What do you ppl think of regular serviceman in the SAF?
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Ok, this thread isn't going to the SAF forum becos i'm asking it as a career choice. I just replied someone when he/she mentioned that he/she appreciates our serviceman commitment to the nation.
I replied saying "that not everyone thinks that way though....
because sometimes it's really hard for regular serviceman to tell others their occupation. Most ppl usually look down on them....somewhere along the line, signed on because of no education or lazy to fight in the private sector. And of course, regular serviceman are poorly paid and thus make for very bad husband of choice....especially more so if you were a specialist (sergeant) instead of an officer...."
No matter how much the ads on TV try to glorify the army, I guess certain career choices are still shuned upon by our own ppl.... -
I still trying to figure out where I heard this line before:"hao ren bu dang bing".
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We need more men like you.
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Hao Han lahOriginally posted by ditzy:I still trying to figure out where I heard this line before:"hao ren bu dang bing". -
Originally posted by kAdEn:
TV shows army like very cool and garang...Once you go in and see it for yourself,it's like "Oh well..." *shrugs*
No matter how much the ads on TV try to glorify the army, I guess certain career choices are still shuned upon by our own ppl....[/b] -
I noticed e guys I know who signed on as regulars tend to settle down earlier...
I suppose thats due to them havin a more stable financial situation then e guys vying in e private sector
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Well, it's a matter of personal choice. I know some people who are born for the job, and to them that's more important than the salary. For myself, I did think about becoming a regular, but with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I've got no regrets about not having done so.
Why don't we start by looking at what vocation you're thinking of getting into? -
NS Regular's life = as exciting as a flat line, like a dead person's cardiogram.Originally posted by kAdEn:Ok, this thread isn't going to the SAF forum becos i'm asking it as a career choice. I just replied someone when he/she mentioned that he/she appreciates our serviceman commitment to the nation.
I replied saying "that not everyone thinks that way though....
because sometimes it's really hard for regular serviceman to tell others their occupation. Most ppl usually look down on them....somewhere along the line, signed on because of no education or lazy to fight in the private sector. And of course, regular serviceman are poorly paid and thus make for very bad husband of choice....especially more so if you were a specialist (sergeant) instead of an officer...."
No matter how much the ads on TV try to glorify the army, I guess certain career choices are still shuned upon by our own ppl....
I'm sorry, no matter how the advertisements push it, @ the end of the day saf is still subject to the age old beauracracy which plagues any large organization, hence creating a huge gaping hole of 'pencil pushers' which most regulars would fall into.
i hope nobody really bought into the promise of playing wiht the big guns. that is, regulars have had better either signed on for good money, or a stable life. or both.
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My lao chek last time mastered the art of taking cover.
After first parade at 0730h,he will disappear completely.Around lunchtime,he will show up at the cookhouse.Then he will go into thin air again.Then at fall out,wil see him broommzzz his car away.
What kinda life is that? -
That, my son, is the life of an army regular. disappearing is the most honed skill any 1/2 decent regular would have.Originally posted by Marco_Simone:My lao chek last time mastered the art of taking cover.
After first parade at 0730h,he will disappear completely.Around lunchtime,he will show up at the cookhouse.Then he will go into thin air again.Then at fall out,wil see him broommzzz his car away.
What kinda life is that?
Oh wait, did you say first parade at 0730? that's waaaay too early... 9am sounds more appropriate. & disappear @ 5pm sharp. -
Well, it all depends on the vocation, doesn't it? Get into the right unit and things won't be so boring as to drive someone to take cover all the time.
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see what i mean? It is ppl's perception to the army that's degrading the job itself. Not everyone in the army behaves the same way....No wonder ppl always comment that army personnel are a bunch of lazy bummers. Only lazy, people with no ambition, not educated and what have you sign on with the army. I'm not going to try to deny any of the above, in fact, i agree and testify, to a certain extent, the truth that can be found in that statement cause there are bound to be black sheeps in every occupation, i.e. Bishops with sex scandals, Presidents' and prime ministers with sex scandals, infidelity among royalties, Major crimes, rapes and drug abuse, committed by sports/superstars who are idolised by millions. I think i've made my point.
You could argue that these are isolated cases, but why can't you do the same for people who carve out a career in the army? People who literally bleed and sweat to earn their pay, how many jobs out there can say the same thing? (no offence to the coustruction/building industry or foreign labours and any other whom i missed out) Though i won't be able to say that the majority of the army personnels are there because of patriotism or honour, but at least 20% of them fall into that category, the rest are just there to earn their keep. But i'm quite positively sure that in times of needs, most, if not ALL of them will be there to do their job, look at who went for up to Timor and Iraq. That's called professionalism. And that's what some of the guys in the job have. They deserve more respect than they are getting.... -
Thanks, but i'm already in the jobOriginally posted by Gedanken:Well, it's a matter of personal choice. I know some people who are born for the job, and to them that's more important than the salary. For myself, I did think about becoming a regular, but with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I've got no regrets about not having done so.
Why don't we start by looking at what vocation you're thinking of getting into?
I'm not regretting the choice...but i just thought we deserve more than we are getting...for a start....how about more pay?!?! Hahha...my life's on the job you know!
Heehee.... -
Well, I can't speak for other units, but amongst my peers from 1 CDO who signed on either in the battalion or SOF, roughly 80% are happy with their choice.
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for some, it's a calling...
for people like me, i'd rather starve to death than sign on...
for some, they want out... -
i dont think this situation is unique only in singapore. Since the Vietnam War, and the "peace" movement/rallies around the world, military careers are no longer viewed as a respectable occupation.
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Sometimes it's sad how we need ppl to see that we are making a correct choice to feel happy....Originally posted by Gedanken:Well, I can't speak for other units, but amongst my peers from 1 CDO who signed on either in the battalion or SOF, roughly 80% are happy with their choice.
as for those in CDO, CRF, SOF, NDU, URG....ppl will always give a knwing nod that these ppl are a special breed. But the rest of the SAF are also an integral part of the defence as well. -
Well, Kaden, that's why I said I don't know what it's like in other units. Please don't take it as me saying anything about the value of other units to the ORBAT - I'm just saying that the culture of other units may be different and may therefore produce different views on how soldiers view their profession.
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No worries, i understood what you were trying to sayOriginally posted by Gedanken:Well, Kaden, that's why I said I don't know what it's like in other units. Please don't take it as me saying anything about the value of other units to the ORBAT - I'm just saying that the culture of other units may be different and may therefore produce different views on how soldiers view their profession.
I just added in my views about how ppl's perception actually carry more weight than they think. -
Well, I think you're right about the value of other people's perceptions. That said, I don't think that the view of the profession is as poor as it used to be. We've had a military force long enough for people to realise that it's a decent living, don't we?
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Don't be too overly concerned with other's perception about the military career. I have seen people in the army just loitering around, getting paid for nothing. But i respect those with the passion for the job and responsibility they have.Originally posted by kAdEn:No worries, i understood what you were trying to say
I just added in my views about how ppl's perception actually carry more weight than they think.
If you have the passion, you have me at your back. -
why do you think people look down on regular servicemen? and regular servicemen are not THAT badly paid you know?Originally posted by kAdEn:Ok, this thread isn't going to the SAF forum becos i'm asking it as a career choice. I just replied someone when he/she mentioned that he/she appreciates our serviceman commitment to the nation.
I replied saying "that not everyone thinks that way though....
because sometimes it's really hard for regular serviceman to tell others their occupation. Most ppl usually look down on them....somewhere along the line, signed on because of no education or lazy to fight in the private sector. And of course, regular serviceman are poorly paid and thus make for very bad husband of choice....especially more so if you were a specialist (sergeant) instead of an officer...."
No matter how much the ads on TV try to glorify the army, I guess certain career choices are still shuned upon by our own ppl....
anyway i agree with you that perceptions are so shaped cos most of the time, people (like us) tend to be fixated on the negative rather than the positive, esp when there are some earlier not so good impressions - we just look for reinforcements rather than counter-points.
nothing wrong with people joining the force for money - well, that's one of the main reasons anyone is working, and that is also the reason why one chooses to work in the private sector right? so why condemn someone who joins the service (and probably sweats and bleeds more) and not someone who chooses other work? probably cos we all have some notion of people who SHOULD be doing this job.
and there ARE people who SHOULD be doing this job, and are doing it - what some mentioned as they are born for it, they have the passion, etc. its a minority but again, most of the time it is too elsewhere.
so again, why are we always nitpicking on SAF and being a professional soldier as a career? something to ponder... -
that's not very true... servicemen with diploma (specialist) get paid quite well as compared to most in the private sector...Originally posted by kAdEn:I replied saying "that not everyone thinks that way though....
because sometimes it's really hard for regular serviceman to tell others their occupation. Most ppl usually look down on them....somewhere along the line, signed on because of no education or lazy to fight in the private sector. And of course, regular serviceman are poorly paid and thus make for very bad husband of choice....especially more so if you were a specialist (sergeant) instead of an officer...." -
The image the job projects also partly falls on the current system that we have: conscripts.
It is like "U regular? So wat? It is not like I neber do NS also." kind of thing. If sg has a professional army (which is highly unlikely) the job image might get better. -
i'll tell you in 1 and 1/2 years time ok?