Sign On: Worth It? Wise? Outside No Good Job Prospect? How?
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My bf is planning to sign on with SAF. Would like to hear of your experinces with regards to this. =)
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Well....
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Good luck selling ure life to the devil...
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His qualifications? Fitness level?
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haha..i know..many people are like: sign on for wat? But he likes the life in there. He's just sort of weird la..
He's in PES B. With a diploma.
He's aiming for OCS. Sign on as officer for 6 years.
BTW, is it possible to study part time while signed on? His Lt said cannot, cuz too tiring. -
Depends on what he sign on as....the different scenarios I can think of is...
Specialist (Sergeant and then slowly promote to Warrant officer)
A professional career, very demanding job.
Officer
Equally demanding, longer hours than specialists, but higher prospects, higher pay, highly respected.
Special Forces
Elite people from SOF (Special Operations Force) or NDU (Naval Diving Unit), these are highly trained "professional killers" in a way, with even higher pay, prestige, but much more dangerous job.
Specialists can crossover to officers midway, its possible, though rare.
Time - The Sacrifice
A military person is under orders, when order comes, he cannot discuss and see whether he should obey - he has to follow. His schedule and time is at the mercy of his higher superiors - even if he is an officer.
Normal days is like normal office hours outside, 5-day work week, except some Saturdays got to join whole unit for outdoor running.
Sometimes may have to go a few days of continuous training, etc, which you may not be able to see or contact him.
Whenever sent overseas for training, can be min 2 weeks to 2 months overseas, with few chances to contact.
The Reward
If he's an officer, you can look forward to a military wedding, with all his fellow officer friends all dressed in white and drawing their ceremonial swords on your wedding day.
His pay will also be very stable and good, if he's an officer, confirm you can buy condo by the time he reach 35. and he can definitely buy a good car within 2nd year of service.
At end-of-contract and retirement, he also gets a lumpsum which is quite handsome.
Danger
Training and operations is relatively safe with alot of safeguards and systems. There're also comprehensive insurance schemes, just in case something really happens. He'll be well taken care of. -
Thanks SpecialOps...Though SAF do provide alot of benefits (wedding leaves, paternity leaves and all that) but there are many people who also say it's not wise to sign on.
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If possible, join Navy.
Army is quite lame and useless. Doing some aimless excerises. Only the Op-B look to be of some use.
However, for Navy, he will be doing real stuff. Patrol the coastline, escorting marine vessels in and out of Singapore Strait etc.
Higher prospect in Navy too. -
yes.. nothing much u can do after army, at least after navy still can join shipping companies etc...Originally posted by Spartans:If possible, join Navy.
Army is quite lame and useless. Doing some aimless excerises. Only the Op-B look to be of some use.
However, for Navy, he will be doing real stuff. Patrol the coastline, escorting marine vessels in and out of Singapore Strait etc.
Higher prospect in Navy too. -
There is the mandated retirement age for regulars too, so make sure there's something else to fall back on once that comes, should he decide to make it a long term career.
The other concern is how applicable one's skills in the SAF are to other employers. The general consensus (I believe) is unfavourable; see how he can ensure that he can find new jobs that he's happy with once he leaves the forces. -
Everything has pro and cons,just imagine he ORD at the age of 30-40,he wish to apply a job in the corporate world,what can he fill up in his resume under the column of working experience?He will be completing with many young 20+ fresh grads,but then if he is smart enough,have the capital,maybe can invest his own biz.Originally posted by TXian:Thanks SpecialOps...Though SAF do provide alot of benefits (wedding leaves, paternity leaves and all that) but there are many people who also say it's not wise to sign on. -
can werk as MOE Admin Managers in schoolsOriginally posted by KenPlus:Everything has pro and cons,just imagine he ORD at the age of 30-40,he wish to apply a job in the corporate world,what can he fill up in his resume under the column of working experience?He will be completing with many young 20+ fresh grads,but then if he is smart enough,have the capital,maybe can invest his own biz. -
I wld advice him to aim for officer post...i see no point in signing on as a spec unless he wants to be wif the SAF till 50+ plus wanna become WO...Originally posted by TXian:My bf is planning to sign on with SAF. Would like to hear of your experinces with regards to this. =) -
Now its no longer you want to be WO you can be WO. Many specs no longer get their PP2 unlike the past where its more whether you want to continue or not. Now its whether the army wants you or not and i would say dismissal rate is quite high these days.Originally posted by In_Between_Days:I wld advice him to aim for officer post...i see no point in signing on as a spec unless he wants to be wif the SAF till 50+ plus wanna become WO... -
with a dip, he cant go very far unless he is very very good. but i would advise u to tell him not to sell his soul
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I guess he's still a recruit ? ....Originally posted by TXian:haha..i know..many people are like: sign on for wat? But he likes the life in there. He's just sort of weird la..
He's in PES B. With a diploma.
He's aiming for OCS. Sign on as officer for 6 years.
BTW, is it possible to study part time while signed on? His Lt said cannot, cuz too tiring.
ask him to finish BMT first then talk about signing on ... -
if wanna sign on, better sign on for life
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I don't think it's a good idea to sign on OCS with a diploma ... you're screwed pretty quickly cos the glass ceiling is set a lot lower for you ... if you don't have a plan for post army life don't even start ... -
After AirForce, can also join the aviation industries.Originally posted by sLeEpWaLkErInG:yes.. nothing much u can do after army, at least after navy still can join shipping companies etc... -
sign on !
SAF: THE DECISIVE FORCE -
dont listen to him, he's a little boyOriginally posted by Freedom Fighter:sign on !
SAF: THE DECISIVE FORCE -
i dont agree, i did my NS in the airforce.Originally posted by KoolKool:After AirForce, can also join the aviation industries. -
Maybe I should be clearer. Air Force technicians can cross over to Engineering companies servicing aircrafts. I don't think there are NS in the technical roles.Originally posted by BenBenDeZhu:i dont agree, i did my NS in the airforce. -
The sailing part, unforunately, is also what caused many of the regulars who signed on in the first place to quit/not renew their contracts. The doing of shipboard duties, sailing etc is almost similar to Army, just that we chiong sea and u guys chiong jungleOriginally posted by Spartans:If possible, join Navy.
Army is quite lame and useless. Doing some aimless excerises. Only the Op-B look to be of some use.
However, for Navy, he will be doing real stuff. Patrol the coastline, escorting marine vessels in and out of Singapore Strait etc.
Higher prospect in Navy too.
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i have 4 poly grad friends who signed on as officers under the 3 year scheme. of which, 3 is totally regretted now... only 1 the super duper ex-npcc is still okay.Originally posted by TXian:haha..i know..many people are like: sign on for wat? But he likes the life in there. He's just sort of weird la..
He's in PES B. With a diploma.
He's aiming for OCS. Sign on as officer for 6 years.
BTW, is it possible to study part time while signed on? His Lt said cannot, cuz too tiring.
as always said, saf is govt service = paper chasing matters utmost. he will be the farmer officer, whereas scholar rise faster than him as they are the scholar officers.
there are lots of sign on saf threads if u r seriously concern for ur bf... if he sign on, later wait bf becomes ex bf...
here are some:
http://armedforces.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=98305
http://armedforces.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=282607
http://armedforces.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=265590
http://armedforces.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=256109
http://armedforces.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=268797