Hi everybody, so I'm kinda new to this forum, so pardon any
rules or guidelines i may broach. The terms and conditions were
rather long and arduous :)
So i guess the body of this text is summarized in the title:
What is NS all about? Some background info to put you guys into
prespective.
NS was put in place almost immediately after Singapore was
suddenly kicked out of Malaysia as a result of a failed
attempt by a small group of political extremists
- labelled by LKY as the Ultras in UMNO - to
forcibly capture Singapore, by moving two battalions
of the Royal Malay Regiment stationed in Johor - in an
attempted coup de'tat to seize Singapore
political leaders and the entire island.
The attempt was aborted when news of the attempted move
was leaked, and the then UK PM Harold Wilson warned the
Malaysian PM - then Tunku Abdul Rahman - that if such an event
should take place, UK will be inclined to withdraw its military
force that was protecting Malaysia against the Indonesian
Konfrontasi military campaign.
The primary role of NS was surely for the defense of Singapore -
and no country can afford to depend on another country for one's
own defense.
This was the hard lesson learnt during WW-2 - when British
General C. Percival decided to surrender without putting up any
further resistance as he had assumed that the Japanese force
was more superior in numbers and had the upper hand.
After the war, it was discovered that the UK and Commonwealth
Military Force defending Singapore had outnumbered the
Japanese by nearly 3 to 1 - when most Military Strategist
will state that it will require an overwhelming
attacking force ratio to overcome a well prepared defense.
It was the shrewd gamble that Japanese General Yamashita played
that won him the prize of capturing Singapore with a smaller
force.
History aside - NS will surely help
one to prepare to face any challenges in life, as
well as to find out where is the level of physical and mental
endurance and how each will respond to situations.
The training that you receive will benefit you anywhere in the
world even if you are not the 'Rambo' type - especially when
you can adapt what you have learnt during NS into
real life practice.
NS will surely make you self-reliant, alert, and concious
to situations and events around you, and certainly make
you aware about the security for yourself and your family - as
some Singaporeans had remarked when they encountered disasters
during their work or travel overseas.
I'm a [other country citizen~ i'm paranoid :)] Singaporean, who
left Singapore when i was 11 1/2 yrs (havnt been back in Singapore
for a while), so i'm obliged to return and complete NS (just came
to terms with that). I've currently finished my 3rd yr in
university, and am going in to do my ippt this dec. Heard that it
takes 6 months for MINDEF to process it before you get posted into
BMT, which i hope to get into the July intake.
The IPPT test that you will be taking in December is to allow
MINDEF to assess your physical status, and to allow them to decide
if you are grossly overweight or below the fitness level that
will require you to be first sent to "special training" before
serious military training begins at BMT.
This special Pre-NS training can be for a
period from 3 to 6 months and depends on your present physical
status.
So i suppose my priority concern is with the ippt. I was
wondering if anybody reading has ever ran in the Washington,
America (im not from there, but similar) climate compared to the
Singaporean. I'm doing my 2.4km right now in 9min, but i heard that
running in Singapore is like death, so what should i aim for? Not
too worried about the other tests, except for the standing broad
jump. Gold's like 242cm? How do you train for that?! I'm jumping at
like 220cm right now...
How tough the weather can be for you will depend on
the time of the year that training is conducted.
The hot, humid and dry months in Singapore are
between April through August; while the cooler wet months are
usually from November through February. The remaining months
can be similarly hot and humid in varying degrees.
The hottest months in New York city will be close to the climate
in Singapore in terms of the dry heat, and although the humidity
level in Washington during summer may not be as high as in
Singapore, it can be very uncomfortable when you have to
emerge from cool spring and then going into cool autmn then
into extreme cold winter.
It is easier to adapt to the heat and humidity in Singapore when
you are perspiring most of the time anyway - especially when
undergoing vigorous SAF training.
Secondly, i was wondering if anybody can confirm this; after
bmt, can MINDEF post you into the civil defense or the police
force? I thought BMT was a military training course, so shouldnt
everbody end up in the military? And if so, how do you stay in the
military? I mean, in terms of honour and glory, obviously the
military's the way to go ;)... just kidding.
MINDEF will post you into SCDF or the Police Force - if the
leadership positions need to be filled, as much as it depend
on your medical status and educational records to determine
which organisation can benefit from your abilities.
During the preliminary interview - you will be asked about your
attitude and preference for which organisation, and the reasons for
your preference.
Your views will be weighed with the physical and
psychological tests that you will be put through during this
preliminary call-up at the Central Manpower Base (CMPB).
Also, what are the requirements to get into OCS? My dad, way
back from the 50's, was a platoon commander for the guards, and he
said that if you had a degree, its like a guaranteed pathway to
officers training. Is this true?
In regards, I've heard that people get posted to the different
sections of the army based on their degree choice. So, if im in
premed, does that mean that there is no chance of getting into the
OCS because they will post me to be a medical soldier? I don't
really want to be a med officers bitch...
Thanks in advance,
why is every name taken
One thing for sure, you can believe in your dad - If ever you
get selected to OCS - believe in it as a challenge to yourself.
Take the challenge of the leadership role if you believe
that you can be better then those who are assigned to lead you
when you first get involved with NS.
If you do make the mark by graduating OCS, measure your
opinion again about the leader that you think you can be better,
and appreciate him for having given you the inspiration
to be one.
Being a graduate does not automatically qualify you for OCS
- as much will depend on your performance during BMT, as well as
with your physical and mental status in your ability to
endure military training.
If you are entering NS after successfully graduating in
Medicine, you can still opt for the combat vocation, as some had
done - which resulted in a happier and successful fast
track career. Some have even opted to temporarily drop
out of medicine after qualifying to be a fighter pilot,
and returned to specialised in "aviation medicine".
