Frankly, I can't comprehend the combat applicants' mindset too.
Technical or logistics, yes. (Same goes for the other service
branches & the paramilitary organizations.)
But with combat, I guess it has more to do with the immortality
sentiments among the youthful, although today's generation also
conceivably (pun) consists of some ex-"army brats". Perhaps they
have prior romantic notions of the SAF as like the US Marine Corps
or French Foreign Legion too. (If so, the more astute should aim to
sign on with local elite forces -- any branch -- cuz the ethos they
seek does exist with those small & professional units.)
As long as we're in peacetime -- & prospering -- the military
remains an attractive career choice, particularly for officers or
those well-qualified, with guaranteed job security, material
benefits & the chance to recycle on later with GIC companies if
they stick it out.
Yes, the first 6 years tend to be backbreaking with the operational
demands at the BN level. But, thereafter, life does become more of
an office-hours routine as you get promoted, posted on to the BDE
or DIV or Formation HQ level, & can delegate down. That's the
usual hierarchy structure of any military organization, what.
The other complaint mentioned in your post -- which IMO is the main
alienating factor -- is the bureaucracy nature of the SAF, which
isn't surprising since we aren't on a war footing. As such, it also
partly operates as an mammoth administration bureau like any
government agency, with the same propensity for organizational
structures, red tape & office politics. Except it can be more
regimented, being military. The combat-inclined regulars must live
with the system, or quit altogether.
