For many National Servicemen, the two years of full-time National Service are defined by routine, resilience and quiet moments of personal reckoning. It is a period where young men from vastly different backgrounds are brought together, expected to adapt quickly, stay disciplined and learn on the job, often without a clear playbook.

For Ryan Jee and Jonas Wu, two NSFs who lived through these shared realities, this very gap became the spark for something bigger. What began as casual conversations during book-outs and late-night reflections has since evolved into ORD+, a homegrown app designed to help NSFs better navigate their NS journey — one workout, budget entry and countdown day at a time.

From Bunkmates to Co-Founders

Both founders come from familiar yet distinct paths. Ryan Jee, a former St Joseph’s Institution International student and IB graduate, entered NS with strong interests in finance, economics and sports. Nearly halfway through his NS journey, he found himself grappling with the same challenges many enlistees face: adapting to regimentation while trying to stay on top of fitness, finances and personal routines. Jonas Wu, who attended St Joseph’s Institution International from elementary through secondary school, brought with him a keen interest in human biology, health and wellbeing. Having served almost a year of NS and undergone the rigours of Officer Cadet School (OCS), Jonas experienced firsthand the importance of reflection, discipline and self-awareness during service.

What united them was not just friendship forged in school, but a shared observation that many NSFs were struggling silently.

Ryan Jee (left) celebrating the passing out from his BMT. (Photo: Ryan Jee)

Seeing The Gaps In NS Life

“During BMT, I realised that a lot of important information and practical knowledge is often learned only through trial and error, or passed down informally from seniors,” Ryan shares. Whether it was understanding how to structure personal training, manage allowances for the first time, or even keep track of milestones, much of NS life relied on information you were expected to “just know”. These fragmented learning experiences, repeated across units and intakes, revealed a systemic gap — there was no single, accessible platform built specifically around the everyday needs of NSFs.

ORD+ was conceived to fill that space. Rather than another generic productivity app, it was designed as a personal companion for NSFs: simple, practical and rooted in lived experience. “It wasn’t one big moment that sparked the idea,” Ryan explains. “It was the accumulation of small, everyday challenges that almost every NSF goes through.” From tracking training progress to managing limited monthly allowances, Ryan found himself bouncing between spreadsheets, notes apps and word-of-mouth advice. The question soon became unavoidable: why wasn’t there one place that brought all of this together?

For Jonas, the motivation went even deeper. Observing fellow enlistees from different socio-economic backgrounds during training, he saw how uneven access to knowledge and support could be. “Fitness, finances and personal growth all existed in silos,” he reflects. “Some people were already equipped with systems and habits, while others struggled quietly.” ORD+ was envisioned as an equaliser, a tool that any NSF, regardless of background, could use to regain a sense of control over their health, money and time. His experience in OCS also reinforced the importance of reflection and journalling, which became a core pillar of the app. NS, after all, is not just about completing tasks, but about shaping character.

Jonas Wu (right) with a fellow NS camp mate at the passing out parade (POP). (Photo: Jonas Wu)

Building ORD+ Between Duties

Creating an app while serving NS full-time was no easy feat. With training schedules, guard duties and administrative responsibilities filling their weekdays, development work was squeezed into weekends and late nights after book-out. “Some days it would take five to six hours just to get a single page right,” Jonas admits. Neither founder came from a coding background. Ryan and Jonas had to learn everything from scratch, from understanding how apps are structured to grappling with backend logic, design constraints and deployment challenges. Jonas even took additional JavaScript courses to strengthen the app’s backend, only to discover that troubleshooting errors could take hours of trial and error.

Beyond the technical hurdles were personal sacrifices. Weekends that could have been spent resting or with family were often spent staring at screens. “Managing time with my family was tough,” Jonas shares. “Spending hours in my room sometimes made my parents wonder what I was doing.” There were moments of self-doubt, frustration and fatigue. Yet what kept them going was the knowledge that they were building something deeply relevant, something they themselves wished they had at the start of NS.

Ryan and Jonas envisioned the ORD+ app to be a constant companion and useful digital tool for every NSman navigating national service. (Photos: Ryan Jee)

Choosing Features That Matter

Feature selection for ORD+ was driven by empathy and constant listening. Instead of overloading the app with functions, Ryan and Jonas focused on what consistently surfaced in conversations with fellow NSFs. Fitness tracking addressed the pressure of IPPT and unit requirements. Budgeting tools responded to the reality of limited allowances and first-time financial responsibility. Journalling created space for reflection amid the mental load of service, while SAF-related information helped centralise essential references. “Each feature was chosen because it solved a practical problem we personally faced or saw others struggling with,” Ryan says. User feedback continues to shape the app, ensuring it remains relevant rather than overwhelming.

Track your health and fitness progress via the app, and use it for shopping for NS essentials and managing your finances. (Photo: Ryan Jee)

The ORD Countdown and Other Highlights

One of ORD+’s most talked-about features is its ORD date progress circle, a simple yet powerful visual representation of how far an NSF has come. While countdowns are not new, building a dynamic progress circle proved unexpectedly complex due to software limitations. “There wasn’t a loading bar feature available,” Jonas explains. “It took deep discussion and practical thinking to make it both functional and visually appealing.” For many users, this feature has become a small but meaningful source of motivation, turning the long stretch of NS into a journey marked by visible progress.

The response to ORD+ has exceeded expectations. Hearing from strangers who had downloaded the app, shared it with bunkmates and found value in it has been especially meaningful. “Knowing that ORD+ is being talked about and used beyond our own circles is incredibly encouraging,” Ryan says. Even commanders have offered positive feedback, recognising how the app helps NSFs feel more organised and in control. For Jonas, the most impactful messages were from users who said the app helped them manage their time and progress better — quiet affirmations that the people they set out to help were truly being reached.

Support from external partners has also played a crucial role in ORD+’s growth. The National Youth Council provided early validation and funding, helping transform an idea into a viable product, while Bishan Community Club offered on-the-ground and social media support, enabling the founders to reach more servicemen directly. These partnerships not only expanded ORD+’s reach but also reinforced its credibility as a platform addressing a genuine, recognised need within the NS community.

Ryan and Jonas hope that their app ORD+ can help fellow NSmen with navigating the challenges of national service. (Photo: Ryan Jee)

The Future of ORD+

Looking ahead, Ryan and Jonas remain realistic yet optimistic. With Jonas nearing the peak of his OCS journey and Ryan moving between camps due to his vocation, development has slowed… but the vision remains clear. Plans include deeper personalisation, improved insights into fitness and finances, and potential integration with platforms like Apple Health. Beyond features, both founders hope to collaborate more closely with servicemen, families and community organisations to build a stronger ecosystem of support around NS.

Their journey offers a powerful reminder that impact does not require grand gestures. When asked what advice they would give fellow NSFs, both founders echo a similar sentiment: start small, stay observant and solve real problems. “NS is demanding,” Jonas says, “but it also gives structure and perspective.” Ryan adds that consistency, patience and a genuine desire to help can turn even modest initiatives into meaningful contributions.

ORD+ stands as a testament to what can happen when lived experience meets initiative. In transforming their own challenges into a tool for others, Ryan Jee and Jonas Wu have shown that NS, beyond being a duty, can also be a launchpad — not just towards ORD, but towards purpose, growth and lasting impact.

The ORD+ app is still in development and opened to funding initiatives. Contact Ryan Jee at ryansamueljee1@gmail.com if you are interested to find out more or to discuss possibilities of sponsorship or collaboration.