MINDEF/ SAF Senior Commanders
-
ARE Singapore's top military commanders too young and inexperienced?
Are they fast-tracked to the upper echelons because of their scholar credentials, while more experienced non-scholars or "farmers" — as they have been unceremoniously labelled — toil in vain?
Are soldiers here soft because of the emphasis on safety during training at the expense of realism?
And do officers lack professionalism and commitment because mandatory retirement at 45 means many see their time in uniform "as a stepping stone" to a second career in politics or business.
These questions, and several others, are the subject of a critique of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) published in United States-based journal Armed Forces & Society. The quarterly circulates some 2000 copies worldwide.
The article, which has made its rounds in Singapore and created a stir among the uniformed ranks, was written by an American soldier Sean Walsh, who was stationed at the United States Embassy in Singapore for several weeks in 2004, during his summer break from the US Military Academy.
In the article, The Roar of the Lion City, the writer also claimed that women have been held back from holding high posts in the SAF, and that there is a policy to keep Malays out of sensitive areas.
Despite his criticism of the SAF, Mr Walsh, who graduated from the US Army Ranger School, concluded his article by saying "there can be no doubt that the SAF is the most competent, well-equipped and best trained force in the whole of South-east Asia" — a claim the SAF itself has not made.
He also admitted that the SAF was "more than capable" of defending Singapore's borders, conducting peacekeeping missions and dealing with asymmetric threats in the wake of 911. It possessed a "world-class" special operations force which would not require outside assistance, he noted.
So, why the paradoxical praise and criticism of the SAF?
Mr Walsh, who is deployed in Germany, could not be contacted, but in his article he pointed to the age of SAF's top commanders — such as Brigadier-General Desmond Quek, who was 39 when he was promoted to the post of Army Chief — and concluded that "youth naturally corresponds to inexperience" and this "casts obvious doubts on their ability to lead in a conflict against battle-hardened troops".
However, responding to queries from TODAY, Col Benedict Lim, director of public affairs at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), said: "The SAF does not seek out wars but will not flinch from putting its soldiers into harm's way to fulfil its primary mission of protecting the vital interests of our country."
He also pointed out that the SAF carries out about 70 exercises annually with other countries' armed forces, some of which have considerable combat experience, and has been praised for its professionalism. The SAF has also carried out humanitarian missions, for example during Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Defence analyst Dr Alvin Chew told Today that the debate centred on Singapore's defence policy, which is based on diplomacy and deterrence. As such, the relative youthfulness of SAF officers, who are groomed in building bilateral or multi-lateral relationships with foreign militaries, was not a major drawback.
Also, given that fighting a war is not the Republic's most pressing concern, defence analyst Dr Bernard Loo said that early retirement meant that the SAF's best and brightest could be deployed for "broader or higher national purposes —whether it is in running the economy, or running the Government".
Defending Mindef's policy to aggressively recruit and offer scholarships to the "brightest and most capable young men and women", Col Lim said that the SAF, like the rest of the public sector, operates on the principle of meritocracy, and those "who do not perform adequately are released".
But are Singapore soldiers ready to be stand in harm's way?
Mr Walsh wrote that a heavy emphasis on safety and the fact that "any major injury or death causes a very public uproar among parents" has resulted in a force less than ready for deployment.
Taking a different view, Col Lim argued that "an emphasis on safety and rigorous, realistic training are not mutually exclusive" and that the SAF prepares its servicemen to "fight, survive and win" in battle.
As for women in uniform, Mr Walsh's claimed that one of the SAF's "greatest shortcomings" was that high rank and important commands were closed to most women. Admitting "there was no policy that pushes gender integration for its own sake", Col Lim said that women with proven merit in the SAF currently "command ships and army units, fly combat aircraft and serve in many combat vocations".
Perhaps the most controversial claim by the US soldier was that "official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret" and those of the race are "systematically kept out" of sensitive areas.
Mr Walsh claims that this has two major consequences: It "limits the involvement of the ethnic group most inclined to join the military" and it feeds the "perception of a second-class status among Malays, a fact which terrorist recruiters have taken advantage of before, and they may do so again" — referring to the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members arrested in Singapore for plotting terrorist attacks.
Addressing this charge, Col Lim said: "The writer's prescription for ethnic integration in the SAF seriously underestimates the challenges of building ethnic and religious harmony in Singapore.
"Singapore has made much progress in ethnic and religious integration. Singapore does not gloss over the fact that there is yet more to be done and addresses these challenges directly and openly."
Stressing that integration in the SAF would proceed in tandem with nation-building, Col Lim added that there are a good number of Malay SAF officers, some with higher degrees, whose studies were sponsored by the SAF, and whether a Malay SAF officer makes it to a higher appointment depends solely on merit.
In fact, Malay officers have risen through the ranks and held senior appointments.
"We have Malay pilots, commandos and air defence personnel. Those who have shown the potential to take on higher appointments in the SAF are given every opportunity to do so. Malay officers in the SAF hold key appointments such as Commanding Officer," said Col Lim.
"In fact, the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist and officer training is similar to the proportion for eligible non-Malays."
Mr Zulkifli Baharudin, a Malay community leader and former Nominated MP, said that the JI arrests had shown that some Singaporeans "will not react primarily to our national interests and are not completely colour-blind in our instincts".
He added: "We have also seen in the past that events in India and China have had — and I'm putting it mildly — reverberations here." - TODAY
Any comments about this......
-
Of Course SAF hold certain prestige... Not all armed force in the world are as organise as SAF... We might lack the experience but many of our troops are well versed in jungle warfare...
-
hmm, i feel that modern singaporeans are now mostly quite detached from the country where their ancestors came, so what happened in the past as mentioned by that MP will probably not happen in singapore. that american soldier picked on the malays based on a islam ruling where muslims shouldn't fight with fellow muslims, but i feel that our local muslims will see themselves as singaporean muslims instead of just plainly muslims
i apologise if i sounded too naive -
crap..
it is a fact that malays are indeed kept out of sensitive appointments and vocations..
try asking a malay friend to go to cmpb and say that he want to sign on as an airforce technican, pilot, intelligence spec or commando. If he is not rejected, i buy u lunch.
It is a known fact that the only malays in air bases are Air Emergency Services (SCDF people) and that the cookhouse dont even cater to muslim food.
I remember.. a few yrs back. .during the RSAF open house, our defence minister make it a point to talk, shake hand with one malay fighter pilot.. becos he is the only one malay in that
-.-" -
I'm all for a scholarship policy that sends our military officers to the top war or strategic studies colleges around the world.
The SAF, in my opinion, should never become a place for 25 year OJT into Stat Boards/Ministries or political office. This is a dilution of the role of the SAF. -
He may have looked at it in the sense that we are not in Dar-Al-Islam, but there is still some way to go in ensuring that ethnic discrimination is not practised by certain departments.Originally posted by charleslee:hmm, i feel that modern singaporeans are now mostly quite detached from the country where their ancestors came, so what happened in the past as mentioned by that MP will probably not happen in singapore. that american soldier picked on the malays based on a islam ruling where muslims shouldn't fight with fellow muslims, but i feel that our local muslims will see themselves as singaporean muslims instead of just plainly muslims
i apologise if i sounded too naive
There is visible progress, and there's also the demographic factor to consider because of our population ratio too, that may have contributed to seeing less minorities in certain vocations. -
the only malay otehr then AES in plab is the prata shop auntieOriginally posted by binZ:crap..
it is a fact that malays are indeed kept out of sensitive appointments and vocations..
try asking a malay friend to go to cmpb and say that he want to sign on as an airforce technican, pilot, intelligence spec or commando. If he is not rejected, i buy u lunch.
It is a known fact that the only malays in air bases are Air Emergency Services (SCDF people) and that the cookhouse dont even cater to muslim food.
I remember.. a few yrs back. .during the RSAF open house, our defence minister make it a point to talk, shake hand with one malay fighter pilot.. becos he is the only one malay in that
-.-" -
I thought its better for malays to be marginalise in certain sensitive vocations. In times of war, they would not need to be in the frontline killing people with the same race as them.
-
Then Arab-Americans would not be deployed to Iraq liao.Originally posted by matleep:I thought its better for malays to be marginalise in certain sensitive vocations. In times of war, they would not need to be in the frontline killing people with the same race as them.
I find that argument a hindrance to the development of a mature and professional Army.
It may still happen, but does it mean we should not work to solve it? -
I agree that the SAF's policy of retiring its generals by the age of 45 is quite ridiculous. In other armed forces around the world, you'd only be a BG or colonel at most at that age. The SAF seems to place emphasis on youth for its senior commanders, but what for? It's not as if they are going to really chiong sua with the grunts. I'd value experience in a commander more than youth or enthusiasm or drive.
Also, the justification of transferring the expertise of SAF generals to other government ministries or stat boards is just plain rubbish. How many of those retired generals have made genuinely valuable contributions outside the SAF? Having been closeted in the myopic world of the SAF for more than two decades, what expertise could they possibly offer outside of the military? There are certainly many more qualified candidates for leadership positions in stat boards and ministries outside of the SAF. -
chinese killing chinese is ok? -.-"Originally posted by matleep:I thought its better for malays to be marginalise in certain sensitive vocations. In times of war, they would not need to be in the frontline killing people with the same race as them. -
Politics. It's all politics. They don't want them to create their own sphere of influence.Originally posted by dakkon_blackblade:I agree that the SAF's policy of retiring its generals by the age of 45 is quite ridiculous. In other armed forces around the world, you'd only be a BG or colonel at most at that age. The SAF seems to place emphasis on youth for its senior commanders, but what for? It's not as if they are going to really chiong sua with the grunts. I'd value experience in a commander more than youth or enthusiasm or drive.
Also, the justification of transferring the expertise of SAF generals to other government ministries or stat boards is just plain rubbish. How many of those retired generals have made genuinely valuable contributions outside the SAF? Having been closeted in the myopic world of the SAF for more than two decades, what expertise could they possibly offer outside of the military? There are certainly many more qualified candidates for leadership positions in stat boards and ministries outside of the SAF.
They don't want them to stay too long, or else where are our poor scholars going to go..
miscalculation of a policy.. -
i am most for SAF's reply. Seriously what does the US soldier knows....
Check on the same Today paper on the US hospital where UK soldiers complain about them....
Basically, i have only one thing to say about US govt and those generals....
that they are old and distanced from reality, they should just retire and not block the younger more hands-on people and people with better perception, empathy and knowledge from holding high ranks to do their work.
All these older (supposedly experienced) though, the experience in 30s and 40s warfare is already OBSOLETE and inrelevant now...and worst of all, i dont think they go for upgrading or retraining of their skills.
Just see those foreign policies US have, most are failing, not producing results, etc....all these high and mighty on the ivory tower...lacks knowledge of situation, analytical skills. -
nvr been to a war where got experience?
-
We should differentiate US foreign policy from the performance of the grunts on the ground.Originally posted by nightzip:i am most for SAF's reply. Seriously what does the US soldier knows....
Check on the same Today paper on the US hospital where UK soldiers complain about them....
Basically, i have only one thing to say about US govt and those generals....
that they are old and distanced from reality, they should just retire and not block the younger more hands-on people and people with better perception, empathy and knowledge from holding high ranks to do their work.
All these older (supposedly experienced) though, the experience in 30s and 40s warfare is already OBSOLETE and inrelevant now...and worst of all, i dont think they go for upgrading or retraining of their skills.
Just see those foreign policies US have, most are failing, not producing results, etc....all these high and mighty on the ivory tower...lacks knowledge of situation, analytical skills.
In all purposes, the article has to be read in full, and not just what Today put out. -
I didn't implied that.Originally posted by binZ:chinese killing chinese is ok? -.-"
We are surrounded by countries whose majority is malays. Their chinese do not serve the army. In times of war, it is more likely that our enemies are malays than chinese. -
Apa-Dah Mat???Originally posted by matleep:I thought its better for malays to be marginalise in certain sensitive vocations. In times of war, they would not need to be in the frontline killing people with the same race as them. -
Don't you find it weird that the same paper which post the reply from MINDEF would carry an article on the same day that criticises something against US army?Originally posted by nightzip:Check on the same Today paper on the US hospital where UK soldiers complain about them....
I am sure you will find similarities in the shin corp saga or the indonesia ones.
I treat it as a diversion from the real issues. -
Once I happen to see US marines at Clifford Pier. They talk very loud, in fact they bark. And then I think of our NS men, I think ours are whispering by comparison.
I have served NS, and I went through it secure in the knowledge that I would never see action. So just sort of go through the motion. The closest I got to "action" was pay escort for Safti. We were issued live rounds for that duty. That was a long time ago. RSM was Inche Samsudin, and he told us, in the event of trouble, if have to, don't hesitate to shoot. wow! To have live rounds loaded in AR15s and deployed around Chase Mantatten Bank in Jurong. That made our day.
Of course, nothing happened.
-
The Walter Reed issue was discussed to death on CNN a week ago.Originally posted by matleep:Don't you find it weird that the same paper which post the reply from MINDEF would carry an article on the same day that criticises something against US army?
I am sure you will find similarities in the shin corp saga or the indonesia ones.
I treat it as a diversion from the real issues. Secretary of the Army resigned and MG Schoomaker took over as the head of WM.
It is highly stupid of those editors to allow such a slant on the reporting at the expense of our relationship with the United States. -
Yes, there is no doubt that our top military commanders are young and inexperience in war. I think the oldest guy we can find in Singapore may not have experienced leading troops to battle, so how ? Employ USA military commanders, is it ? The writer got to be joking !Originally posted by ryangian:ARE Singapore's top military commanders too young and inexperienced?
Whoever said that you need to be shot 5 times in 10 wars before you can plan a battle ? -
During my first ever trip to ROC in 1994, I had a chance to speak to some taiwanese cooks in their cook house. I was told tat in ROC, to get a rank of III ( Capt ), u must be at least 40 years old. Not too sure if they change the rules now. And the taiwanese soldiers even says our SAF Officers look just too 'young'.
-
If capt = 40 yrs old, then major = 45 yrs old, then half-colonel=50 yrs old, then col = 55 yrs old, then those generals are octogenarians?Originally posted by Manager433:During my first ever trip to ROC in 1994, I had a chance to speak to some taiwanese cooks in their cook house. I was told tat in ROC, to get a rank of III ( Capt ), u must be at least 40 years old. Not too sure if they change the rules now. And the taiwanese soldiers even says our SAF Officers look just too 'young'.
And the 3-4 stars generals are century man.... -
Precisely, we can be professional and efficient and deal stuff with the least blood shed...... people who cannot even give their soldiers proper care in hospitals and phychological help while there are in Iraq ....and rape girls and abuse citizens....Originally posted by KoolKool:Whoever said that you need to be shot 5 times in 10 wars before you can plan a battle ?
so these are what you refer to as experience?
If you get your thousands of your soliders killed while in war versus you are able to engage in diplomacy to averd war, does it mean the latter is more inexperienced? -
we promote fast, we retire fast. so u can be a taxi driver in the next phrase of ur life.