SAF - Serve And F*** off

The title, while crude, actually reflects what most NS men today are truly feeling about NAtional service, and of course, especially me. We all know that we can run but there is no way any of us Singaporean men can escape it. In fact, we have this newspaper cut out in the middle of the camp while tells of us a guy who escapes NS and ended seven years in detention barracks but still ended out serving his time in NS. Goes to show the lengths the Government will go to make sure all of us do our duty to our country.

The goal of NS though, to ensure our nation's sercurity and prosperity, is definitely admirable and worthwhile. The problem with this of course is that I wonder how truly effective our armed forces truly are. From my friends who have served with foreign professional troops, their actual devotion to their work makes them much more formidable soldiers than our average NS men who just plans to serve out his time so that the government will get off his back. Professional soldiers know what they are getting into, and are ready to put their heart and souls into their work.

That is not to day that our NS men are totally inept would be unfair. I am pretty sure that there are those out there who want to be all they can be by giving their all during their NS. However some of these people give their all, especially during BMT just want the prestige of getting into officer cadet school (OCS) and probably the monetary incentive that comes with it. If the person is really planning a career in the SAF or is truly devoted to his Singapore, then I say more power to them. Otherwise it just disgusts me the lengths some people will wayang (act) to get into OCS, and I think there are no better than those people who try to find the slackest role for wasting away their two years.

Watching the Army Experience today just serves to reinforce my view. We are constantly reminded that every role is important and all of us should take our job seriously, even the humble clerk and storeman. Stars also recall their fond memories of the army. I find some points quite questionable though. Everyone says they are proud to serve our country but from the people I see in the army daily everyone is just waiting for his ORD. The stars and old soldiers' fond memories I believe though are through rose tinted glasses, since our memories always seem better that it really is. And once you realise you can only be so much the truth hits doubly hard that you are stuck in that role, however important others tell you it is.

That is not to question the effectiveness of a citizen army, since America and Israel had won wars with this type of army. Perhaps I am wrong about the SAF. Perhaps it is the weariness of knowing my ORD is so far away. Most likely is my bitterness for not getting into OCS... sigh... : (

Quote of the day

"Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows."

- David T. Wolf (1943 - )