SAF policy dictates that all NS men must undergo FFI
(fit-for-fitness) examination by SAF medical doctors from age of 35
years onwards. This examination is done every 2 years (from the age
of 35). If this examination is not carried out, the NS man is not
allowed to take his yearly IPPT (which must be completed before the
NS mans next date of birth for that year).
I got my first FFI examination at age 35. However, last year (when
I was 37 years old), I did not get any call-up letter to go for
FFI. After making many unsuccessful calls to the camp unit (between
August 2003 and March 2004), I managed to get through to three
clerical staff on three occasions. On these occasions, I was
prompted to leave my handphone number and the staff promised to get
back to me. But they never did.
Subsequently, I booked with SAFRA Toa Payoh to take my IPPT on May
4th 2004 (my birth date was May 7th). However, one week before the
IPPT, SAFRA staff was nice enough to call, pointing out that there
was no need for me to appear for IPPT; as without FFI examination,
I will not be allowed to take my IPPT.
Somehow, miraculously, my SAF unit then sent a letter, requesting I
report back to camp for my FFI (this was done in mid-May
2004).
I went for the FFI and reported to the admin staff about the missed
IPPT test. Despite all explanations, the unit staff said I would
still be sent a letter stating that I had gone AWOL (from IPPT) and
that I will be charged. I was told to sign up for RT (remedial
training) in mid-June.
The letter came early June 2004, stating I was to report back to
camp in full uniform on June 16th 2004.
On the day itself, I was made to take orders (get charged). I then
explained the whole situation. The admin clerk then admitted that
my medical docket was lost during transfer between units (I
transitted from active NS battalion to PDF). As a result, I was not
called up for FFI last year. They also mentioned such things had
happened before. They also stated that the unit had encountered
power blackouts before. So phones and faxes breakdowns had happened
before.
The unit also goes to field exercises. When this happens, admin
staff are kept at a minimal. So it becomes very difficult to reach
people over the phone.
I also requested that I be allowed to take my IPPT before having to
go for RT (after all, all this happened through no fault of mine).
But I was told that I cannot cancel my RT training. RT training
comprises of two session peer week for four consecutive
weeks.
The officer apologized and removed my charges. I sent an email to
MINDEF feedback, complaining about this whole matter. All I got was
a standard, pre-canned letter about MINDEF putting up more measures
in place that will facilitate better communications between NS men
and their units, etc. (see attached email).
I asked for an email address from the unit and was given an
officers email address. I raised objections, saying that if the
officer quits the Army (or ORD), his emails will not be read. The
answer given was the officer is a regular and will be around for a
long time. ALL MINDEF personnel at some point in time will have to
retire or quit of their accord. Such a nonchalant answer smacks of
attitudes that betray their laziness, ingrained mindset of the
typical public servant that nothing should be changed. Take it or
leave it attitude.
I have several questions over this whole episode :
a) It seems that there are no system / process linkage between
SAFRA (or units that carry out IPPT tests) and the actual SAF units
(where NS man reports to). Once an NS man misses his IPPT, some
backend system automatically prints out letters, charging NS men
with AWOL. When I reported back to the unit to answer my charges,
it was plain clear the officer was different from the one who sent
out the AWOL letter. This officer taking the charged orders also
did not seemed aware of the situation at all.
What it means is NS men are inconvenienced. They have to appear in
person (in FULL uniform) to explain their case. This means
re-scheduling important meetings, jobs in their civilian jobs, just
to answer a charge to young, NSF officers who does not seem to have
done any investigation homework. The SAF seems to operate on the
mode that it is always right and that NS men must be skiving when
they missed IPPT. The onus is on NS man to explain their
case.
b) If an NS man did not take his IPPT (with valid reasons), why
must he still be made to report for RT, especially through no fault
of his. RT training (for Phase I) involves appearing for 3 hour
sessions twice a week for four consecutive weeks. This
inconveniences NS man who are working longer hours at work. If we
are not working late hours, we are trying to spend quality time
with families and children.
The SAF is still practicing outmoded, high-handed and unreasonable
policies. NSF officers and clerical staff do not bend General
Orders that are set in the 70s.
The onus is on NS man to try ways and means to notify their units
of exceptional circumstances. Units do not provide any asynchronous
means to allow NS men to contact them more appropriately (eg.
through emails). Emails will allow officers to track that requests
has been submitted to their units even when their staff are not
around to handle these requests. MINDEFs standard response to my
feedback was that they are in the midst of implementing the email
mechanism. I have heard of this so-called implementation 2 years
ago when I was doing In-camp training.
With all these IT outsourcing trends happening, MINDEF is still
taking a long time implementing systems.
MINDEF has provided a lot of automation and conveniences for IPPT,
conducting mass mobilization exercises, etc. But when it comes to
providing feedback and facilitating communications between NS men
and their units, this is sorely lacking. After all, the most
frequent communications happening is between the NS man and his
unit and less between MINDEF and the NS man. Are MINDEF policy
makers focusing on the wrong thing?
c) On the few occasions I went back to the unit, I could see NSF
clerks reading the newspaper, playing Solitaire on Windows PC. Are
our NSF boys being taught responsibly to take their jobs seriously?
Do they realize that their mistakes can create havoc for NS men and
disrupt their lives, schedules?
Is MINDEF and the SAF educating their staff over mindset changes?
The Government is always exhorting Singaporeans to think
critically, think out of the box. I think its better to focus these
attempts on public servants first.
d) Are units really prone to frequent power outages? My previous NS
unit and MINDEF (I still have the email from the Warrant Officer
explaining this to me) also gave similar reasons that their phones
and faxes were not working at the time when I tried to notify them
that I had to travel overseas and could not perform mobilization
duties. My guess is this has been a frequent overused excuse used
by units to explain their lapses in carrying our their duties. What
is MINDEF doing about all these unplanned outages? Wouldnt it be
a golden opportunity for terrorists if they learn about these
frequent power outages at SAF units?
e) All Army combat units participate in yearly review of
operational readiness. The annual best combat unit competition is
judged on several parameters, one of which is IPPT scores. Units
with high IPPT passing rates stand better chances of selection. Are
young, aspirant Unit Commanding Officers (who are looking for
promotion) pushing for near-perfect IPPT scores at all expenses
(even if they had to inconvenience NS men, mete out unreasonable
punishments)? I think MINDEF should review the negative
implications that these competitions and their policies have on our
lives.
NS men play the roles of husbands and fathers (who soldier family
responsibilities), economic producers (struggling with the
increasing competition), tax payers (supporting MINDEF), citizens
(who support the country). Yet, it is such injustice,
inconveniences, unnecessary penalties that sometimes makes me
wonder : why does a PR strive to be a citizen? Are citizens really
better off than PRs?
