It comes.
In local context, Singapore-wise, we have a few bloggers who are faced with the inevitability of conscription due to the fact that it is mandatory that all 18 year old Singapore males are required to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces for a period of time. They lament about their reluctance as their new destination seems like a dark whirlpool of uncertainty.
And on the other hand, there are those who have been discharged from regular service who talk about their feelings towards NS. Maybe there are others who have also written something about Our Army but I have only stumbled across the posts of Panther and Tjhan.
Panther states that rank is nothing but a fragile illusion and hierarchy does not exist for NSFs (referring to the boys who are not part of the regular force). While this is true in a certain sense, I do not really find this a flaw that really concerns the NSFs. NS can really be fruitful if one learns the ways of social dynamics and if he is capable of using the time to reflect on his life. European students usually take a gap year before entering university, and NS can be considered as our ‘Gap Year’. And back to social dynamics, that is exactly what is to be the most valuable skill one can ever acquire- managing relationships. I bring this fact into the light and which is that we did not join the armed forces, we were conscripted. You can put me in the uniform but you cannot put the uniform in me. After all the innoculation of pride as a sergeant, I came to realise that it did not really matter and I cared more about getting along with people without the consideration of rank as long as the job is done. Respect is earned and not obtained through ‘commanders’ training’. That is why social dynamics are so important, and prove to be useful when you enter the working society or if you move on to university afterwards.
And WTF Tjhan, anime should be one of your regrets in the army. You cannot possibly classify it with those other things that you had picked up like photography! Well… Learning web-designing and improving your writing are mostly due to anime but then… shrugs. How did I end up becoming an anime fan? Credit goes to some due who decided to share a portion of his anime stash with me. Guess what. He is LianYL’s elder brother. I am such a pretentious oxymoron. Someone stick a ‘Fag’ sign on my back please.
To those who are entering NS:
- Slacking is not really a good idea. You can do a lot of things during those 2 years. There is a saying in my university and that is ‘if you do not find something, then you are not looking hard enough’. There is definitely skills to learn and lessons to experience. I got more matured and became a connoisseur of japanese animated boobies. What is it going to be for you?
- If you have a strong resolution of going to command school, try to go easy on it. It is a bit unrealistic to have such a goal the moment you set foot onto Tekong. Basic Military Training is all about discovering yourself, your flaws and your strengths. Not that I am discouraging those with aspirations to don the chevrons or to become an officer but I beseech to those who are about to walk the path that I did to use their time in BMT as a moment of self realisation rather than be fixated on working to be the ‘best’ of the recruits. It is only through reflection would you be able to mould those aspects that are required as a junior leader.
- Command school is overrated. It is not a definite way to have a ‘fulfilling ns experience’. As mentioned in the previous statement, it is all about improving yourself on the inside. And besides, the happiest NSFs that I have seen are usually the normal soldiers. Analogously, it is similar to how a good GDP does not equate to the happiness of a country. Some officers and sergeants may have the rank but they are unhappy about the work assigned to them. You can be a normal soldier and still be a fine man.
- Wisdom tooth removal is a useful way of obtaining MC.
- A lot of learning can be done if soldiers used the time spent to fap over FHM and Maxim magazines to do something productive.
- PLEASE DO NOT GO TO CLUBS AFTER BOOK OUT. Imagine a group of boys with awkward haircuts and dressed with ugly polo t-shirts and jeans swarming a club. It is a horrible sight to behold.
- If you have an ‘ang moh’ accent like I do. Drop it. You will be constantly subjected to mockery. My nickname was the ‘BBC’. In Rome, do as the Romans do.
9 Comments
September 10, 2008 at 11:15 pm
So apparently what my life (and social skills) lack is some good old time in the military?
September 11, 2008 at 12:36 am
Shit, long post that I must break up, bear with me.
“NS can really be fruitful if one learns the ways of social dynamics and if he is capable of using the time to reflect on his life.”
True. It is whether or not you intend to do it that matters though. I look at it as something that many pass over, like they tend to think “Ok 9 more months to ORD, don’t think about it just get over it” and they hardly think about other matters in the end. I mean, look at daily chats in NS while you were in it. Usually, they were trivial matters. Only towards the end of NS were you looking forward to long-term prospects.
“European students usually take a gap year before entering university, and NS can be considered as our ‘Gap Year’”
Maybe for the elite of the elite, ie. PES E clerks. I hardly consider it a good gap year if all you do (if you get into most of the normal vocations) is rot.
“And back to social dynamics, that is exactly what is to be the most valuable skill one can ever acquire- managing relationships. I bring this fact into the light and which is that we did not join the armed forces, we were conscripted. You can put me in the uniform but you cannot put the uniform in me.
QFFT, last part. In NS you get a first glimpse, if you have not already, of the sick and sad world of politics you will face in the world outside. It is time to learn first-hand about some sad truths of human nature, boys (and girls if you ever go in).
“Respect is earned and not obtained through ‘commanders’ training’. That is why social dynamics are so important, and prove to be useful when you enter the working society or if you move on to university afterwards.”
Again, QFFT. The commanders who do not realize that respect is earned through trust and relationships have a long way to go as actual leaders.
Wisdom tooth removal is a useful way of obtaining MC.
Use it towards the end of your NS.
September 11, 2008 at 7:48 am
“Wisdom tooth removal is a useful way of obtaining MC.”
True, that. Removal of one pair can get you up to two weeks of MC, so its best to remove it one pair at a time. That can get you up to 4 weeks of MC, and that’s a whole mouth out.
“Respect is earned and not obtained through ‘commanders’ training’. That is why social dynamics are so important, and prove to be useful when you enter the working society or if you move on to university afterwards.”
Like Panther said, respect is earned. Rank really does not play a part when you are an NSF. I joke around with my sergeants and officers all the time. However, there are those who abuse the power given to them. If you are under that kind of officers, then good luck to you.
“A lot of learning can be done if soldiers used the time spent to fap over FHM and Maxim magazines to do something productive.”
This is especially true, even more so if you are in a position where you can learn skills that you can carry with you. For example, lets say that you picked up working on servers during your NS days. If you’re any good at it, you can even get a job with it. Some of my ORD-ed friends currently hold places at companies where they basically do the same thing they have been doing in their NS times – that is, configure servers.
“Command school is overrated.”
Only good thing about it is the pay you get. And even then, that’s not much.
September 11, 2008 at 10:23 am
Haha, true true. People keep telling me I eat too much kangtang (potatoes). And it doesn’t help that my chinese is terrible, so I usually reply to people in english. Furthermore, I’m from a mostly poly batch, so I stick out even more. But still, I have my accent; can’t really get rid of it.
What you said about earning respect, and not using your rank is probably the biggest lesson I’ve learnt so far in NS. Wished I had learnt it faster…my first few weeks as a commander were painful.
September 11, 2008 at 7:56 pm
I am 20. T_T And luckily, there’s a plug-in in my head that enables me to turn teh BBC thing on and off.. There’s also a CCTV version of it. So, no problems with the way i speak la. Add in a few la and hor, should be able to blend in, hor?
September 11, 2008 at 9:18 pm
you took a fuckin 3 years gap dumb ass…
September 12, 2008 at 12:19 pm
@issa-sa
Not really. With every path you walk, you miss out on the experiences that another path would offer. I believe you are maturing in ways that the Army would never do to us.
Seriously. What is your gender? :p
@Panther
In regards to the ‘gap year’ that we are all subjected to, I guess we can only make the best out of whatever is possible.
@Stifler
Knock it down!
@bakavic
Time is the remedy to eroding away that accent of yours.
@TinyRedMan
I have faith that you will be a cool dude in the Army. Well that is based on my experience, because I find poly graduates more likable than those from jc since they tend to have a certain maturity in them. Hor.
@P-Meister
I am now a sage in appreciating anime boobies. It is all about opportunity cost my friend.
September 14, 2008 at 10:07 am
YES sergeant!
seems like lots of posts on army in the local anime blogosphere. quite a few are conscripted this week. including me. well sort of…
September 29, 2008 at 12:12 pm
ah, yes. being a ‘man’ has it’s perks.
OC/PC/CSM: Oi XXX, why [insert saikang here] still not done?! why so #$@#$!!??!
man: eh, dunno ah, ask sergeant. (¬ . ¬)
sergeant: *mumbles nabeh
oh yeah, and we still got to drive.