In response to queries from the state media, MINDEF said Patrick’s posting as a defence medical scientist was done ‘according to vocational guidelines’. He completed his full-time NS on June 19, 2002.
However, MINDEF did not reveal the number of NSFs who were enrolled in the unique vocation of ‘defence medical scientist’.
MINDEF added that while in NS, Dr Patrick Tan received an NSman’s salary and fulfilled all requirements of NS, such as the Individual Physical Proficiency Test. It did not explain why Dr Patrick Tan was not sent to serve as a combat medical officer (MO) despite being combat-fit. Full story
