Sign On: Worth It? Wise? Outside No Good Job Prospect? How?
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as siao on i am before NS...and during NS...i am damn happy that I never sign on...so happy in private sector...
i treated NS like Final Fantasy...
its an RPG game... -
if he likes the life and routine in Army.. all the best to him.. he will enjoy himself
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He's in PES B. With a diploma.
Wait a minute .... if he's finished BMT & didn't tio any leadership courses (as an NSF), he's not gonna qualify for OCS just cuz he's signing on. The "worst" is they may accept him more as a technical spec, while keeping him away from any combat or man-management postings. The SAF is not as hard-up as some job-seekers think. They have to meet its standards.
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 for the other Q, I can only speak for the combat side: Not likely in the first 2 years (over & above attending OCS/SISPEC & trade course, both of which remain very regimented). That's cuz his first posting is likely to an active unit, which itself is training for ops-ready status (twice every NSF cycle) &, upon passing the proficiency test, shall join the standby-duty rotation, etc. There'll be plenty of night trainings & weekends burnt as every conscript can vouch.
Thereafter, the next stage is forseeably switching to the formation & training schools for skills-upgrading, as well as attend the various advanced-leadership courses. This is his only window for further academic or personal-growth courses cuz, once he's suitably equipped & promoted accordingly, he'll be posted to the active side again, & become busy 24/7 as a PC or CSM.
That's how the system roughly works: deployment -> course -> deployment -> course. Of course, a scholar-officer can expect to get fast-tracked in each stage (every 9 months or so in my time) but the other regulars, both "farmers" & wospecs, usually stay with the unit throughout their NSF time (i.e. 2 years from mono-intake BMT till ORD).
Make sure your BF ask the recruitment people thoroughly about his career path, before he commits. -
ask recruitment officer is rubbish lor...Originally posted by blitzonic:Wait a minute .... if he's finished BMT & didn't tio any leadership courses (as an NSF), he's not gonna qualify for OCS just cuz he's signing on. The "worst" is they may accept him more as a technical spec, while keeping him away from any combat or man-management postings. The SAF is not as hard-up as some job-seekers think. They have to meet its standards.
As for the other Q, I can only speak for the combat side: Not likely in the first 2 years (over & above attending OCS/SISPEC & trade course, both of which remain very regimented). That's cuz his first posting is likely to an active unit, which itself is training for ops-ready status &, upon passing the proficiency test, shall join the standby-duty rotation, etc. It happens twice every NSF cycle, & there'll be plenty of night trainings & weekends burnt as every conscript can vouch.
Thereafter, the next stage is forseeably switching to the formation & training schools for skills-upgrading, as well as attend the various advanced-leadership courses. This is his only window for further academic or personal-growth courses cuz, once he's suitably equipped & promoted accordingly, he'll be posted to the active side again, & become busy 24/7 as a PC or CSM.
That's how the system roughly works: deployment -> course -> deployment -> course. Of course, a scholar-officer can expect to get fast-tracked in each stage (every 9 months or so in my time) but the other regulars, both "farmers" & wospecs, usually stay with the unit throughout their NSF time (i.e. 2 years from mono-intake BMT till ORD).
Make sure your BF ask the recruitment people thoroughly about his career path, before he commits.
ask the current junior officers who are regulars...
they can give honest answers -
ask the current junior officers who are regulars...
Nah, most of the time they're either too rank-conscious, emotionally-affected or busy to offer genuine advice. The only exception, as I recall, for true heart-to-heart talk was in those PC interviews, but they only took place twice in my entire NSF: once in BMT & the other soon after being posted to the unit.
they can give honest answers -
i am so envious of u....Originally posted by BenBenDeZhu:i dont agree, i did my NS in the airforce.
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Then those who did their NS with DSTA and SAFRA Radio how?Originally posted by kengkia:i am so envious of u.... 
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lagi envious.....Originally posted by LazerLordz:Then those who did their NS with DSTA and SAFRA Radio how? 
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Originally posted by Freedom Fighter:sign on !
SAF: THE DECISIVE FORCE
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Originally posted by kengkia:lagi envious.....
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PPL here are waiting for the day where they can leave SAF n ppl here are aiming to enter SAF how ironical.
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That 2 years in NS will change most people's mind of thought. Thats why theres the difference. They need to enter NS transformation to turn the want to enter brain to want to get out.Originally posted by borntolive:PPL here are waiting for the day where they can leave SAF n ppl here are aiming to enter SAF how ironical.
Somehow i think they might need a more effective machine to transform freedom fighter's mind though... -
sign on good. u wont regret!
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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.
Sounds like they weren't properly advised, on the outset. A diploma is a IHL credential &, not only that, it's not a general certificate either like A Levels or even a BA degree. Poly grads are also supposed to be the most practical-inclined of servicemen &, as such, shall presumably desire to apply when they've studied for.
Many of them sign up for engineering & technical capacities in the various military branches, as a result. Of course, getting an officer commissioning will also influence their decisions, but it's not the foremost one as some (presumably NSF) posters here think. Rather, the serious careerist's goal is to first determine an appropriate vocation.
I don't disagree that some Poly grads remain gung-ho enough to opt for the combat arms. They do comprise the majority of job opportunities in the Army side but, it's well-known now, the farmers lose out to the scholars in the career paths there. Perhaps more damagingly, any Army-trained regular who does not re-upp for a second contract will enter the civilian job market competing with fresh-faced job seekers for the same entry-level employment, yet much older & without correlated experience on his resume. That's why they end up as insurance agents or whatever.
So, on the one hand, IMO combat regulars will be busy with full-time 24/7 duties for about two-thirds of their first contract, due to operational postings -- &, despite all the material benefits (can definitely afford to buy a car, compared to their civilian peers), the lack of free time is quite disillusioning for their girlfriends & wives too, beware. Yet they may have to rebuild their working life from scratch if they doesn't carry on thereafter. But signing on as an engineer or technician, regardless of as officer or NCO, may entail a different occupational path in order for the SAF to make the most out of his academic expertise. This route is something I don't think every serving officer is informed about to properly advise, unless he's with a more-specialized outfit &/or has signed on the exact vocation which the wannabe is aiming for. -
Let's just say I've talked to a LTC before during my NS days, and even he was quite worried about his job prospects outside, given that he was in a vocation quite unrelated to his qualifications.
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Let's just say I've talked to a LTC before during my NS days, and even he was quite worried about his job prospects outside, given that he was in a vocation quite unrelated to his qualifications.
My brother is a LTC (RSAF) ~lol~ Now is much better, cuz MINDEF has tied up with a consultant company to implement a Career Transition Partnership programme, in order to facilitate re-employment for senior military officers. Ditto their Wospecs, after signing MOUs with ASPRI, ASMI & AAIS for army, navy & air-force enciks, respectively.
In this sense, it's taken care of its own older regulars. A lot of NGOs & GICs want to employ ex-senior officers too, so the prestige remains largely there. But the ex-wospecs won't find their new jobs very sexy, since they're mostly in the unglamorous line (engineering, logistics, etc.). But at least no more awkward conversions to become disciplinary masters in primary schools, etc.
It's the younger regulars lack a safety net, if they don't reupp or have fallen by the wayside from the pyramid hierarchy. -
Well, if he's in Air Engineering or a pilot, it's not too bad.Originally posted by blitzonic:My brother is a LTC (RSAF) ~lol~ Now is much better, cuz MINDEF has tied up with a consultant company to implement a Career Transition Partnership programme, in order to facilitate re-employment for senior military officers. Ditto their Wospecs, after signing MOUs with ASPRI, ASMI & AAIS for army, navy & air-force enciks, respectively.
In this sense, it's taken care of its own older regulars. A lot of NGOs & GICs want to employ ex-senior officers too, so the prestige remains largely there. But the ex-wospecs won't find their new jobs very sexy, since they're mostly in the unglamorous line (engineering, logistics, etc.). But at least no more awkward conversions to become disciplinary masters in primary schools, etc.
It's the younger regulars lack a safety net, if they don't reupp or have fallen by the wayside from the pyramid hierarchy.
Good luck, if he was in infantry and only had a diploma (chap I spoke with). -
Originally posted by dkcx:That 2 years in NS will change most people's mind of thought. Thats why theres the difference. They need to enter NS transformation to turn the want to enter brain to want to get out.
Somehow i think they might need a more effective machine to transform freedom fighter's mind though...
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oei.... recruit... learn from your seniors... our young palawan jedi... dun be brainwashed by the sith (a.k.a saf) to join the dark side... u r still in rasa tekong island resort... like all the time we said b4... "just wait till u go unit" as ur real ns begin only after your pop...
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Well, if he's in Air Engineering or a pilot, it's not too bad.
Camp commandant, the last I asked him (which was quite a while back.) Yeah, he'd originally signed on as an AEO, but as a NTU grad in his mid-20s. Fortunately, he'd already gotten his bar during NS.
Can definitely make COL, but will probably have to retire after that. But he'd already done a Masters degree on the side, & thus is well-positioned despite being more of a farmer officer. Making more than twice the money I make too ~lol~ plus has a staff car. -
*faints* I don't understand half of the posts..lols..nevertheless, thanks to all...I'll get him in here when he books out this weekend.
And yes, he's still a botak chao recruit. -
Maybe get him to post his proper interest and what he really wants to do and maybe some people can give him proper advice, officers in different vocations do different stuff so its not 1 style fits all sort of job.Originally posted by TXian:*faints* I don't understand half of the posts..lols..nevertheless, thanks to all...I'll get him in here when he books out this weekend.
And yes, he's still a botak chao recruit. -
halo, dont think you are right ler,.... actually, ... all the same mah, its all depending on,... WHAT HE/SHE LIKE!!! why dont u tell them, hundred and thousand of Navy guyz got sea sick and cant even have their mealOriginally 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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Indeed. It really has to depend on the person's interest.Originally posted by NDU:halo, dont think you are right ler,.... actually, ... all the same mah, its all depending on,... WHAT HE/SHE LIKE!!! why dont u tell them, hundred and thousand of Navy guyz got sea sick and cant even have their meal
My point is that Navy does more meaningful activities than Army. And the prospect and salaries are higher too if I am not wrong. -
If he can make COL, I'm sure he can push for Advanced Management courses at Harvard.Originally posted by blitzonic:Camp commandant, the last I asked him (which was quite a while back.) Yeah, he'd originally signed on as an AEO, but as a NTU grad in his mid-20s. Fortunately, he'd already gotten his bar during NS.
Can definitely make COL, but will probably have to retire after that. But he'd already done a Masters degree on the side, & thus is well-positioned despite being more of a farmer officer. Making more than twice the money I make too ~lol~ plus has a staff car.
I'm sure he could transition into ST or some defence-related GLC without a hitch.