Well, imho, Taiwan
should just scrap its NS. 4 months is just simply not sufficient to
train an effective conscript army. In fact, I still strongly
support our 2 year NS. Maybe it would even be better if it were
alittle longer.
After reading through
all the posts, I do feel that our NS has certain flaws. The most
pressing is that those who did not serve in combat vocations may
not truely understand why 2 years of NS is required.
I am from a combat
vocation, one that lacks the glory of CDO or Guards, but I
understand my importance and the role I play. I know I am not
cannon fodder as many of you like to term it as.
Starting with BMT.
BMT, honestly is NOT where boys turn into men. Its where boys learn
to adjust and come to terms with what is to come in the next 2
years. Here, 90% of the time is spent on PT, with one goal in mind,
to pass their IPPT and introduce SOC. Where fat or soft boys gain
some muscle and physical endurance to proceed with further
training. The 5 day field camp and sit test is just introductory.
Honestly, I'd be afraid to place Singapore's hopes in these boys,
they've just only learnt to protect themselves.
I think its because
of BMT that many of our boys (mostly non-combat) do not understand
the rational for the 2 years. Especially PES C and below who are
usually posted to become clerks and logistic personell, who are
very important, but are usually thrown into mundane office drudgery
right after their basic training. I am not implying that all clerks
do not understand the need of 2 years. Just that if its the case,
I'd like to explain why from a combat vocation point of view and
what was missing out from the NS experience. Although I've also
heard and come to respect several of my PES C friends contributions
in their NS too, cool higher tech stuff than I did.
Thing is, if you
asked any combat guy, infantry, guards, cbt engineers... Was their
NS slack for the first say, 15 months? I doubt any of their ans
will be yes. BMT is chalet compared to what ever that comes next.
In BMT a normal private who passes out will have the skills to
defend himself, and only himself. In the many months to come, from
where I came from, we were taught to work as a section and then
platoon, to gain that immense bond and teamwork, then came company
level training and finally to the battalion level. I can assure you
that these intense training cannot be taught in 4 months. The
number of field camps is just blinding and I wasn't even from a
prestigious unit. Who care if you could operate a rifle, or saw,
whats really important is platoon and coy level training, where a
group of young men train to be efficient soldiers by working
together. I'm sure many Singaporeans who served will agree with me
on this.
Maybe people who do
special missions are of a different breed where they are train to
go solo. Whereby they can wrestle a european in a knifefight which
ends by slowly melting a knife into the enemy's chest. Well for me
as one of the more common fighting citizen soldier of singapore, I
can say a single soldier who has broke contact with his section or
platoon is more or less a gonner. I am no one without my platoon
and section. But I believe together with them, we can and will
defend Singapore successfully. And thus I truely believe 2 years
should and must stay to ensure that the soldier has the necessary
skills to work effectively as a fighting force. Time used to teach,
train and test them and finally field them as op ready men. Not as
weak individuals but as strong and steadfast teams of Singaporean
men.
I guess this is what
most clerical staff may be missing out on. I have to admit, going
through the field camps was... horrible to say the least. But at
least you weren't doing it alone. But I guess, its only though the
rigourous and unrelenting training that we will understand that
proper soldiers do not get trained overnight or 4 months. Because,
honestly, it ain't easy being one.
And as for regulars.
Well, lets be fair. Certain units require regulars, but certainly
reservists have done well in the past too. Israle for one has shown
that with sufficient training, a citizen force can be more potent
than a regular one. As from my personal experience, regulars didn't
look like rambo, nor were they very powderful killing machines.
Most would look just like your friendly uncle at your hdb kopitiam
on a sunday morning. Baring certain elite regular-only units, most
other regulars are there to pass on knowledge and experience to
ensure smooth operation of the SAF as the main staple of the force-
the NSFs are rotated through their traing regimes year after year.
Having a fully regular force is expensive and does not mean a
better force. So why not employ regulars in key positions while the
mainstay be comprised of the citizen force? What we are doing
now.
And please, droids.
Gosh. Lets talk about droids when the first one manages to scale
mount everest on its own power. Nothing replaces boots on the
ground becase we can hold the ground anywhere in any terrain under
bad weather, all weather. Something my encik said that I will never
forget.
Talk about team work, I remember the days when we had bridging
exercise, NOBODY report sick!!! That is what I can be proud of for
my company.
And now we old friends meet, there is only talk, with pride
about how we went through the difficult training together, nobody
dare to say they tuang, the one not involved in any tough exercises
would usually sit and listen.