Scholarship and a career in the army?
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Need some advice from our bros here. I'm a poly student currently studying business and i plan to further my studies to a degree. I've always thought of a career either in the army or the business world. I've since chanced upon the SAF academic scholarship. Would it enable me to rise in ranks quicker. and does the 6 years bond include NS? what if i apply for it after my ns? or would a life in the business world be better (pay-wise)?
A Big thanks
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if you want to be a productive member of the community, anywhere except the army...
and i'm kinda serious about this...
as for "making it in the business world" after being a scholar in the army, you're going to be so mollycoddled there it'll take a strong mind to break out of the mindset.. in other words, you might pick up so many bad habits that you may be hamstrung for life..
and if you jump off into the deep end after coming out of the mollycoddling of the army, you'll be in for a rude awakening..
sad but true... -
Hmm point taken. But the pay seems to be extremely well. wad's life in there? boring?
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I'm also taking biz and thinking of signing on leh. But alot of my seniors tell me not to.Originally posted by jus-tea:Hmm point taken. But the pay seems to be extremely well. wad's life in there? boring? -
army is abt good pay
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Don't be guilible and get fooled by all those "garang" stuff about special ops you get from books and the media.Originally posted by SpecOps87:I'm also taking biz and thinking of signing on leh. But alot of my seniors tell me not to.
Many people think it is very "garang" to sign on with SAF especially with "garang" units such as Commandos or Guards.
This is not Counterstrike or even Ghost Recon.
What you watch on Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan is nothing compared to the real thing.Kids of your age often after watching such "garang" war movies feel very motivated and wanna replicate the "garang" things they watched.
Think carefully. -
If really wanna sign on,make sure you get a good degree. Coz you will stagnate all the way as an officer if you only have a poly dip.Originally posted by jus-tea:Hmm point taken. But the pay seems to be extremely well. wad's life in there? boring?
Dont wanna be a wet blanket but unless your poly results are really superb-like top 5% every sem,you can forget about securing for any SAF academic scholarship. SAF scholarships are reserved for air levels people with S papers.The Local Study Award(LSA) is a more realistic option for you. -
My suggestion:-
Do ur best, get the best grades u can in poly but dun sign-on yet.
Then go into army, do BMT liao then make decision.
Reason is simple, a job in SAF is NOT EQUAL to the commercial u see on TV. Experience the BMT first, if u fit into the army dude persona then go ahead sign on! If u do ur BMT liao but u are still a business man mentality then sign-on is definately a big no-no.
DUN become my friends, being psycho by the recruitment talk, action, money, etc, etc then sign-on for 10 years then found out they are not army material then KPKB. Y? sign-on liao black and white, army is not something u cannot suka suka quit one, got penalties one.
So be wise, experience first then decide. -
even better, sign on after u have experienced unit life. cos BMT/SISPEC/OCS is pretty much sheltered from the reality of the SAF.
we are talking about 6 yrs of ur life here. remember; when u get out of the army, u have almost ZERO industry work experience.
anyway, how many ppl actually encourage u to sign on? think this is a good indicator of how "good" the SAF is, rite?
feel free to ask us questions.
cheers, -
Nah, fiction and reality are two distinct things. I'm interested and passionate about being a soldier, but career wise, I'm still apprehensive. Just wondering, does it make alot of difference if you are commissioned lets say in Sandhurst or West Point instead of locally?Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Don't be guilible and get fooled by all those "garang" stuff about special ops you get from books and the media.
Many people think it is very "garang" to sign on with SAF especially with "garang" units such as Commandos or Guards.
This is not Counterstrike or even Ghost Recon.
What you watch on Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan is nothing compared to the real thing.Kids of your age often after watching such "garang" war movies feel very motivated and wanna replicate the "garang" things they watched.
Think carefully. -
what are the criteria for SAF scholarship?
I am in JC thinking of getting a SAF scholarship but need leadership roles
I only got good leadership role in secondary school ncc then other than that in JC I am only a member of track
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Sign on only if you love the military as a profession. Nothing else.
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Go CLEAR YOUR BMT first and GET QUALIFIED FOR OCS before you think of Annapolis or Colorado SpringsOriginally posted by SpecOps87:Nah, fiction and reality are two distinct things. I'm interested and passionate about being a soldier, but career wise, I'm still apprehensive. Just wondering, does it make alot of difference if you are commissioned lets say in Sandhurst or West Point instead of locally?
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Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Go CLEAR YOUR BMT first and GET QUALIFIED FOR OCS before you think of Annapolis or Colorado Springs
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It was just a question...I believed at some point of time or another, you have dreams of being a career soldier.Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Go CLEAR YOUR BMT first and GET QUALIFIED FOR OCS before you think of Annapolis or Colorado Springs -
all was dashed after serving NS.... so u say leh?Originally posted by SpecOps87:It was just a question...I believed at some point of time or another, you have dreams of being a career soldier. -
Originally posted by SpecOps87:It was just a question...I believed at some point of time or another, you have dreams of being a career soldier. well, he said the truth. It's harsh as always.
Sandhurst and West Point are not place names tossed about..the annual quota from Singapore is about 1. That's less than the great ol'REMF orgy that the scholars get up to in the Ivy League. -
there are too many business diploma holders out there.
simi business world.. unless u do ur own business... if not, a business diploma wun make u rich.
if u have financial prob furthering ur studies, i would encourage u to take up the scholarship.
6 yrs bond also means iron rice bowl. earn enough liao, after that then venture on ur own.
but then, i have nv been in NS, so I can't comment on the NS life or understand how much sufferings u guys will go thru. hee. -
Ya,when I was about primary 5,I thought about all this:Originally posted by SpecOps87:It was just a question...I believed at some point of time or another, you have dreams of being a career soldier.
I wanted to join SEAL Team 6 and learn from Dick Marcinko
Once in 6,I wanted to take part in a top secret direct action joint op against Iran with Delta Force supported by Rangers and TF160.
I wanted to do exchange programs with GSG-9,BBE,GROM,ESI,GIGN,JTF-2,707th Bn to further my skills.
After a stint in the military,I quit and set up my own security firm.I will only hire ex-special forces dudes.
And I live happily ever after... -
That one depends on luck & how smart are u to carry things out in camp...Originally posted by browniebaobao:there are too many business diploma holders out there.
simi business world.. unless u do ur own business... if not, a business diploma wun make u rich.
if u have financial prob furthering ur studies, i would encourage u to take up the scholarship.
6 yrs bond also means iron rice bowl. earn enough liao, after that then venture on ur own.
but then, i have nv been in NS, so I can't comment on the NS life or understand how much sufferings u guys will go thru. hee.
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Just curious, and hoping to gather experience. Does anyone have any idea of how best to utilize the time of a short-term contract of say 3yrs or 6yrs with a scholarship?Originally posted by LazerLordz: well, he said the truth. It's harsh as always.
Sandhurst and West Point are not place names tossed about..the annual quota from Singapore is about 1. That's less than the great ol'REMF orgy that the scholars get up to in the Ivy League. -
Wow great job. Bet today your gang must be doing all the work detailing and protecting Bush huh. Well done mate. Salutes to you and your gang.Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Ya,when I was about primary 5,I thought about all this:
I wanted to join SEAL Team 6 and learn from Dick Marcinko
Once in 6,I wanted to take part in a top secret direct action joint op against Iran with Delta Force supported by Rangers and TF160.
I wanted to do exchange programs with GSG-9,BBE,GROM,ESI,GIGN,JTF-2,707th Bn to further my skills.
After a stint in the military,I quit and set up my own security firm.I will only hire ex-special forces dudes.
And I live happily ever after... -
life stories in reality dun really end with "..... living happily ever after."Originally posted by Marco_Simone:Ya,when I was about primary 5,I thought about all this:
I wanted to join SEAL Team 6 and learn from Dick Marcinko
Once in 6,I wanted to take part in a top secret direct action joint op against Iran with Delta Force supported by Rangers and TF160.
I wanted to do exchange programs with GSG-9,BBE,GROM,ESI,GIGN,JTF-2,707th Bn to further my skills.
After a stint in the military,I quit and set up my own security firm.I will only hire ex-special forces dudes.
And I live happily ever after... -
never sign up for something that u have never experienced before.
it's the same logic for everything in life. u won't buy a shirt unless u have tried it out and make sure it fits, u won't buy anything without 1st testing it out first right?
even if u bought something without trying it and it sucks, u can simply throw it away but for a military career it different. once the bond is signed, u can't just quit as u pleases. there are no room for regrets.
think through this carefully. -
thanks guys for all your valuable comments. just to clear some doubts, no i'm not influenced by war movies or the cheesy SAF ads, truth be told i'm in for the money, ain't everyone? and yes I definately plan to obtain a degree. also, for te poly top 5% thing, it's for the SAF merit award, not the one i'm aimming for. But still thks alot anyways=) "BMT life is shelthered from wad it's like in the army as a career" yup i realised that, that's y i'm asking for u guy's advice=) thks alot. cheers!
