Like I said, it depends on your rank, vocation, camp,
unit.
Of course, being at lower rank, it will be disadvantage because you
are more likely to kena more duties. That is why ppl take part-time
ususally when they are 2SG and above (sorry for not mentioning this
earlier). This is about 3 to 5 years into the service. Usually, as
you progress up the ladder, your duties reduce, for example, the
warrant officers in my unit kena only duty officer and only do 2
times per month.
Furthermore, your camp and unit places a part because not all units
or camp kena extra duties. For example, my active unit last time
are not included into guard duties for the whole camp because our
unit's manpower is already severely limited with most men (below
3SG rank) are PES C9 or E.
I mentioned from what I observed in NTU that part-timers are
usually from Navy and air-force ususally from service/tech
vocations due to more stable timing. There are also ppl from the
police force also.
I want to stress that it is not impossible to do part-time (or else
I will not be seeing ppl doing part-time in NTU liao) but your
timing during your tour of service must fit into the schedule. Of
course, you may lose lessons to duties but you got your part-timer
frens to help you also wat. Because the part-timers are few so the
community is more cohesive.
The only whining I hear from them is studying is getting "sibei
boring & sian" because it is a 5 year course, they only
graduate next year while I graduate this year.
