Out of all the club memberships in Singapore that are here, there is one membership that is aimed at honouring and appreciating past and present NSmen. The SAFRA club, formed in 1972, aims to meet every member’s lifestyle needs, with facilities, activities, discounts and other benefits.
Whether you’re considering renewing your SAFRA membership, or deciding whether to sign-up after your previous membership term lapsed, or just want to get the most out of the membership you already have, this article is for you.
Who Can Sign Up For SAFRA Membership
Membership into SAFRA is open to anyone who has served NS (National Service), are serving NS or are working in the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) now. Dependents of SAFRA members, which include female spouses and their children, can also join SAFRA under a dependent membership.
The currently available memberships are split into four categories:
Ordinary A Memberships: for all SAF Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) and full-time National Servicemen (NSFs)
Ordinary B Memberships: for all SAF National Servicemen who have completed full-time National Service and are no longer liable for National Service.
Associate Memberships: For all serving members of the SAF, including SAF Regulars and Defence Executive Officers
Dependent Memberships: For female spouses and children aged between 5-20 of SAFRA members.
SAFRA Membership Fees
Currently, the normal membership fees are separated by types of memberships and the period that you are signing up.
Prices w/o GST
How To Sign Up And Renew Memberships
To sign up for a SAFRA Membership, you would need to visit a SAFRA Club, with supporting documents including:
11B, NS booklet, SAF SmartCard or Certificate of Conduct for Ordinary (A) Membership (for Operationally-Ready SAF NSmen and Full-time National Servicemen)
11B or payslip for Associate Membership (for SAF Regulars and Defence Executive Officers)
Marriage certificate and/or birth certificate (for Dependent Memberships)
Once signed up, you can also renew your membership through the mySAFRA portal or the mSAFRA Mobile App. You can also sign up for dependent membership through adding dependents and paying for a dependent membership through the online portal.
Benefits That SAFRA Members Enjoy
SAFRA Clubhouse Facilities
In SAFRA, they offer six clubhouses all over the country, with a seventh in Chua Chu Kang built in 2022. These clubhouses offer standard facilities such as a fitness gym, swimming pools, barbecue pits and function rooms.
However, they do offer other facilities too, with each clubhouse having several other facilities that may not be available in others
SAFRA Tampines
– A cybercafe with multiplayer virtual reality games
– Karaoke, under 7th Heaven KTV and Cafe
– An indoor air weapons range (Denker Sports World Shooting)
– A soccer pitch and futsal courts
– Superbowl bowling alley
– A billiards centre (Lagoon Snooker Centre)
SAFRA Jurong
– Tennis Courts
– Karaoke (Manekineko)
– A Futsal Pitch
SAFRA Mount Faber
– SuperBowl bowling alley
– A co-working space
– Karaoke, under Party World KTV
– Indoor badminton courts
– A Multi-purpose outdoor court
SAFRA Yishun
– An indoor air weapons range – Under SAFRA
– A billiards centre (Arena Billiards)
– A Multi-purpose outdoor court
– SAFRA Adventure Sports Centre – with rock climbling, bouldering, canopy walk and abseiling
SAFRA Punggol
– Bicycle rental
– Orchid Bowl bowling alley
– Karaoke, under Manekineko Karaoke
– An Archery Range – Salt & Light Archery
– A Watersports facility with Kayaking
SAFRA Toa Payoh
– A billiards centre (Lagoon Snooker Centre)
– Indoor badminton courts
– A Photography Studio
– Superbowl bowling alley
Exclusive Bookings And Rates
D’Resort @ Downtown East: SAFRA Members enjoy exclusive rates at D’Resort @ Downtown East, with their Beach Cove Chalets being offered at special SAFRA members rates. Along with the bookings, they also provide complimentary Wild Wild Wet tickets along with the room bookings. (Do note that bookings have been suspended until further notice).
National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC): National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC) offers exclusive rates and access to 2 exclusive bungalow units, Units 16N and 17N, only for SAFRA Members to book. (Do note that bookings have been suspended until further notice).
HomeTeamNS Bookings: SAFRA has a reciprocal arrangement with HomeTeamNS, which will allow SAFRA members to gain access to certain facilities and discounts at the various HomeTeamNS clubhouses around Singapore. For more information, you can go to the HomeTeamNS website to check out the various discounts offered.
Discounts And Rebates
SAFRA Members enjoy special discounts and rates at over 3,000 partnering merchant outlets islandwide. With a variety of partners ranging from the F&B industry to entertainment outlets, SAFRA members would be spoilt for choice with the discounts.
Well-known discounts include cheaper movie tickets at Shaw Theatres and exclusive discounts for Sentosa. SAFRA Members also can get discounts and special rates at selected healthcare providers, including Raffles Medical, Q & M Dental Group and Healthway Medical.
SAFRAPOINTS
SAFRA has the SAFRAPOINTS rewards programme, where for every $1 spent, 1 SAFRAPoint is earned. In this system, every 100 SAFRAPoints is worth $2 in value, and these SAFRAPoints can be used to redeem vouchers and rebates.
SAFRA Members simply earn SAFRAPoints in 5 different areas, which are:
#1 Spending at SAFRA clubs and with exclusive partners
#2 Signing up or renewing SAFRA Memberships, SAFRA Interest Group or EnergyOne Gym Memberships
#3 Booking SAFRA Facilities or D’Resort SAFRA operated units
#4 Paying for SAFRA organized activities
#5 Purchasing SAFRA – NTUC group insurance policies
During Birthday months, you would also earn double SAFRAPoints.
SAFRA Education Scheme
SAFRA offers the SAFRA Education Scheme, where SAFRA offers bond-free sponsorships from various institutions for Diploma, Degree and Master courses. With two intakes per year, from February to March and August to September, members can get up to 100% of course fees paid for if they successfully attain the sponsorship.
SAFRA Membership Sign-Up/Renewal Promotions
When signing up or renewing SAFRA Membership for either 5 years or 10 years, you would also receive a standard welcome gift of watches, depending on the membership.
Getting a 5-year membership would net you a Timberland Northbridge Collection Watch worth $189, while people who sign up for 10-year memberships would receive an Aviator F-Series GMT Chronograph Watch worth $299.
SAFRA Memberships Are Among The Most Full-Featured For The Price
Even at full-price, SAFRA is among the most value for money memberships you can find in Singapore, even if you only occasionally use their facilities or take advantage of the variety of discounts.
With low membership fees and an established association that will be here to stay, SAFRA memberships are a tangible, accessible way the SAF expresses its gratitude to Singapore service personnel and their families.
This article was first published on 24 July 2020, and updated with the latest information.
The post Complete Guide To SAFRA Memberships: How Much They Cost And What Benefits You Enjoy appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
