I ORD on 1/1/07 after a 6yrs bond with the SAF as a infantry Leader or as a NCO. Join Army because of the JPSDS (join poly scheme) program to finance my studies.
After my 'O' levels which was about 10yrs ago, I got a job in the factory as a machine operator earning 1.5k from 3-11pm. Few months after leaving the Army (had some savings) , I started looking for some jobs as sales co-ordinator and other sales post but was only offered $1.5k due to the lack of experience. A company I went to from the refer of a job agent said that the job market value from the job agent is only $1.5k-$1.6k for fresh ploy grads where I was asking for 1.8k (I didn't show them my education background). It is sad as in the factory job I had which need no experience or education can land me on a $1.5k where now after 10 years a job with my diploma land me on a 1.5k also. I thought that only a sales job can land me back to where my pay was at but the so call market rate made me very disappointed.
A friend of mine who left the RSAF 10years ago had a job of a tech for $1.5 with his poly dip and now another friend of mine also a dip holder just got a job also as a tech for 1.8k. To me its like our average chicken rice have rised from $2 to $3 for the pass 10yrs and the starting pay have not increased 33% but lower.
It sad to me that after having a last drawn pay of almost close to 3k that I was push down to getting 1.5k by the employer. Some may say that who ask me to sign on in the first place, but there is little choice at that time for me in order to make ends meet. Some guys was laughing at me when I said I was offered 1.5k as a diploma student, they said that they have yet to hear 1.5k for such a long time.
If you guys have notice that I had only gone through a 6 yrs contract and not a 10yrs PP plan. Some friends had advised me to go through for another 4yrs with it at the end i will get a bigger sum of money. My greatest fear came true as in last year, many at age 30+ and 40+ warrants were given golden hand shakes. Although they did get a sum of compansion but how long are they going to surive with all their commitments and pay cut if they work outside. Moreover if I do not get the PP2 which is the fear of most young regulars now the age of me coming out of the force will be even older.
Have anyone seen under performing regulars getting PP2 and performing regulars not getting, this maybe personal views. BUT there is some rumor that someone asked CPC the reason and they said 'we need good people to be on the top and some to be on the bottom, if everyone we take are good than who is going to be on the bottom?'.
8-9yrs ago when the PP1 was introdued everyone in the force was offered the chance to convert from contact to PP1 or 2. I didn't believe in the 10years PP1 and was called in for an interview. In interview I spoke to a captain or a major which I can't remember, he said that PP2 will be offered to most people if they don't make major mistake and maintain performance during their service and ask me why I won't want to take up the plan. I reply that I believe that I be earning better when I go out from the force and that 3-5k is not enough for me. He looked a bit angry and told me that he believe that he will can get about 1/2 a million in his account when he leave the force at age 45.
Today I feel a bit pettiful for the young officer that his 1/2 a million may not be as good as he think, due to the last 10 years the performance of the fund was not doing that well and he maybe the next one been offer the golden hand shake.
I never regrat for spending my 6yrs in the SAF, after all they paid full for my 3yrs of study in poly. Anyway I did enjoy the job sometimes esp when I'm getting paid better than most of my schoolmates. But the idea of not having a iron rice bowl in the force and maybe broken after the 4yrs is too much for me to bear.
In my memory there was a CDF or COA who visited my camp for some Q&A some years back . A question was ask by a platoon sgt,
'Sir, is there a scheme for the specialist for a degree course which we can take and be sponcer by the SAF.'
'no, we do not need degree specialist in the force, a poly diploma is enough for the specialist.'
'Sir, can we go on unpaid leave?'
'no, its like you can't go for unpaid leave and leave your appoint and have someone replacing you. When you come back where is that person going to go? Just like me I have a masters but I always wanted to go for my doctorate. Someone must take out my place in my absents but when I come back what the person going to do?'
As it been years back I can't remember word to word but thats the idea of the conversation. That point of time maybe the force don't really need a degree specialist but it be always good for anyone to upgrade. We have so many people waiting to be a platoon sgt and we can replace him anytime with someone after his tour. A senior officer is not so easily replaceable esp when he is a COA or CDF even after his tour.
Pls excuse me for many spelling and grammar mistake, had not been practicing much after leaving school. Now I had found a sales job with a even lower basic pay as what was stated above but with very high commission. I hope that some people can learn from my story. PLS DO NOT ASK ME WHERE I GET MY RUMORS FROM AND WHO TOLD ME WHAT. If you think that its just another story I made up then just forget it and treat it as some junk.
Only other sectors that will require such people are security companies.Originally posted by de_middle:not only for army....it applies to police, prisons & some positions in MOH as well.
oh that explains why taxi driver nowadays are likeOriginally posted by NewAgeSensitiveBoy:nowadays take taxi, alot of drivers all enciks....
haiz... gif the nation your prime and drive the tazi for the rest of your life.....
dunno isit karma....scold ppl for 20yrs, kena scolded by pple for the next 20 yrs...
I agree, you need backers and you need some paper for the backers to justify your promotions.Originally posted by justcooler:if you sign on with degree and a couple of godfathers inside, then why worry about retirement.
But if you sign on with none of the above, then you are some what digging your own grave...
i think its one of the factors which many overlooked.Originally posted by syncopation_music:well i share all your feelings .. if you are in the Armed forces , maybe think of saving more and put into action
i left the navy after 6 years ...well. the pay is low .. but i lke freedom outside
wont have to worry a midnite call to go back unit![]()
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the goverment say extend retirement age to 65, then SAF must do like wiseOriginally posted by alwaysdisturbed:i think its one of the factors which many overlooked.
the pay is definitely higher than private sectors. but its liable for a call up anytime. so its like 24 hours on standby.
LOL...agree. Not only that...they must re-hire all the EnciksOriginally posted by t_a_s:the goverment say extend retirement age to 65, then SAF must do like wise
agree wif u, but seriously those laid off by e saf n those who decide not to continue like me still find it hard to survive.Originally posted by IronBandit:Bro you should have started making plans way before you left like when u know you did not want the PP1 contract...
I feel I've done the right thing and left SG as serving Reservist training is a waste of my time for such an "First Class Organisation"
You take care and I believe you will be better outside so hand in there.