Forgotten Soldiers: 1st First Reservist ICT in NSman Age 30s
-
ANyone read this letter published in the straits times by someone who was called for his first ICT at 36 yrs old, just 4 yrs shy of ROD
NSman called up for first ICT at age 36
The Straits Times
Sep 6, 2006
I WAS surprised to receive notice recently of my first In-Camp Training (ICT) at the age of 36.
How could Mindef expect NSmen to complete the full cycle of their ICT if they start only at 36? Does it mean that NSmen have to go for longer and more frequent ICTs each year in order to do so?
As most NSmen of this age are at the peak of their careers and many are in senior-management positions, going for ICT would definitely affect business operations.
More importantly, most of these NSmen would have families with young children. They have to manage both busy work schedules and taking care of the family.
I have appealed for deferment after the first request was rejected. Until today, I have not heard from Mindef despite numerous calls to the National Servicemen Services Centre (NSSC). I was told by the NSSC staff that they could not transfer my call to the person in-charge, nor could the person in-charge call me or my employer.
I didn't even know which was my unit until I called the NSSC to find out, and even then the staff do not have the contact number of the unit.
Tan Thiam Huat
Okay the point is not that he should not complain at all, after all without any special reasons all have to serve reservist.
I am just curious how come Mindef waited so long and decided to call him up for reservist. I am sure he has not been called to do any ippt at all which means that he is most likely not very fit at all since he is not pressured to go for IPPT like active NSmen. The thing that i can sympathize with him is he is not mentally prepared at all, therefore you can see what his grievances are.
Can anyone explain why some people are not even called up for reservist at all? Was this some cockup by some personnel or maybe the computer? I am very curious epscially when it comes to reservist some ppl kenna alot of shit but some of them just get away with it. Of course the fault also lies with mr Tan who instead of being mentally prepared or taking some initiative to find if he has reservist liablities or find some official way to siam he just played russian rolette and assumed mindef forgot about him, well he lost and mindef calls him back at a time when he is at his career peak, mentally unprepared and most likely physically unfit.
ANyone in here knows why mindef sometimes leave out some ppl? How are the people selected to go for ICT and which units are they selected to be posted to? -
someone posted b4 n we discussed b4 liaoz.
-
i am surprised he has the cheek to complain.
if he has done his part and call up mindef he would have finished his ICT by now.
he wants deferment? mindef wont grant him any. they can call him up twice in 12 months. (differently training yr) -
Was it? My bad, did not know about that
-
But which guy will want to take the initiative to call up mindef?Originally posted by dragg:i am surprised he has the cheek to complain.
if he has done his part and call up mindef he would have finished his ICT by now.
he wants deferment? mindef wont grant him any. they can call him up twice in 12 months. (differently training yr)
Wah imagine calling up mindef to request to have an earlier ict and then try and finish most of the cycles before age 35. If singapore have more of such siao on ppl especially reservist personnel somemore then less ppl will look down on the saf.
Btw if mindef forgot to call him until that age it means it also cock up also. I wish they had a proper explaination for calling him so late at that age. -
do you know big our army is? do you expect it to be error-free? even private corporations with much less employees screw up too.Originally posted by snake24:But which guy will want to take the initiative to call up mindef?
Wah imagine calling up mindef to request to have an earlier ict and then try and finish most of the cycles before age 35. If singapore have more of such siao on ppl especially reservist personnel somemore then less ppl will look down on the saf.
Btw if mindef forgot to call him until that age it means it also cock up also. I wish they had a proper explaination for calling him so late at that age.
there is no right or wrong here.
since he opted not to call up mindef even though he knew the system has missed him he shouldnt be complaining now.
he must have thought he was lucky to have escaped reserve training for so long. but now that he has received a call-up it is only right that he fulfill his duty like everyone of us did.
his argument about his family and career commitments is ridiculous. dont all commanding officers have families and careers too? -
I guess for many singaporeans we have been so used to singapore being touted as efficient and so good by the media and to a lesser extent by some from the older generation or teachers that we assume it will not have any fcuk ups.Originally posted by dragg:do you know big our army is? do you expect it to be error-free? even private corporations with much less employees screw up too.
there is no right or wrong here.
since he opted not to call up mindef even though he knew the system has missed him he shouldnt be complaining now.
he must have thought he was lucky to have escaped reserve training for so long. but now that he has received a call-up it is only right that he fulfill his duty like everyone of us did.
his argument about his family and career commitments is ridiculous. dont all commanding officers have families and careers too?
COs do have families the only difference is that they chose the army as their career so obviously they should be prepared for army stuffs, moreover i hear the army has a generous pay allowance regulars specially officers and even more so for KAH holders.
I don't think they have an nsf or reservist CO do they?
-
COs are also reservists like us!!Originally posted by snake24:I guess for many singaporeans we have been so used to singapore being touted as efficient and so good by the media and to a lesser extent by some from the older generation or teachers that we assume it will not have any fcuk ups.
COs do have families the only difference is that they chose the army as their career so obviously they should be prepared for army stuffs, moreover i hear the army has a generous pay allowance regulars specially officers and even more so for KAH holders.
I don't think they have an nsf or reservist CO do they? -
u will meh?Originally posted by dragg:i am surprised he has the cheek to complain.
if he has done his part and call up mindef he would have finished his ICT by now. -
WOW, we learn something new everyday. Btw my RSM is regular, lao chiao reg somemore.Originally posted by dragg:COs are also reservists like us!! -
i dont know if i will but why does it matter?Originally posted by UandMe:u will meh?
and that was not my point. what i meant to say was since he has chosen to take the risk he has to face the full consequence.
i have finished my full cycle. -
i presume you are still in active service.Originally posted by snake24:WOW, we learn something new everyday. Btw my RSM is regular, lao chiao reg somemore. -
Look, there ARE NSmen COs and commanders. What makes you think otherwise?
-
There could be alot of factors to this, commons ones are, admin lapse AKA clerks bo zhuo gang (no do work), estab full liao so store in some holding list first, Vocation is not needed anymore, example, army cooks, etc, etc, etc.
-
