I REFER to the letter “It’s about learning to mix well” (NST, Jan 2) by N.S.H.A.H. which describes a former National Service trainee’s experience in the programme.

While the course is indeed “a place to interact with peers across ethnic lines”, I was taken aback by some of the trainees’ responses when interviewed by a TV station.

Most were looking forward to participating in NS because of the weapons-training sessions. They were more excited about holding guns and learning how to shoot at targets than to “learn to discover themselves”.

I do not deny that weapons training is among the “perks” offered to attract youth to NS. However, this shouldn’t be the sole reason for joining it.

I hope that what N.S.H.A.H called the “positive peer-group influence, which is seldom acknowledged by adults” is not lost, and that the youth would come out of the camps as better individuals rather than being just interested in guns.

Source: NST – January 7, 2008