In my earlier post on What benefits do Singaporeans enjoy?, I wrote about my sentiments on performing National Service for a country that doesn’t treat us locals much better than foreigners. Today, I will blog on my observations on other NSmen sentiments.
I had the benefit of spending my nearly 2.5 years in a reservist unit as a clerk. In my time there, I dealt with reservist matters, met many of them and chatted with them on the topic of serving NS.
I can say out of 10 people, a conservative 7 or 8 of them disliked NS and just hoped to get over and done with reservice as soon as they can. Some of them were lower-ranking officers (usually the higher-ranking ones love coming back for reservice). They talked about how NS has disrupted their careers and lives, and why they couldn’t care less about it.
One of the most oft-heard comments was, “Singapore is so small, if anyone wants to attack us we won’t be able to do much about it no matter how many reservists we have”. It is certainly not a nice comment, but it isn’t entirely untrue. Although a strong reservist force can deter enemy forces, however, due to the impassiveness of many of our NSmen, any war is already half-lost.
Can’t really blame NSmen for feeling this way. NSmen in Singapore have obligations to serve up to 40 days of reservice every year. That’s like 2 whole months worth of full-time work disruption. Alright, usually there isn’t so many days of recall, but theoretically, one is liable of up to 40 days. This translates into a lot of work hours lost and many opportunities lost too.
Also, there is this rule that says NSmen got to notify MINDEF every time we want to leave the country, or face penalties for not doing so (yes, a fine). I’m not sure why in today’s connected world they can’t integrate Immigration’s computer systems with theirs to capture exits. Personally, it makes me feel like I’m on probation or something, that I got to inform the govt wherever and whenever I want to leave the country.
In recent years, we have seen news reports on increasing numbers of female executives rising up the ranks faster than their male counterparts in Singapore. I would think that NS obligation plays a part in this. Imagine if you are in the running for a promotion against a female colleague. The final decision by managment will involve looking at your work performance. However, you got to go for a 10 days reservist exercise in a couple of weeks’ time. Even if your managers are very understanding about it, you have lost 10 days of opportunity to show your performance. You’ve given 10 days handicap to your female colleague, courtesy of your NS unit.
I must once again say that I am not against serving NS. It is right to protect one’s own country. And it is true that Singapore cannot rely on a small number of regular servicemen to protect the nation. However, I do feel that the policies are very unfair to NSmen, who had already wasted 2.5 years of their full-time lives and still got to continue to serve for at least 10 years thereafter.
2.5 years is a damn long time indeed. In the 2.5 years I lost to NS, some of my female poly classmates have already been in the workforce and are now planning to buy HDB flats and getting married with their savings. Others have graduated from university and are now in well paying jobs.
I still got 2.5 years of education to go, and I’m still in debt due to the poly tuition loan I took years ago. My girlfriend who is one year younger than me is already working and I feel bad about it sometimes, that I will only have the financial capability to tie the knot and plan a family with her only when we are both reaching 30 years old (assuming I need to work 2 or 3 years after I graduate before having the money).
C’est la vie. Can’t blame anyone. Just my luck that I was born a Singaporean. (Well, I also remember to count my blessings too. I know I’m still lucky compared to many other people both in and outside of Singapore).
I hope I’ve managed to bring out some of the deepest grievances of NSmen here in my article. I know it won’t change anything, but just wanted to highlight the pains that NSmen go through after their 2.5 years.
No related posts.
Came across your blog from Intelligent Singaporean. Well at least if you look on the bright side, you spent your 2.5 years in an office as a clerk. My experiences were a lot more grimy and sweaty, and I am still at it as a reservist whenever I return. Incidentally, I kind of enjoyed going back once in a while as it provides a good mental break for me.
This particular rule is intended to keep reservists on a leash that can be retracted depending on political needs. Simple as that.
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Well said, but just that is had been said for the last 20 yrs regarding NS/reservist. At the end of the day, nobody up there cares, we are just taken for granted while the red carpet is rolled out for FTs n PRs. I don’t think the younger gen is going to take it lying down, not like my generation. The gov better wake up their f**king idea, just like what we leanred during recruit days.
I had wanted to post this up in my blog but there appears to be some problems with blogger now. So here it goes:
Taking a quote from the film, “Matrix : Reloaded”, I find that with many events in our lives, it begins and eventually ends.
It is so for my service to the State as a reservist in the Singapore Armed Forces.
Today marks the end of my Recall Manning period where I have officially discharged my final duty to the State with respect to National Service.
I thank God that I managed to survived my two and a half years of full-time National Service and also endured ten years of reservist liabilities which included:
* Going for the annual high and low key in-camp trainings (ICT)
* Individual Physical Proficiency Tests (IPPT)
* Recall manning periods
* Reporting to Mindef Notification Centre everytime I needed to step out of Singapore for more than 24 hours
My reservist has seen my fair share of physical exhaustion during field exercises
where digging trenches were part of the exciting things we experienced. Also times of relaxation after major exercises and cohesion events. Listening to briefings about everything you can think of in the military. Shooting off rounds using M16 and SAR21. Storming rooms for FIBUA and using thunderflashes. Doing the communications stuff that is my vocation. Guarding key installations as part of operations.
I will remember some of them fondly because they are OVER. I need to also find the forgiveness in my heart for the times when I have been made to feel scared, worried and sad by my reservist experience by the people who were part of this bureaucracy called the SAF. I also thank God for putting people in my reservist that were positive, helpful and supportive.
Military service extracts a toll on reservists. My unit has seen one fatality during IPPT held during one of our ICTs. While nothing could have prevented his passing, it is still sad that the sacrifice of him will not resonate at all in Singapore because he was a mere digit in the bigger scheme of things. Just one cog in the wheel of National Defence, where we subjugate our wills to the State in the name of duty, honour and country.
Was it worth it? That is for every man to decide. Whether we are prepared for the
ultimate sacrifice for this little red dot that is increasingly being diffused in shades of
other colours in this globalised world.
Today’s 我报 had an article talking about the difference between Permanent Residents (PR) and Singapore Citizens. It talked a lot about the subsidies and monetary aspects but did not touch on National Service at all. What a pity… My fellow reservist who died should have counted, as it is, he is out of sight and will pretty soon be out of mind, a mere memory for those who had served in his unit who remember he paid the ultimate
price.
Citizenship is more than dollars and cents. We need to include National Service. It is
not just about going back to ICT once a year and taking IPPT. It is about dying for your country.
God save Singapore.
Lunatic Fringe
Dear Mrbiao
As a fellow reservist, I share your sentiments.
But the bigger picture is not so much that we Singaporean males lag behind females of the same age in the economic ladder. It is that when some of our cohort DIE during reservist or active, who sheds the tears for them?
Do not expect the FT and PR to remember those who gave their lives to the defence of this country. It is already galling that some Singaporean women still think we go back to In-Camp Training for a holiday camp. I would like to know how many holiday camps they have attended where someone died? Tank overturn, ammunition malfunction, live-firing cockup, hit by lightning, collapse during IPPT. These are just but a couple of ways that NSmen meet our final destinations and allow our bodies to be used to shore up the economic drawbridge that we have opened up to the influx of IMMIGRANTS who will bring properity to this great and mightly land that is HOTEL SINGAPORE.
God Save Singapore. Hotel Singapore.
The thing that piss me off is some (or most?) Singaporean ladies are unappreciative of our sacrifices, and even labelled whoever rants about NS as whiners. Some even complained about males having higher starting pay (not true in private sector) and yet conveniently forget about our loss of 2.5 years of income, bonuses and increments.
Yes, I remember an ASTAR female scholar once criticised Singaporean males for whining about NS. Hmmm, they should send her for 3 months BMT then she will understand.
Higher starting pay is only in civil service and at about $200 difference per month, it ain´t a great deal compared to the sacrifices we make for NS.
Given a choice, I rather forsake the $200 and be exempted from NS.
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I truly wish for NS to end, I truly do not see any good it is doing for this country. Conscription is not the best concept to use on a country like this, especially when it hinders their population THIS MUCH. Woe to the women who think men live better lives than them and their PMS, I pity our people who have to suffer so much for nothing.
I think it is on everyone’s minds that NS is already a war against it’s citizens, a liability more than a cause.
I want it to end, I can’t stand seeing Singaporeans so miserable anymore.