Scholarship and a career in the army?

jus-tea SG

Need some advice from our bros here. I'm a poly student currently studying business and i plan to further my studies to a degree. I've always thought of a career either in the army or the business world. I've since chanced upon the SAF academic scholarship. Would it enable me to rise in ranks quicker. and does the 6 years bond include NS? what if i apply for it after my ns? or would a life in the business world be better (pay-wise)?

A Big thanks Wink

the Bear SG

if you want to be a productive member of the community, anywhere except the army...

and i'm kinda serious about this...

as for "making it in the business world" after being a scholar in the army, you're going to be so mollycoddled there it'll take a strong mind to break out of the mindset.. in other words, you might pick up so many bad habits that you may be hamstrung for life..

and if you jump off into the deep end after coming out of the mollycoddling of the army, you'll be in for a rude awakening..

sad but true...

jus-tea SG

Hmm point taken. But the pay seems to be extremely well. wad’s life in there? boring?

SpecOps87 SG

I'm also taking biz and thinking of signing on leh. But alot of my seniors tell me not to.

Ah Gong SG

army is abt good pay

Marco_Simone SG

Don't be guilible and get fooled by all those "garang" stuff about special ops you get from books and the media.

Many people think it is very "garang" to sign on with SAF especially with "garang" units such as Commandos or Guards.

This is not Counterstrike or even Ghost Recon.

What you watch on Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan is nothing compared to the real thing.Kids of your age often after watching such "garang" war movies feel very motivated and wanna replicate the "garang" things they watched.

Think carefully.

Marco_Simone SG

If really wanna sign on,make sure you get a good degree. Coz you will stagnate all the way as an officer if you only have a poly dip.

Dont wanna be a wet blanket but unless your poly results are really superb-like top 5% every sem,you can forget about securing for any SAF academic scholarship. SAF scholarships are reserved for air levels people with S papers.The Local Study Award(LSA) is a more realistic option for you.

octega SG

My suggestion:-

Do ur best, get the best grades u can in poly but dun sign-on yet.

Then go into army, do BMT liao then make decision.

Reason is simple, a job in SAF is NOT EQUAL to the commercial u see on TV. Experience the BMT first, if u fit into the army dude persona then go ahead sign on! If u do ur BMT liao but u are still a business man mentality then sign-on is definately a big no-no.

DUN become my friends, being psycho by the recruitment talk, action, money, etc, etc then sign-on for 10 years then found out they are not army material then KPKB. Y? sign-on liao black and white, army is not something u cannot suka suka quit one, got penalties one.

So be wise, experience first then decide.

saline SG

even better, sign on after u have experienced unit life. cos BMT/SISPEC/OCS is pretty much sheltered from the reality of the SAF.
we are talking about 6 yrs of ur life here. remember; when u get out of the army, u have almost ZERO industry work experience.
anyway, how many ppl actually encourage u to sign on? think this is a good indicator of how "good" the SAF is, rite? Wink

feel free to ask us questions.

cheers,

SpecOps87 SG

Nah, fiction and reality are two distinct things. I'm interested and passionate about being a soldier, but career wise, I'm still apprehensive. Just wondering, does it make alot of difference if you are commissioned lets say in Sandhurst or West Point instead of locally?

Diehard_89 SG

what are the criteria for SAF scholarship?

I am in JC thinking of getting a SAF scholarship but need leadership roles

I only got good leadership role in secondary school ncc then other than that in JC I am only a member of track Laughing

LazerLordz SG

Sign on only if you love the military as a profession. Nothing else.

Marco_Simone SG

Go CLEAR YOUR BMT first and GET QUALIFIED FOR OCS before you think of Annapolis or Colorado Springs

Rolling Eyes

kwlee SG

Laughing

SpecOps87 SG

It was just a question...I believed at some point of time or another, you have dreams of being a career soldier.

saline SG

all was dashed after serving NS.... so u say leh?

LazerLordz SG

Laughing well, he said the truth. It's harsh as always.

Sandhurst and West Point are not place names tossed about..the annual quota from Singapore is about 1. That's less than the great ol'REMF orgy that the scholars get up to in the Ivy League.

browniebaobao SG

there are too many business diploma holders out there.

simi business world.. unless u do ur own business... if not, a business diploma wun make u rich.

if u have financial prob furthering ur studies, i would encourage u to take up the scholarship.

6 yrs bond also means iron rice bowl. earn enough liao, after that then venture on ur own.

but then, i have nv been in NS, so I can't comment on the NS life or understand how much sufferings u guys will go thru. hee.

Marco_Simone SG

Ya,when I was about primary 5,I thought about all this:

I wanted to join SEAL Team 6 and learn from Dick Marcinko

Once in 6,I wanted to take part in a top secret direct action joint op against Iran with Delta Force supported by Rangers and TF160.

I wanted to do exchange programs with GSG-9,BBE,GROM,ESI,GIGN,JTF-2,707th Bn to further my skills.

After a stint in the military,I quit and set up my own security firm.I will only hire ex-special forces dudes.

And I live happily ever after...

larrenV2.003 SG

That one depends on luck & how smart are u to carry things out in camp... Mr. Green