The issue of Ex-SAF hotshots sitting pretty in GLCs

binZ SG

Neutral

anonymouscoward SG

Unfortunately, scholars cannot fend for themselves without the government's help. Their so-called experience is irrelevant to the private industry and if the government doesn't step in, do you honestly believe that anyone will give them a management position??

Those who work their way up and has tonnes of experiences, on the other hand, should be the ones who doesn't have to worry about getting a job and is the least concern of the government. The government, has an obligation to continue to provide for those who has given a large part of their lives to public service.

Frankly speaking, most of the scholars regret their decision. Compared to their classmates of the same "calibre", they are earning much less than what they could have/ should have. That... is the opportunity cost they give up and is what is government is compensating them for by giving them a position after their retirement from SAF.

Put yourself in their shoes.. how would you feel? Give a third of your life earning a slightly above average pay and abandon/lost at the age of 45??

You may say that it is not fair to those who slog day and night. But hey, wake up. Life is never fair. Who do you think the government should protect? Those who serve the country and those that do not. And on that point. I think the scholars deserves the perks and earned them fair and square.

Medicated Oil SG

No denial on the academic brain of all the army scholars that retired early and joined the GLC.

The true fact is that they have been in a closed-structure system for 25 years.

So, they will bring their military style management style to the corporate world.

They manage the GLCs like a camp.

Their lack of corporate shrewdness have enable GLCs in surviving mainly in Singapore.

GLCs need true business warriors, not army-protected babies.

charlize SG

Ok, so now you are saying that govt scholars are useless and need govt assistance to help them achieve high positions, salaries and perks regardless of whether they are suitably qualified.

This is the concept of meritocracy? Laughing

Salman SG

How can they not be smart and hardworking and be a schorlar in the first place?
Do you think they get promoted solely on their degrees?

charlize SG

Yes. Laughing

Salman SG

Then you are wrong.

LazerLordz SG

High amount of academic ability, wrong field to apply it to.Nuff said.

Salman SG

How do you know? Justify what you said.

charlize SG

Tell you also you won't believe. Laughing

Salman SG

Try me man.
How we know what you said is true?

anonymouscoward SG

Nope. What they face are not uncommon to non-civil servants... suppose you're employee in a big semiconductor MNC, serving 20 years, and you work your way up to be a manager earning $180k per annum. Suddenly, the semiconductor industry takes a dip and you find that you're out of job. No other semiconductor will employee you and other company wouldn't pay you that kind of money or make you an manager since you do not have relevant experience and you're too old to start all over.. what next?

Surely, you don't expect our scholars to be driving taxis??

Also, I think the comment that they run GLC like a close system is pretty narrow minded and sterotyping. Most of the scholars I know are very sharp.. too sharp and smart.

Granted that there are some bookworm types scholars but these are the ones that usually do not make it to the top.

charlize SG

So which is which now?

You say that:

"Unfortunately, scholars cannot fend for themselves without the government's help. Their so-called experience is irrelevant to the private industry and if the government doesn't step in, do you honestly believe that anyone will give them a management position??"

And then you say that:

"Most of the scholars I know are very sharp.. too sharp and smart."

Laughing

BillyBong SG

Is not taxi-driving an honest job? Is driving a taxi degrading to a scholar?

Should our scholars be given special privilege simply for being a 'scholar'?

Why should they be afforded special status and spoon-fed a job when they get 'retrenched'? They should be sourcing it out just like the average joe.

Are you suggesting that the 'aristocrats' cannot fend for themselves? What then the common man? How often does a scholar lose his job compared to the average singaporean?

Isn't this another indication of the unfair weightage towards the supposedly 'cream of the crop'?

mistyblue SG

elites and their friends bend all the rules to protect themselves. This happen in all countries.

SilverPal SG

In the army, yes.

A very capable diploma holder will find it almost impossible to be a full Col.

A mediocre (not too bad, but not very outstanding either) degree holder with 2nd upper honours will reach full Col with a half hearted effort.

I talked to a few high ranking officers when I was in NS. No, I cannot tell you who they are. Wink

BillyBong SG

To put scholars in perspective, the majority are extremely pleased with having a career roadmap pre-planned for them, to have mentors hold their hand and guide them literally all the way.

Should we then blame their presumed inability to 'fend for themselves' on the govt scholarship system? Aren't they supposed to be the brightest, smartest cream of creams?

If these people cannot manage their own careers, what chance do the average singaporeans who incidently 'slob day and night' have?

Compared to these 'hotshots' who study on taxpayer's money and then work in the SAF, the average singaporean is probably stuck paying off study loans in the early stage of his/her working life.

The scholar is definitely entitled to his/her govt job 'fair and square'. It's when their contract ends that puzzles many singaporeans.

Why offer a post-retirement package to these aging warhorses that basically puts them into leading stat boards, where they sit out a comfortable live earning a big fat pay when it should have gone to a genuine contender?

What 'obligation' is the govt required to give to these ex-SAF people who have completed their public service at the age of 45? Isn't the reward of a straight path to the top coupled with a generous pay package and plenty of 'perks' sufficient? How many singaporeans get to climb such a rosy stepladder or smell the annual salary of these 'hotshots'?

And incidently, what kind of public service are they rendering by continuing in stat boards that put profit above service?

With the private sector always pegging salary and bonus per annum packages to payouts by the govt sector, how is it remotely possible in Singapore for a scholar to be earning less than the private sector?

Won't the govt have already considered the need for competitive rates to commensurate those in private enterprises or expect a mass exodus of scholars to the private sector? Isn't that why Philip Yeo detests scholars who 'break bonds'?

Retiring at the age of 45 from SAF should mean nothing to these 'hotshots' who should be wily enough to venture out on their own devoid of the govt's support. If they have nothing planned for themselves come 45, then are they truly deserving of a prestigious SAF scholarship in the first place?

SilverPal SG

Its a fallacy to think that after 45, our top SAF officers are going to starve to death. They all get a huge sum of money (is it called graduity?) as a retirement benefit.

I think its well earned, but the cushy job they are given after that? Can we show that it is well earned?

anonymouscoward SG

Well.. you don't hire a person and give him senior position just because he is sharp and smart. Neither do you offer a scholar a cushy after-SAF job just because he is a scholar..

What I've been saying is that

1) The government only help those who has really proven themselves to be capable with a job in GLC.

2) The government has to help them or nobody will want to take up a scholar if it means jobless at 45.

3) The government needs to help them no because they are incapable but rather the harsh fact of life is that most private companies will not give them a senior position comparable to their previous post.

charlize SG

You are contradicting yourself again.

If they are proven "capable" people, why does the government need to "help them" by giving them a cushy job in a GLC after 45?

If they are truly capable, would the private sector pay them even more than what the govrnment can pay them and give them senior positions since private companies are seeking talented and capable people to generate profits for the company? Laughing

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