OCS FAQ
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I'm a little rusty already. Do correct me if you spot any errors. I'll try to add in more info if I can.
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OCS Navy - “Mids Wing”
Cadets - “Midshipman”
(In the olden days where navy schools do not exist, captains of ships select their own “future leaders”. These “leaders” were officers-to-be but sleep with the men at the same quarters. They act as a link between the men and the officers of the ship hence the word “mid-ship man”)
If you choose to join the navy, you are not just joining a vocation but a whole new culture all together because a lot of the practices are based on ancient traditions.
Curriculum (After Tri-Service) & Core Activities
BNT (Basic Naval Term) – 3 months
- Navigation (Huge Chapter! Because you donÂ’t just use the compass)
- The Rule of the Road (Sea Traffic Rules)
- Chart Reading and Plotting
- Seamanship (Anchoring Knowledge, Knots, Rope-work)
- Communications (Flags, Flares, Lights, Radio, SatCom)
- Fire-Fighting Course (At Civil Defense Academy)
- Damage and Flood Control Course
- (1)Watch-Keeping Training (Onboard Ships or Simulation @ Singapore Poly)
- Comex (Command Exercise)***
(1)Explain: A Watch Team is 1 whom will be commanding and controlling the Ship during that period of time. The team will always be led by only 1 officer, known as the Officer-of-the-Watch (OOW). The Watch Team will also comprise of Radio-Operators, Radar-Plotters, Navigators, Look-Outs, Helmsman and an Engine Room Team (Lead by an Engineering Officer). One Watch usually last for 4 hours.
MSTD (Midshipman Sea Training Deployment) – 2 months
Basically, you will go onboard 1 of Singapore’s self designed and made LSTs and make that your home for 2 months. A typical route may consist of 3-6 port-of-calls. E.g. 2 ports @ Indonesia – 2 ports @ Australia Or Indonesia – China – Russia – S. Korea - Japan
- Ocean Navigation
- Port Pilotage
- Practical Lessons on BNT Curriculum
- Gunnery (OTO Melara 76mm Super Rapid Gun)
- Ship Engines
- Emergency Procedures (Life Jackets, Life Rafts, Buoys)
- Intensive Watch-Keeping Training
- Port Presentations***
- Crossing – Equator Ceremony (If Any)***
- Home Sweet Home Event***
ANT (Advanced Naval Term) – 3 months
- Narrow Channel Pilotage
- Watch-Keeping Training (Mostly onboard Ships)
- Fast Craft Course (Can be conducted during BNT)
- In-Depth Lessons on BNT Curriculum if necessary
- Comex (More Intense)***
- Commissioning Parade Training
Note:
1. There will be an Exam towards the end of MSTD testing all your naval knowledge
2. ROR Tests are frequently carried out during all 3 Terms. (Basically, prepare to burn and drink)
3. Morse Code Tests will be carried every morning during the MSTD Term (E.g. [… – – …] = [s m s])
***These are important events where Appointment Holders are usually judged very closely.
Physical Tests (Must Pass)
- IPPT (No Gold No Rest)
- 8 or 10 Km Run with Time Limit (CanÂ’t remember if itÂ’s 8/10 and the timing)
- SEOC (SAFTI Endurance OC) with Time Limit
- IOC (Indoor OC) with Time Limit (Used to have... Now... not sure)
- Swimming Proficiency Test
- Water Confidence Test -
How to get into OCS - MIDS Wing
1. Sign-On
Most Midshipmen are regulars. There are 2 main vocations to choose from.
a. Naval Combat Officer
b. Naval Engineering Officer
Some Intelligence Officer Cadets go through MIDS Training also.
2. Get Selected from BMT
Quite rare. Usually less than 5 in a term. They are usually quite good in the water. E.g. National Sailors, Swimmers, Water Polo players.
3. Get Selected from NDU
These people are usually quite good performers also having gone through the NDU course.
Note: If I'm not wrong, I believed only the regulars will get posted to ships at the end of the day. NDU Officers are of course posted back to NDU. NSF Officers are usually posted to Fast Craft Squadrons upon commissioning where the uniform is usually still green. -
midshipman's no.1 Epaulettes.
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Hi... I'm currently serving my NS with SCDF and I have thoughts of signing on with SAF as officer after I ord....
For the BMT will it be conducted at OCS or at Tekong?
Just curious.... What will happen if 1 OOC? Back to CV or they will have alternatives for you? Never heard of OOC for regulars b4... (Was informed by Wuming abt it) -
BMT is at Tekong, unless you are a lady.Originally posted by Kel^83:Hi... I'm currently serving my NS with SCDF and I have thoughts of signing on with SAF as officer after I ord....
For the BMT will it be conducted at OCS or at Tekong?
Just curious.... What will happen if 1 OOC? Back to CV or they will have alternatives for you? Never heard of OOC for regulars b4... (Was informed by Wuming abt it)
if you sign on as an officer, but fail to get into OCS or is made OOC, your contract becomes void, and you will continue serving your NS liability. -
jus wanna ask, if a lady sign on as officer and she ooc, the contract is void right? But females dont have NS liability. so does it mean she has to cough up the lump sum to pay back saf?Originally posted by wuming78:BMT is at Tekong, unless you are a lady.
if you sign on as an officer, but fail to get into OCS or is made OOC, your contract becomes void, and you will continue serving your NS liability. -
hey, any1 knows how's the training for females like? for both bmt and ocs.. I'm thinking of signing on air force for wso (either c3 or uav). it'd be good if some1 can offer me advice on that too. Thanks!Originally posted by pandemonium:jus wanna ask, if a lady sign on as officer and she ooc, the contract is void right? But females dont have NS liability. so does it mean she has to cough up the lump sum to pay back saf?
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wow! the sky's the limit. good choice. all the bests.Originally posted by i_heart_icecream:hey, any1 knows how's the training for females like? for both bmt and ocs.. I'm thinking of signing on air force for wso (either c3 or uav). it'd be good if some1 can offer me advice on that too. Thanks!
at my time (1995), ladies still need to wear no.4 and run in it, carry rifle, go for range, bla bla bla...but dun think need to carry full pack. SBO yes. -
What? No FBO??Originally posted by Ah Cek:wow! the sky's the limit. good choice. all the bests.
at my time (1995), ladies still need to wear no.4 and run in it, carry rifle, go for range, bla bla bla...but dun think need to carry full pack. SBO yes.
Where's wocc? Wonder what's her take on this statement. -
For those thinking of putting their John Hancocks onto the paper as an officer, do consider it carefully. Life as an officer is not the bed of roses Army Recruiters make it all out to be.
The basic route of advancement for regular officers for the first few years are as follows:
1-2 years Unit PC/Coy 2IC
3-4 years Instructor/Staff appointment
1-2 years OC
The prerequisites of being handed an OC tour depends on you having a confidence badge. Higher priority for those who hold confidence badges over those without.
At times, you tend to think you've actually signed on as a firefighter instead of an army officer. Officers have alot of fires to fight especially those posted to Bn HQ and higher. Office politics is the call of the day when you have other senior officers scrutinizing your actions and trying to pick on your faults just so they can put their subordinates (same ranking officers as you) over you during ranking period prior to promotions. Be prepared to deal with paperwork, lots of it, from training programes to incident reports. It'll get much worse when you get posted to staff appointments.
I went down that road before so dun say I never warned you. -
my cousin, a regular offr, used to say that as long as you don't "do anything wrong, a saf career isnt tt bad". I had worked in another govt ministry where knives are supposed to strike and land where you dont see. i supp office politics are everywhere? But i really dont know how bad it is in saf.Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:For those thinking of putting their John Hancocks onto the paper as an officer, do consider it carefully. Life as an officer is not the bed of roses Army Recruiters make it all out to be.
The basic route of advancement for regular officers for the first few years are as follows:
1-2 years Unit PC/Coy 2IC
3-4 years Instructor/Staff appointment
1-2 years OC
The prerequisites of being handed an OC tour depends on you having a confidence badge. Higher priority for those who hold confidence badges over those without.
At times, you tend to think you've actually signed on as a firefighter instead of an army officer. Officers have alot of fires to fight especially those posted to Bn HQ and higher. Office politics is the call of the day when you have other senior officers scrutinizing your actions and trying to pick on your faults just so they can put their subordinates (same ranking officers as you) over you during ranking period prior to promotions. Be prepared to deal with paperwork, lots of it, from training programes to incident reports. It'll get much worse when you get posted to staff appointments.
I went down that road before so dun say I never warned you. -
hey all,
i am awaiting enlistment on apr 7 friday, and many of my friends have gone BMT in january batch this year and POPed already. some of them of course went OCS
we all think that OCS selection is very screwed up le. the people that got in OCS are either 2 kinds:
1. high-profile big-personality guys who were popular in JC. these guys are charismatic and have leadership qualities so of course deserve OCS.
2. quiet, useless super nerds who just mugged their way thru JC. they are the kind of schoolmates that you don't even know they exist until you see them in yearbook. no personality at all and not assertive, yet so many of them get into OCS... my friend and i last saturday were at jurong point and saw some new OCTs (many of them we know from school) booking out. so many of them were useless nerdy ppl we never thought can go OCS but there they are booking out of SAFTI!!!
and strangely there were no "average guys", the kind in between the popular guy and the super nerd.
last time i really wanted to be an officer, but i see the kind of ppl they take into OCS, don't feel like being officer already.
just a rant haha. anyone else have similar experience? -
relax pal,
just be the good officer you want to be. dun let what you saw affect your decision. -
ocs can watch wayang shows!Originally posted by wd1:hey all,
i am awaiting enlistment on apr 7 friday, and many of my friends have gone BMT in january batch this year and POPed already. some of them of course went OCS
we all think that OCS selection is very screwed up le. the people that got in OCS are either 2 kinds:
1. high-profile big-personality guys who were popular in JC. these guys are charismatic and have leadership qualities so of course deserve OCS.
2. quiet, useless super nerds who just mugged their way thru JC. they are the kind of schoolmates that you don't even know they exist until you see them in yearbook. no personality at all and not assertive, yet so many of them get into OCS... my friend and i last saturday were at jurong point and saw some new OCTs (many of them we know from school) booking out. so many of them were useless nerdy ppl we never thought can go OCS but there they are booking out of SAFTI!!!
and strangely there were no "average guys", the kind in between the popular guy and the super nerd.
last time i really wanted to be an officer, but i see the kind of ppl they take into OCS, don't feel like being officer already.
just a rant haha. anyone else have similar experience? -
Hi All! My maiden post!
I'm actually graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Economics at the end of the year (Dec '06) and will be back for my summer vacation this May-Aug. Should I go for my medical checkup during my summer vacation? Or should I wait till i graduate at the end of the year? Also, I've always wanted to be an officer since I was young, so I see that now the way to OCS is through SISPEC? Is that just a recent change? So does that mean staying in Tekong for a longer period of time?
Another thing with me is that I have high uric acid content in me which causes joint pains(not serious though), my doc did tell me that when I'm going for my medical, he would give me a letter to show the MO. Would that not automatically put me out of range for pes a/b? If so, should I just withhold the information? 'Cause my doctor said that it can be controlled by medication and after it reaches a certain level, I can stop with the medication. As of now, I've been on the medication for 3 years and I've been reducing the level of uric acid all these while and has already seen a decrease in dosage in my medication.
Also, I heard of the tear gas training? Is that true? If so, how is the tear gas training administered? Also, is it true that with a degree, it would be easier to get into OCS, of course if I were to perform admirably well at BMT as well? Or should i say SISPEC now? And if I were to graduate in Dec, then when would I most likely be enlisted?
P.S. I'm not one of those nerd who mug for school like the government scholars in my school..
Thanks for all your input in advance! -
Heh, I would like to think I am quite an average guy. Guess the selection criteria will remain a mystery for years to comeOriginally posted by wd1:hey all,
i am awaiting enlistment on apr 7 friday, and many of my friends have gone BMT in january batch this year and POPed already. some of them of course went OCS
we all think that OCS selection is very screwed up le. the people that got in OCS are either 2 kinds:
1. high-profile big-personality guys who were popular in JC. these guys are charismatic and have leadership qualities so of course deserve OCS.
2. quiet, useless super nerds who just mugged their way thru JC. they are the kind of schoolmates that you don't even know they exist until you see them in yearbook. no personality at all and not assertive, yet so many of them get into OCS... my friend and i last saturday were at jurong point and saw some new OCTs (many of them we know from school) booking out. so many of them were useless nerdy ppl we never thought can go OCS but there they are booking out of SAFTI!!!
and strangely there were no "average guys", the kind in between the popular guy and the super nerd.
last time i really wanted to be an officer, but i see the kind of ppl they take into OCS, don't feel like being officer already.
just a rant haha. anyone else have similar experience?
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wondering if pes Bp status can oso get into OCS
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If you lose enough weight and pass your IPPT, and do well for BMT pes Bp also can get into OCS.Originally posted by kenshin_himura:wondering if pes Bp status can oso get into OCS -
HEllo everyone! I'm new here! I am currently studying in SP. I would like to know how can I get into OCS as i am very keen to become an officer? I really want to get into OCS and than after that take a scholarship to study in the U and sign on after that. CAn any one teach me the tips and tricks to get in?
I would also like to ask, wad is the route of OCS for Guardsmen?
Besides that, lets say I gradutae from OCS in the Army, can I switch over to the Airforce when I sign on and retain my rank? -
if you wish to become an officer, you will have to do well during your BMT, both in terms of technical performance, and your relationship with your peers. they are looking for potential leaders you see.Originally posted by acwire_2125:HEllo everyone! I'm new here! I am currently studying in SP. I would like to know how can I get into OCS as i am very keen to become an officer? I really want to get into OCS and than after that take a scholarship to study in the U and sign on after that. CAn any one teach me the tips and tricks to get in?
I would also like to ask, wad is the route of OCS for Guardsmen?
Besides that, lets say I gradutae from OCS in the Army, can I switch over to the Airforce when I sign on and retain my rank?
i dont quite understand the sequence you stated though - to get to OCS, then get a scholarship (with who?) and then sign on.
a guards officer's training in OCS is no different from an infantry officer. the difference is the guards conversion course he has to go through after being commissioned.
and switching service, especially after you have commissioned, is tough, unless you have very strong reasons for it, and you prove to be extremely valuable to the service you wish to switch to. -
u make everything sound so easy. do u have what it takes to be an officer 1st?Originally posted by acwire_2125:HEllo everyone! I'm new here! I am currently studying in SP. I would like to know how can I get into OCS as i am very keen to become an officer? I really want to get into OCS and than after that take a scholarship to study in the U and sign on after that. CAn any one teach me the tips and tricks to get in?
I would also like to ask, wad is the route of OCS for Guardsmen?
Besides that, lets say I gradutae from OCS in the Army, can I switch over to the Airforce when I sign on and retain my rank?
1st of all, there's no tips and tricks on how to get into OCS. those who ask for tips and tricks are usually unworthy and don't deserve to be there in the 1st place.
secondly earning a scholarship isn't as easy as u think it is.
thirdly, u think u can saka saka choose army 1st, sian liao then go RSAF. u really need to change your mindset.
ok let me give u a few examples.
- u are a NSF, got selected for OCS and served your NS as an army officer. u ORD and decided to sign on as a RSAF officer. yes it's possible (depending on age, qualifications and other factors).
- u are a NSF, got selected for OCS and got selected to serve your NS as a RSAF officer. whether or not u want to sign on is to u.
- or u simply sign on straight as a RSAF officer before NS (depending on age, qualifications and other factors).
if u are thinking of signing on as an army officer then revocated to RSAF. just think of the training they need to train u. yes it's still possible but it gives me the impression u are not serious on what u want to do with your career, jump here jump there.
think through it carefully. -
What I want to do is:
I am a NSF, Get selected to go OCS, Guards or RSAF. During NS, Sign on for the SAS and get my free university education
. After Continue serving the country. If I get selected to go in GUARDS, can I then sign on as a RSAF Air Engineering Officer? I heard that recently, there is a change in policy, people must go through SISPEC first before going OCS, is it true? -
u get into OCS 1st then say liao. don't count chickens before they are hatched.Originally posted by acwire_2125:What I want to do is:
I am a NSF, Get selected to go OCS, Guards or RSAF. During NS, Sign on for the SAS and get my free university education . After Continue serving the country. If I get selected to go in GUARDS, can I then sign on as a RSAF Air Engineering Officer? I heard that recently, there is a change in policy, people must go through SISPEC first before going OCS, is it true? -
Thanks! If I can't go into OCS, then I sign on, that way,I heard, is the sure way to OCS. Is it?
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you must be a xiao didi who is very enthu to be enlisted into elite units is it?Originally posted by acwire_2125:What I want to do is:
I am a NSF, Get selected to go OCS, Guards or RSAF. During NS, Sign on for the SAS and get my free university education . After Continue serving the country. If I get selected to go in GUARDS, can I then sign on as a RSAF Air Engineering Officer? I heard that recently, there is a change in policy, people must go through SISPEC first before going OCS, is it true?