Serving NS - 2 years or 2 1/2 ?

Drakken SG

From reading this section in the forum, i seem to get the impression that almost EVERYONE here serves 2 1/2 years. Isn't there anyone that actually serves only 2 years? I am an O level holder and hoping to apply for a dimploma course once i get out of national service. The extra 1/2 a year will mean i have to wait one damn year until the next application. So my question is - is there anyway i can ensure i will only serve 2 years and not 2 1/2. Also if anyone in here actually only serves 2 years please give me some feedbacks so i know it is actually possible . Much appreciated.

Btw, i am aware that dimploma and A level holders are supposed to serve 2 1/2 years anyway. And that O - level holders only need serve 2 years but i will assume that SAF love to hold people back from their ORD and that maybe choosing a wrong choice or being posted to a wrong unit or camp or something will result in them gleefully adding 1/2 a year to your service? This is where i am totally clueless so i need answers please! Thanks.

jacobs SG

Originally posted by Drakken:
From reading this section in the forum, i seem to get the impression that almost [b]EVERYONE here serves 2 1/2 years. Isn't there anyone that actually serves only 2 years? I am an O level holder and hoping to apply for a dimploma course once i get out of national service. The extra 1/2 a year will mean i have to wait one damn year until the next application. So my question is - is there anyway i can ensure i will only serve 2 years and not 2 1/2. Also if anyone in here actually only serves 2 years please give me some feedbacks so i know it is actually possible . Much appreciated.

Btw, i am aware that dimploma and A level holders are supposed to serve 2 1/2 years anyway. And that O - level holders only need serve 2 years but i will assume that SAF love to hold people back from their ORD and that maybe choosing a wrong choice or being posted to a wrong unit or camp or something will result in them gleefully adding 1/2 a year to your service? This is where i am totally clueless so i need answers please! Thanks.[/b]

Sometimes, by vocation, you will have to serve 2 and half yrs eventhough if your educational level requires only 2 yrs. Example Commandos and police.

wuming78 SG

the norm

highest rank attained: CPL and above => 2.5 yrs (2 yrs 4 mths if no PTP)
highest rank attained: LCP and below => 2 yrs.

usually they would promote O level and above highest eduational qualification attained to CPL. hence the almost always true equation tt O and Dip and above = 2.5 yrs.

Drakken SG

Can i reject the promotion though? I would rather remain as Private or LCP than serve the extra 1/2 a year because of the diploma application reason i stated. I heard you can reject promotions but just not too aware of the consequences in doing so Wink

wuming78 SG

no u cannot reject a promotion.

tranquilice SG

If i'm not wrong, O and N level qualification is 2 years only. Highest rank is LCP.

s|nNeD SG

yup i agree with you... but then again... sometimes things do go wrong...

|-|05| SG

Well…dun worry almost all the people i know who spend 2 years in NS started their terms in Feb-May and end around that time just in time to get into Poly

BrUtUs SG

heard b4 tat 3 ‘O’ level enuff to make u stay liao…

LoVeMeLoVeMenOt SG

Hmmmm I only 'N' level so I serve only 2yrs of Army...but I do have a private Dip but heng ahhh not recongise by goverment Razz

BrUtUs SG

u got declare?

Drakken SG

3 O level passes do ya mean? Even how many passes you have in O got determine how long you stay meh? Confused

ditzy SG

If you’re ‘o’ levels, most prob you get 2 years up to the rank of LCP. If they love you and decide to give u a CPL minimum, then erm you know the rest.

Drakken SG

Oh i see. How come wuming78 said in the above post almost all O levels serve 2 1/2 years because they confirm (almost) become CPL ? I know this is kinda of premature to ask at this stage but as it is pretty important to me i need to clear the doubts. What rank did // do most of the O - Levels holders you see reach, guys? PTE? LCP? or CP ? I know there are bound to be case by case difference. But i am saying GENERALLY what are most of the O level holders' ranks when they get out from army and again GENERALLY do most O level holders come out in 2 years? Thanks for the help! Much appreciated Cool

wuming78 SG

Originally posted by Drakken:

Oh i see. How come wuming78 said in the above post [b]almost all O levels serve 2 1/2 years because they confirm (almost) become CPL ? I know this is kinda of premature to ask at this stage but as it is pretty important to me i need to clear the doubts. What rank did // do most of the O - Levels holders you see reach, guys? PTE? LCP? or CP ? I know there are bound to be case by case difference. But i am saying GENERALLY what are most of the O level holders' ranks when they get out from army and again GENERALLY do most O level holders come out in 2 years? Thanks for the help! Much appreciated Cool [/b]

ok lah.. perhaps i overtly "optimistic" (or pessimistic, depending on how u look at it Cool )

i cant rem if its O level or more than tt tt is the "cut-off" point. den i cant rem if its 3 O 5 O wat not. the ppl i haf came across either haf N level and ITE, or Dip and above. so no personal experience to recall.

sorrie for the dose of misinformation. Mr. Green

ditzy SG

Well, i was diploma batch. Stayed 2 and 1/2 with 3sg rank. My men who were serving 2 years were all o and n levels and below. Their max rank was LCP and rare local CPL but still 2 years.

I-like-flings(m) SG

the important thing is..

1) u dun do too many chin up in BMT or else sure go sispec....(my fren N level only. but cos he do more than 20 chin up. pc love him alot and post him to sispec lor..

2) once u posted to your unit, u must not take cover and kena mark, and around maybe 6 month your ORD pls go talk to your PC or CSM see who more frenly.. then tell them your future plan about poly and hint to them die die dun promote u..

3) guai guai dun find trouble.. low profile ok... and hope u got an understanding OC lor..

nothing is confirm in army one lah. alot of by left by right.. i know of a case.. this guy got promoted to CPL 1 day b4 he was suppose to ORD... haha so have to stay 6 mth more.. why?? coz dun have the right connection lor make ppl not happy lor...

so good luck to u lah

Ole SG

they can’t promote u 1 day before u ord one, if any promotion need to be 3 months before ord one, at least that what i heard.

ditzy SG

That guy so poor thing, no more leave to clear, go back camp and found out he got promoted b4 he ORD the day after? Wow, now thats rare. S1, DYS1, and CC of that guy's unit must be really 'capable'.

Unsung_Hero SG

Serve your time well, do your 20 chin ups if you can and be proud of your service.

If you are promoted above LCP and have to serve 2.5 years you can request to defer the last six months and go do your studies on time. Finish studies then serve remaining 6 months, or serve them during school hols. You could use those 6 months to find a job, and bob's your uncle.

At least you used to be able to, dun think this policy has changed.