Tekan SAF NS slaves for 32 years and then he, himself kena
screwed by SAF.
ST Forum > Story
Nov 6, 2007
Warrant officer asked to retire 5 years earlier
I WAS a regular serviceman in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). I
served a total of 32 years, comprising full-time national service,
reservist and regular service, from 1974-2006.
I was one of more than 200 regular servicemen and women in the Army
who were notified in May last year that we would be given Special
Early Transition. Some of the reasons cited included difficulty in
offering us 'suitable jobs' in the long run, restructuring and
possible 'stagnation'. We were given only six months to
transit.
Having attained the rank of a warrant officer in 2001, it meant
that I was able to serve till the compulsory retirement age (CRA)
of 55. I transitted last November after just turning 50, five years
short of the CRA.
The Control of Personnel Centre announced that we were not
under-performers. I was still PES 'B' and I received my performance
bonuses annually without fail. I had also met all other
requirements, i.e., Individual Physical Proficiency Tests, Annual
Trainfire Programme, Body Mass Index, and Annual Proficiency
Knowledge Test.
I also did not have any discipline or medical problems. The latter
meant that I was still combat fit and still deployable. There are
some who have not conformed to one or more of these requirements
and yet are still serving in the organisation.
Till today, I am still somewhat in a state of depression at how the
organisation had overlooked all my years of loyal and dedicated
service.
The SAF Management Philosophy states:
'The SAF is concerned with the well-being of its people and their
families, the SAF values its people, looks after them and their
families so that they can give wholehearted attention to their
assigned duties.'
The Defence Minister himself said last year:
'Every soldier is precious to us. Every national serviceman, every
operationally ready national serviceman, every regular who serves
with us is a precious and valuable person.'
The organisation failed to honour its word to allow me and many
others to serve till the CRA of 55. I have a wife and two young
children still attending school.
Second Warrant Officer (Retired)
Henry Minjoot
