In Serving Together, a moving short video by a team of students which won the Silver Award, Best Live Action Award and Audience Choice Award in the Appreciating NSmen Video Competition 2025 organised by SAFRA, National Service (NS) is portrayed not with dramatic battle scenes or grand speeches, but through the quiet, heartfelt moments that reveal the emotional weight of duty. The video explores what it truly means to serve – not just in uniform, but in spirit, enhanced by the camaraderie shared with camp mates and the deep sense of responsibility that NSmen shoulder.
The young storytellers are the team from Nanyang Junior College, comprising of Angela Tan Si Jie, Ong Rae Ern, Wong Qi Xuan, Loh Min Xuan Jovie and Lin Tzu-Yu. As they shared, “Our film’s portrayal of duty and personal sacrifice mirrors the real-life struggles faced by NSmen, who have to juggle National Service with work, studies or family. While the commitment to serve is something one takes pride in, it can also come with the quiet burden of missing out on opportunities or developing relationships. These silent struggles are faced by many who serve the country – not seen, but felt.”
Though themes of honour and legacy are associated with NS, the video intentionally takes a more personal and emotionally grounded approach. Rather than focusing solely on patriotism or duty, Serving Together centres on what – and who – NSmen are fighting for.
“These values were indeed incorporated into our story,” the team explained, “but on a smaller scale compared to the overarching message of familial love and community support. We hoped that this warmer approach would highlight the need for the appreciation of NSmen among Singaporean society, as well as remind our nation’s soldiers of the people they fight to protect.”
One of the video’s strengths is how it delicately reflects the impact of NS not just on individuals, but on entire families. From parents to siblings and even grandparents, National Service is a shared experience across generations.
“In Singapore, many members of a family across generations would show care for the NSmen, as it is truly not an easy endeavour,” they said. “Older generations tend to share their own experiences with younger, currently active-serving soldiers. These conversations help families bond and give NSmen continued motivation to keep putting their best into serving the nation.”
The video captures these family dynamics with sincerity – showcasing how support doesn’t always come in the form of big gestures. Sometimes, it’s the quiet rituals: a meal waiting at home, a reassuring smile, a simple “how was camp?”
“Simple actions, like cooking their favourite dishes or spending quality time together, may not seem like much on the surface,” the team shared, “but they can mean a lot. Every family member plays a role in those small interactions. Though it may seem like having one family member away doesn’t make much difference, families silently hope that their child, sibling, grandchild or partner is doing well at camp.”
The video is, at its heart, a love letter to these everyday moments – the kind that can easily be overlooked, yet hold immense emotional weight.
“The main message we would like NSmen and their families to take away from the short film is that though National Service may be tough, their family is always there to support them and show their appreciation. Support doesn’t need to be shown through grand gestures; it can be as simple as a meal together or a heart-to-heart conversation.”
If shown as a tribute to NSmen, the video makers hope one thing stands out above all – the comfort of coming home.
“We hope the family moments resonate the most,” they said. “From welcoming smiles to lending a listening ear, these subtle but powerful gestures show the pride and love the family has for their NSman. We believe many can relate to that moment of coming home and feeling seen, heard, and appreciated.”
Beyond its emotional storytelling, Serving Together also reflects the role of video making as a tool for providing a glimpse into the NS life and bringing that experience closer to family, loved ones and those who may not have gone through NS firsthand.
“Film and storytelling are significant in translating the real-life sentiments of NS at a more personal level,” they said. “The film captures the physical exhaustion as well as the optimistic reminder that servicemen are never alone – family members, employers, and the wider community are constantly showing appreciation, whether openly or quietly.”
By showing NS life from the inside out, the video allows viewers to grasp the unspoken emotional complexity of serving – something that’s often overlooked in public discourse.
“The short film recognises unseen emotional struggles by adopting the perspective of a fellow NSman,” they explained. “It gives audiences insight into the emotions NSmen may feel – from fatigue to motivation to pride – and highlights the hidden but very real challenges that come with serving the nation.”
For the video makers, the Singaporean context shaped every scene and every emotion captured on screen.
“For Singaporean males, enlisting in the army is inseparable from citizenship,” they said. “Some may serve with reluctance, but this film is our way of saying: your sacrifices are never in vain. You keep us safe, and we recognise the hardship you endure for the betterment of our nation.”
And as members of the younger generation themselves, the team hopes the video helps open up conversations – especially among peers who may not yet fully grasp what NS demands.
“We hope to shed more light on this and turn it into a greater topic of discussion among our peers,” they said. “We want to instil greater understanding and appreciation for service.”
At its core, Serving Together is more than a video. It’s a tribute. A mirror. A quiet thank-you to every NSman – and to every family that serves in their own way.
About Appreciating NSmen Video Competition
Each year, SAFRA collaborates with various community and corporate partners to show appreciation to national servicemen in the lead-up to SAF Day and National Day. One of the initiatives is the Appreciating NSmen Video Competition which encourages students from secondary, JC and tertiary institutions to express their creativity in conveying heartfelt thanks to national servicemen nationwide by conceptualising and producing short live-action or animation videos. The competition is in support of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD) established by MINDEF.
View all the other winning videos of the Appreciating NSmen Video Competition here.
