RSAF Woman Pilot/WSO Career
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Hihi, i'm 19 (turning 20 this dec) this yr... graduate from TP (communications n media management). Quite confused on which career path 2 take. I applied for NTU school of information n communication as well as NIE (dip ed).. but strangely i don't really feel the passion for these 2 courses lar.. dunno whether it's the advertisements i saw on the streets n in the magazines portraying females in SAF as very cool individuals, i'm sort of inspired 2 join la.. i'm not attracted to the "stable job" image or good pay, but rather the kind of "shuai" feeling when wearing the uniform.. haha
I'm consider air force weapon systems officer, either C3 or UAV.. but can some1 tell me more abt what they're abt? The websites don't seem 2 say much leh. very brief nia.. and i don't have any foundation on stuff like that, coz all i study is abt the media industry. then also, what r the stuff that females shld take note of when going bmt and ocs.. actually the thing i'm most worried abt is "the time on the month"..
It'll be good if some female officers can share their experience with me.. then is it very hard 2 get in also? the drop out rate high ma?
my parents keep saying that females who go SAF all very tom boy 1, n think that i too guniang liao, not suitable.. dunno leh.. -
Go for the interview to find out more.
C3I WSO i believe deals with command communications and intelligence systems.
UAV, deals with Unmanned Air Vehicles that collects data and information above the battlefield. I wasn't aware that there was UAV WSO now, just that there was a UAV Specialist vocation in the past... hmmm.
Not all women who join the armed forces are tom boys. But there must be a certain degree of toughness in them to withstand the harshness of military lifestyle and operations. U maybe tom boy, but u may not be tough. =D -
Haha.. thanks for replying... so what kinda toughness shld one possess? must be like a man ar? i'm really interested in the RSAF lor, dunno why, but there's something that attracts me 2 it, even though i know nuts about aeroplanes n stuff like that.. will it be very tough to learn everything from scratch for air force?Originally posted by Shotgun:Go for the interview to find out more.
C3I WSO i believe deals with command communications and intelligence systems.
UAV, deals with Unmanned Air Vehicles that collects data and information above the battlefield. I wasn't aware that there was UAV WSO now, just that there was a UAV Specialist vocation in the past... hmmm.
Not all women who join the armed forces are tom boys. But there must be a certain degree of toughness in them to withstand the harshness of military lifestyle and operations. U maybe tom boy, but u may not be tough. =D
& oh, if some1 happens 2 know any1 working as WSO, or female officers, pls intro me can?
thanks!
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um, on toughness.. i heard sm stories (horror?) on bmt. toughness wld be things like survivng leopard-crawls and the associated abrasions, route-marches and the blisters all over poor feet, confidence jumps into the pool early in the morning at 4am, and even things like doing pull-ups (even for girls!) b4 every meal.
and also heard that during tri-svc term, must carry full-pack run here and there, up and down slopes, and pumping WITH the full pack.
am i right guys? any more horror treatments to add on? -
Physical toughness is unlikely to be a problem since you will be well-trained in strenght & endurance during BMT.
The question is whether you are mentally strong and determind enough to go all the way to play a part in defending our nation.
Most important of all, you must understand the need of sacrifice...
For example: Why should I suffer in the millitary when others are enjoying themselves in their civilian life? -
since u are a diploma student, i suggest u sign on a specialist only if u are very very very intereseted. think this through carefully.
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I can't sign on as specialist coz my cert is not engineering relatedOriginally posted by Gordonator:since u are a diploma student, i suggest u sign on a specialist only if u are very very very intereseted. think this through carefully.
but i'd like to though.. So when i called up the air force recruitment centre, the lady said i can only sign on officer course.. actually do degree holders get pay waaay higher than diploma holders for officers? -
of course, its a government job. paper qualifcation is very important.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:I can't sign on as specialist coz my cert is not engineering related but i'd like to though.. So when i called up the air force recruitment centre, the lady said i can only sign on officer course.. actually do degree holders get pay waaay higher than diploma holders for officers? -
promotion for diploma students as officers are very very slow. getting CPT is already very tough.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:I can't sign on as specialist coz my cert is not engineering related but i'd like to though.. So when i called up the air force recruitment centre, the lady said i can only sign on officer course.. actually do degree holders get pay waaay higher than diploma holders for officers? -
Basically, you'll be doing your BMT at Sierra Wing in OCS, followed by your tri-service term. During your BMT, the female recruits (or cadets, as they are already wearing their 1 white bar during BMT) have the entire wing to themselves as the guys would still be doing their BMT at Tekong.
After the BMT phase, the guys will join the wing and tri-service term (TST) is with the guys. Training is exactly the same as for the guys and is done together with them except for the standard obstacle course (SOC) which the female OCTs clear in clean fatigue and skip some stations (as far as i can remember). Some female OCTs may have trouble with some of the obstacles especially the low wall due to their relatively short stature. But i think since you're signing on with the air force, the only SOC you'd have to do is during the BMT phase as TST got no (hardly any) SOC sessions.
The only time you'll get to dirty yourself with mud and grime is during the BMT phase and the 3 day leadership field camp during TST. Because you'll be transferred to the Air Wing after your TST where you'll kiss your camouflage uniform and all your green barang-barang goodbye. Yes, those horror stories you may have heard about the field camp is true (well, mostly). Go round and round, up and down the rolling scenary of Pasir Laba training grounds in full battle order (FBO) till you peng san. And it's all because you're still a new soldier then, yet unconditioned to the pace and intensity of officer cadet training. But it's ok, cos you'll get used to it very soon. And as a future WSO, that's also the first and last time that you'll be experiencing such 'xiong' training.
Yes, i agree that military training tends to be tougher for the girls due to their physique. But many lady officers have been through all that and excelled. Ever heard of the female OCT who could complete her 2.4km run in 10min and who beat ALL the guys in Sierra Wing to clinch Wing Best Cadet during service term 1 (ST1)? Too bad she quitted after ST1 cos she decided to take up an overseas Public Service Commission scholarship. Otherwise she could well end up as a sword of honour (SOH) recipient.
And in case you're wondering, no, she was not the least bit tomboyish. In fact she was the object of fantasy for many male wingmates, a very ACJC kinda pretty look.
Privacy-wise, back at wingline (accomodation quarters), the female cadets have the entire top floor to themselves, which is out of bounds to male cadets and instructors. (Although there's nothing to say that the girls can't go downstairs to join their male colleagues for a quick *ahem* in the male bunks with the door locked). But when outfield... you'll have to do your business just like the guys. I'm afraid I really can't comment on how the girls cope when their "time of the month" comes.
After your transfer to the Air Wing after your TST, I'm afraid i know very little of what those folks do, except that a period of the WSO training is conducted in the Air Force School. But what they learn is definitely more academic compared to the folks in army, and minus the grime (and the fun, in my opinion).
But anyway, i think the most important message for you is to go for it if you're interested. There's always a shortage of females in the SAF.
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For the junior officer ranks, the pay scale for degree-holders is definitely much higher than for diploma holders of the same rank. And their promotion is also faster. Degree holders who sign on are commissioned as full lieutenants (LTA) and go on to captain (CPT) directly whereas diploma and A-level holders who sign on commission as 2nd Lietenants (2LT), go on to LTA 1, then LTA 2, before getting their 3rd bar. As a dip holder, be prepared that you'll have to work for more than 5 years before you get your CPT rank.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:I can't sign on as specialist coz my cert is not engineering related but i'd like to though.. So when i called up the air force recruitment centre, the lady said i can only sign on officer course.. actually do degree holders get pay waaay higher than diploma holders for officers?
But when (and a big IF for dip holders) you hit the senior officer ranks (LTC and above), there is supposedly no difference in the payscale whether or not you're a degree or dip holder.. that's as far as i understand. -
to cornyfish2000
hey that was pretty gd leh, ur comment.. haha.. hmm.. i think it sounds quite bearable (BMT and OCS training), though i'm usually not 1 who gets dirty with mud n grime.. n the reason y ppl ard me say i'm not suitable is bcoz i seldom do physical stuff, exercises n stuff like that.. BUT i'm determined 2 train n toughen up these few months. haha.. but since it's like a known fact that dip holders move up slower than degree holders (for both ranks and pay), would it be a better choice if i go uni 1st? but then after i grad i'll be like 23.. btw how long is the bond for females for officers? -
wow, those marketing campaigns really works.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:Hihi, i'm 19 (turning 20 this dec) this yr... graduate from TP (communications n media management). Quite confused on which career path 2 take. I applied for NTU school of information n communication as well as NIE (dip ed).. but strangely i don't really feel the passion for these 2 courses lar.. dunno whether it's the advertisements i saw on the streets n in the magazines portraying females in SAF as very cool individuals, i'm sort of inspired 2 join la.. i'm not attracted to the "stable job" image or good pay, but rather the kind of "shuai" feeling when wearing the uniform.. haha -
hmm.. maybe.. haha.. hey, speaking of that, i wonder whether my reason of being inspired to join the air force is similar to the urge 2 buy the new (insert brand) shampoo that makes hair silky soft (but end up feeling kena conned)Originally posted by Gordonator:wow, those marketing campaigns really works. 
but still... the air force looks soooo appealing..
i still wanna know more.. keep the comments going! -
Don't worry, the army will toughen you up gradually. When the female cadets first step into the military world as recruits, they are put under the charge of a female officer throughout the duration of their BMT training (and beyond, as far as possible, although this does not always happen due to a shortage of female officers) who will of course be in a better position to advise the girls and to understand their problems compared to the male instructors. The toughening up process is gradual, to reduce the risk of maladaptation both physically and physchologically.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:to cornyfish2000
hey that was pretty gd leh, ur comment.. haha.. hmm.. i think it sounds quite bearable (BMT and OCS training), though i'm usually not 1 who gets dirty with mud n grime.. n the reason y ppl ard me say i'm not suitable is bcoz i seldom do physical stuff, exercises n stuff like that.. BUT i'm determined 2 train n toughen up these few months. haha.. but since it's like a known fact that dip holders move up slower than degree holders (for both ranks and pay), would it be a better choice if i go uni 1st? but then after i grad i'll be like 23.. btw how long is the bond for females for officers?
As for your uni question, it will definitely be to your advantage to get your degree first regardless of whether or not you decide to sign on eventually. Hmmm.. i'm not sure of the contract for female officers though. This I think you have gotta call and ask the recruitment guys to find out. Actually, we do have a lady officer here in sgforums, but I haven't seen her post for a long long time liao. -
oh they toughen up recruits gradually ar.. hmm.. sounds not bad.. well, if a degree really matters sooo much, i guess i'd better "guai guai" go NTU SCI (if they accept me) liao.. but then again, i'm still VERY VERY interested in this WSO vocation leh.Originally posted by cornyfish2000:Don't worry, the army will toughen you up gradually. When the female cadets first step into the military world as recruits, they are put under the charge of a female officer throughout the duration of their BMT training (and beyond, as far as possible, although this does not always happen due to a shortage of female officers) who will of course be in a better position to advise the girls and to understand their problems compared to the male instructors. The toughening up process is gradual, to reduce the risk of maladaptation both physically and physchologically.
As for your uni question, it will definitely be to your advantage to get your degree first regardless of whether or not you decide to sign on eventually. Hmmm.. i'm not sure of the contract for female officers though. This I think you have gotta call and ask the recruitment guys to find out. Actually, we do have a lady officer here in sgforums, but I haven't seen her post for a long long time liao.
n Thanks 4 all the advice u guys give me.. xie xie
meanwhile, i'm feeling sleepy le.. checking this forum again 2moro..
gd nitez every1 n juz leave me whatever comments (whether it's inspiring or scary) u've got.. i definitely wanna know more. much MUCH more.. thanks!! -
If I'm not wrong, for dip holders they usually offer only an initial 3 yr contract for you to sign. Only later then they will over you the SAVERs long term contract with pension and all that.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:to cornyfish2000
hey that was pretty gd leh, ur comment.. haha.. hmm.. i think it sounds quite bearable (BMT and OCS training), though i'm usually not 1 who gets dirty with mud n grime.. n the reason y ppl ard me say i'm not suitable is bcoz i seldom do physical stuff, exercises n stuff like that.. BUT i'm determined 2 train n toughen up these few months. haha.. but since it's like a known fact that dip holders move up slower than degree holders (for both ranks and pay), would it be a better choice if i go uni 1st? but then after i grad i'll be like 23.. btw how long is the bond for females for officers?
For WSO C3 the training can get pretty tough mentally. If you can't handle multi-tasking (i.e talking to pilots while scanning your radar) while getting shouted at than consider going for something else. Granted that it is almost 90% less physically strenous than other vocations, but the 'failure' rate for the C3 courses can be pretty high sometimes. -
Last time, i always go Sierra Wing beo their cadets...
"Who i see yah...
Sierra Chiobus...
Who i wan to kiss yah...
Sierra Chiobus...
Kiss Me....Muahhh...
Hug Me...Uhhh...
Sierra Chiobus...
marry me yah...."
then the girls al blush blush de... -
Only 50% of the cadets are in the can make it category. Some of them look even more manly than the guys.Originally posted by Master -_-:Last time, i always go Sierra Wing beo their cadets...
"Who i see yah...
Sierra Chiobus...
Who i wan to kiss yah...
Sierra Chiobus...
Kiss Me....Muahhh...
Hug Me...Uhhh...
Sierra Chiobus...
marry me yah...."
then the girls al blush blush de... -
Actually, it's best to go on to Uni...
If you get a degree or being a Scholar, they promote you very very fast
See the Scholar, start work already CPT le -
Toughness in the military is the ability to withstand stupid red tape beareucracy, inflexibility, office politics, and backstabbing while carrying out day to day operations.Originally posted by pandemonium:um, on toughness.. i heard sm stories (horror?) on bmt. toughness wld be things like survivng leopard-crawls and the associated abrasions, route-marches and the blisters all over poor feet, confidence jumps into the pool early in the morning at 4am, and even things like doing pull-ups (even for girls!) b4 every meal.
and also heard that during tri-svc term, must carry full-pack run here and there, up and down slopes, and pumping WITH the full pack.
am i right guys? any more horror treatments to add on? -
Government:1 You:0Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:Hihi, i'm 19 (turning 20 this dec) this yr... graduate from TP (communications n media management). Quite confused on which career path 2 take. I applied for NTU school of information n communication as well as NIE (dip ed).. but strangely i don't really feel the passion for these 2 courses lar.. dunno whether it's the advertisements i saw on the streets n in the magazines portraying females in SAF as very cool individuals, i'm sort of inspired 2 join la.. i'm not attracted to the "stable job" image or good pay, but rather the kind of "shuai" feeling when wearing the uniform.. haha -
Nope, even the overseas scholars are LTAs for a year before they get their 3rd bar. The only people who can be said to 'start work' as CPTs are the MOs.Originally posted by sbst275:Actually, it's best to go on to Uni...
If you get a degree or being a Scholar, they promote you very very fast
See the Scholar, start work already CPT le
Btw, the promote 'very very fast' part is true only for SAF Overseas Scholars, it definitely does not include your run-of-the-mill uni graduate. -
Start work here means when they complete their studiesOriginally posted by cornyfish2000:Nope, even the overseas scholars are LTAs for a year before they get their 3rd bar. The only people who can be said to 'start work' as CPTs are the MOs.
Btw, the promote 'very very fast' part is true only for SAF Overseas Scholars, it definitely does not include your run-of-the-mill uni graduate.