Hello, p4rad0x. Welcome to the brotherhood ~lol~ Oldtimer here.
I've tried to qualify my responses where applicable, having
finished my NS & reservist commitments in 1988 & 2001
respectively. But the basic rationale behind NS "composition"
remains the same as old, even though we're sorta in a transition
phrase right now. (To refresh, 2004 saw the reduction of NS to a
standardized 2 yrs, as well as the implementation of a 5-day
workwork. 2006 saw the commencement of the transformation to a
so-called 3G SAF. The first batches who served under these measures
have only just entered the reservist ranks, at best.)
You also left some important details out of your profile, so I'm
assuming your overseas education ended in Grade 12 (i.e no diploma)
& that your current age is 17 (at least). Note too that you may
end up doing your NS in the SPF (Police) or SCDF (Civil Defense)
too, something which this SAF forum doesn't cover in topic
scope.
1. When I report back to Singapore, and go for my Medical
check-up, when will my entry date in NS most likely be?
Officially, at the first opportunity once you turn 18. (Yes, you
can apply for early enlistment, under the VEES scheme. Look for the
applicable form at the NS portal site.) Keep in mind that Tekong
traditionally recruits their BMT intakes in quarterly clusters;
hence its December/March & the June/September batches are known
as "A-Level" & "Polytechnic" batches respectively.
In my time, about 40% of enlistable personnel would head to Tekong
first, earmarked as future junior commanders or combat-support
troops. The other 60% were posted to either SBMT (future
combat-service troops), to the unit itself ("mono-intakers "), or
to the SPF or SCDF. Assuming you're enlisting based on your HS
qualifications, methinks there's a chance you may do your BMT in
either of the latter three routes instead. Be nosy & see what
PES medical status you obtain during your medical checkup; it won't
confirm anything but can nonetheless logically exclude you from
certain deployments.
I suspect today there's a higher percentage of Tekong recruits,
since the old SBMT has been remodelled & re-sited to the island
itself.
2. After getting my Medical check-up will I still be able to
return to Hong kong?
Yes, you can. But, at the same time, you'll be subject to
stricter exit-control measures, esp. pertaining to passport
validity, exit permit & parental bond (bank guarantee). Details
here http://www.wwlegal.com/Article450.html
3. Any tips for someone who has never lived in Singapore but is
a Singaporean Citizen? I think Im going to have problems adjusting
and fitting in,
With NS itself, you should be able to get by as long as you can
speak English. The de facto "working" language, esp. down in the
combat unit itself, tends to be Hokkien, although the lingo has
become more & more adulterated with the passing of time (plus
better-educated troops). Singlish, in other words.
Still, non-Hokkien speakers like the Malays & Indians were
ultimately able to pick basics of the dialect even in my time, so I
don't foresee any problem here. Instead, I sense your biggest
hurdle with communication will likely be with the drill commands
(which are in Malay). Google around for the various such lists
posted online by school uniformed groups, so as to familiarize
yourself with the pronunciations.
4. While serving NS will I have any free time apart from
Weekends?
Depends on where you're posted. But, other than BMT, you can get
nights off whenever there's no training or duties scheduled. If you
"burn" a weekend due to field exercise or something, then you're
owed a "off-in-lieu" & can take (mostly ordered to take) the
day off once the training timetable permits so.
1. If I am entered into NS this year, 2007, will my projected
date of completion be 2009?
No need to project. Just mark out 2 calendar years after your
date of enlistment, then sing (to the tune of It's a long way to
Tipperary): "Only X days to my O-R-D / only X days to go / Only X
days to my O-R-D / To the sweetest day I know / Goodbye my Platoon
PC / Farewell R-S-M / Only X more days to my O-R-D / Then y'll can
kiss my a$$" ~lol~
I believe you can disrupt early for tiertary studies, though. They
used to have a minimum-time served (24 months for those serving 2.5
yrs) before one can apply -- no sure what's the policy now, since
everyone's serving 2 yrs. The other guideline was that one could
disrupt one week (local vasities) or two weeks (overseas vasities)
before his new school-term began, over & above the minimum time
served.
Whatever it is, it's assessed on an individual basis, after one
applies through the unit. (Note that "to disrupt" & "to defer"
means different things in NS.)
2. What is the difference between stay-in camp vocations and
out?
Not so much vocations, but more the unit one's posted to. In
operational outfits, even rear-echelon personnel like storemen or
clerks must reside in camp (together with the combat troops).
Stay-in basically means you can go for nights off during weekdays
whenever there's nothing officially on, but must report back again
before midnight (2359 hrs). The majority of conscripts will
stay-in. Those who stay-out can leave after office hours, usually
6pm after last parade (where the next day's routine orders are read
out & any other instructions also passed down). But the commute
to & from home can be expensive & a grind, if you live far
away.
3. When I am serving in National service, will I be able to
leave the country during weekends or holidays?
Yes, but unlikely. NS is full-time duty, after all. The first
six months or so (3 months BMT, 3 months vocation training) is
pretty regimented for almost everyone, longer if posted to do a
leadership course too at SISPEC (6 months of NCO/vocational
training) or OCS (10 months of officer/vocational training).
Thereafter, those who're in ops-ready units or in training schools
tend to have their entitled leave & days off tightly
controlled, totally dependent on organizational needs.
To travel to, say, Malaysia for the weekend, a full-time NSF must
still tell his unit his whereabouts prior too. (Used to need an
exit permit to go overseas for 24-plus hrs, but that was in the old
days.) It doesn't mean a blanket ban, however, unless he's doing
mob manning & is a key personnel. By all means, take advantage
of a long weekend to fly to HK; just keep your immediate commanders
informed & then return promptly. If it's any consolation,
reservists are subjected to this obligation too.
