Sign On: Worth It? Wise? Outside No Good Job Prospect? How?

• OO_OO_OO

  23 Mar 07, 02:27

  Originally posted by OO_OO_OO:

  i dunno if this shd be under speakers corner or saf...
  so its in cc
  
  I met a cabby today. When he found out i'm gonna become a recruit in a matter of days, he adviced me,
  
  "dont sign on for that fucking army"
  
  Being the curious individual i usually am, i wanted to know why the strong language.
  He told me that, sure, the pension scheme is good, it gives u a lump sum of money to tide over.
  But thats only provided you complete the whole course of work, which mean you only retire at 50 plus.
  
  He told me one cannot quit, change job or whatever, or not only will the sum of money be confiscated, one will also have to pay remaining the amt owed to the saf, which is something like 8, 9 years of pay.
  
  And should you fall sick or die, ie. cancer or something, and have to leave the force, the saf will not give u the pension money. Not one cent. And spouse benefits will also disappear just like that. "in the end, its your family that suffers"
  
  And heres the thing. He told me that the saf want "THE generation" to take over. so once you've passed your prime, they try to 'force' you to quit, no promotions, nothing.
  Thus he says the saf steals your youth, and they play you out in the future.
  
  This guy doesnt claim to be carrying the tales of others. He himself signed on as a naval diver due to family difficulties in the financial area and pulled at 40 with a "reduced pension". I think 40 is the min age to leave with a reduced pension, not sure.
  He has since been informing every young man about this so that he may not fall into this "trap".
  He told me, your youth is supposed to be vibrant, exciting. Why tie yourself up with the military, leaving yourself with no further options, only to be played out in the future?
  
  He's not your standard cabby who curses the government for no reason. I've seen loads of such cabbies. This guy is a been-there-done-that situation and i can sense he's really passionate about not letting young men fall into this "trap".
  Furthermore, he's very family orientated and not the usual money-comes-first cabby. most of his arguments revolved around how the family unit and how loved ones suffer..
  He said, if studies cmi, dont have to sign on. Go out there, pick up a skill, even if it is less well paying. Because at least you have options, and you dont stamp out a good chunk of your life the moment you join the force.
  I respect him for that. Most cabbies only want to strike it rich fast and live a luxurious life whenever they make such speeches to their customers.
  
  Any comments from current saf personnal?
  I have a few friends interested in signing on and i dont want them to do so blindly should this chap be right. I want to at least let them have the full picture before they can a decision.

• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 02:28

  where u take the cab from?
• OO_OO_OO

  23 Mar 07, 02:29

  Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

  where u take the cab from?

  marina
• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 02:30

  Originally posted by OO_OO_OO:

  marina

  then where u alighted?
• Darkness_hacker99

  23 Mar 07, 02:30

  
• OO_OO_OO

  23 Mar 07, 02:31

  Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

  then where u alighted?

  my house lor.
  near kap
• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 02:33

  Originally posted by OO_OO_OO:

  my house lor.
  near kap

  you live bukit timah ar?
  sherwood towers or maplewoods or the sterling?
• OO_OO_OO

  23 Mar 07, 02:34

  Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

  you live bukit timah ar?
  sherwood towers or maplewoods or the sterling?

  er.. none of those.
  why? u met the same guy?
• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 02:36

  Originally posted by OO_OO_OO:

  er.. none of those.
  why? u met the same guy?

  no, cause kap there only got those residentials. got somemore others la, but all private property.
  
  so you live private property?
• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 02:46

  Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

  no, cause kap there only got those residentials. got somemore others la, but all private property.
  
  so you live private property?

  why no reply?
• Kuali Baba

  23 Mar 07, 02:48

  How timely. The recruitment guys from the army, air force and navy will try to tempt you to sign on with them during your BMT. You hear only the good stuff from them.
• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 03:05

  Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

  why no reply?

  why u left without replying?
• chanjyj

  23 Mar 07, 03:26

  Originally posted by R3SsH|n:

  why u left without replying?

  Dun bully him lah
• R3SsH|n

  23 Mar 07, 03:27

  Originally posted by chanjyj:

  Dun bully him lah

  what bully
  he left without replying...its his fault.
• Eric Cartman

  23 Mar 07, 03:36

  how does making a speech earn cabbies money?
• Kuali Baba

  23 Mar 07, 03:53

  Originally posted by Eric Cartman:

  how does making a speech earn cabbies money?

  People pay extra to try to shut him up.
• Joshua1975

  23 Mar 07, 04:07

  one who like it will sign on.... in SG, the policy maker is pushing ppl out of the system.
  
  another forms of failing to retain talents. real talents but the organization is oni keeping board gamers. paper talk.
  
  not saying that those with some papers in hand are all not up to standard. it oni this group of "guys" will loose out in the end.
• stellazio

  23 Mar 07, 05:50

  so only sign on if u become pilot?
• joker105

  23 Mar 07, 06:25

  now sign on not tat easy liao...
  my fren at cmpb told mi if wanna sign on, must have at least a dipolma cert...
  when u sign combat site, n ur performance is not up 2 stardard, they can kick u out anytime...
  
  mi got another fren who sign on at service site n his contract end somewhere next yr n he wanted 2 continue but they dont allow....
  imagine he earn slightly over 2k there n if work outside u get 1k++ 4 startin...
  
• Short Ninja

  23 Mar 07, 08:09

  I signed on and didnt regret it after that I signed off migrated and I didnt regret it either.
• chanjyj

  23 Mar 07, 08:55

  Originally posted by Short Ninja:

  I signed on and didnt regret it after that I signed off migrated and I didnt regret it either.

  And your conclusion is.... Sign on don't sign on no good no bad ah
  
• kwlee

  23 Mar 07, 09:56

  sign on as a recruitment officer...
• IronBandit

  23 Mar 07, 13:32

  U should listern to the old cabby ... he is right may "older" people are being forced to leave now a days due to some of their personal problem when they are intheir 40s. take on a skill and work out side you'll might be less paid but definately u would be more happy
• kwlee

  23 Mar 07, 19:54

  they should stop doing that man...
  
  or else no more patriots to fight for the country.
• kengkia

  23 Mar 07, 20:29

  Originally posted by kwlee:

  they should stop doing that man...
  
  or else no more patriots to fight for the country.

  but patriots must have feelings for this country mah or else once war they take the easy way out :surrender straight like that how to call patriot....sign on for $$$ how to be parriot only feelings for $$$....somemore SAF singapore acting forces only wayang and dun seem to have real substance would u feel proud being in it....any regulars here feel free to refute any of my points....