRA’s role has evolved. It is no longer just a social club for national servicemen. but a vital movement that brings defence closer to the community.
“National Service is the cornerstone of Singapore’s defence,” Mr Choo concluded. “But a cornerstone cannot stand alone. It needs a foundation. It needs support. It needs a whole movement of people who believe in what it stands for. That is our task. That is our promise. To all of you — our members, our amazing volunteers, our partners, and our staff — thank you so much for your incredible support. Let’s go build this movement together!”
From fostering camaraderie to creating tangible support programmes, SAFRA will continue to evolve, and ensure that the national servicemen and their families who contribute to Singapore’s defence will feel valued, supported, and empowered — today and for decades to come.
