Paramilitary Unit in SG

duajia SG

no. yours is the modern ncc. he was talking about ncc much much much long ago. the lee enfield package was phased out in 1993.

specfore SG

I have met Huxley before at a seminar. I believe much of his sources are not official. A lot is based on observation of our society and the SAF from an outside viewpoint. Hence, there is some element of speculation on his part. He did admit to the seminar audience that his books draws some from conversation with the "man in the street" who has either NS or reservist experience, and some ex-regulars. At the ground level, his facts are good.

This thing about NCC cadets is a pretty obvious guess. During an all-out war, any person in uniform (young or old) is going to be drafted in to help. Whether it be air raid wardens, despatch rider, first aider ..... this is part of what TOTAL DEFENCE is all about.

aerozapper SG

Firstly, the modern NCC was never designed to be a fighting force in any sense and I pray there never comes a day when Singapore will be in such desperation that Cadets must be called up.

But with it's 104 years of history the NCC has contributed much to this country and on two desperate occasions, cadets have been called up for duty.

History Lesson:
Historical Call-Ups
World War II:
Cadets from the various School Cadet Corps [now incorporated into the NCC], were chanelled into the Singapore Volunteer Corps (Now part of the People's Defense Force), to fight the Japanese.

Indonesian Komfrontasi: The Confrontation with Indonesia
For those unfamiliar with this historical event, during Singapore's years in Malaysia as well as the period just after our independence, Indonesia waged a limited conflict against Malaysia and Singapore. As part of this conflict, Indonesian commandos were sent into Singapore as well as parts of Malaysia.

After several bombings in Singapore itself, where Indon forces bombed the targets such as the Ambassador Hotel and MacDonald House (along Orchard Rd), many Singaporeans were trained in Civil Defence procedures and the Singapore Volunteer Corps (SVC), Vigilante Corps (VC) were called up to assist our only 2 units at the time, the 1st & 2nd Singapore Infantry Regiments.

In addition to these, senior members of the Cadet Corps and teacher officers were allowed to join the fledgling SAF in a special scheme. These were largely deployed to assist in guarding civilian structures against Indon attack (Similar to what NSmen are doing at Jurong Island & Changi Airport since the War on Terrorism started).

Non-Conflict Assistance
Officers of the Army Cadet Corps, Singapore Air Training Corps (SATC) and Sea Training Corps (all incorporated into NCC) were attached to the then Ministry of Interior & Defence (MID). Due to a shortage of trained manpower, the fledgling SAF turned to these British-trained officers for assistance as their was a distinct shortage of educated personnel in the new force. Many soldiers barely had secondary education at that time and educated Volunteer Officers (not all Corps officers were teachers at the time) were in demand.

Members of the Air Training Corps also played a role in the formation of the Air Force as many held private pilots licenses (No YFC back then either).

aerozapper SG

Sorry for long post, I joined the Corps in secondary school and had a good run. While the Corps may not be what is used to be and many cadets these days are immature in their thinking, it is unfair to assume all cadets past and present bear the same standard. A few black sheep shouldn't be allowed to spoil the flock that has produced many a success story including all three service chiefs and the Defence Minister himself.

Personally, I hate these very public pieces of nonsense from cadets who dream about an "NCC fighting force" but don't bother to read their own Core Values and Pledge which they swore to observe and uphold. But please keep in mind that at the end of the day, the majority of those in the Corps are students (mostly kids below 16 years of age)

lwflee SG

Errm - i believe you got it wrong. Its more like the majority cannot make it rather than the other way around.

Before the mid 90s, NCC training was on par with military trg in terms of physical exertion and discipline.

Eg. in the mid 90s, it was common to be subjected to 400+ pushups in the course of each trg session. The push ups were done on the hot tar road under the blistering afternoon sun; the pushups also varied from diamond to knuckle to the std pushups. The cadets were also subjected to punishment like "touch the backgate and come back", ranger jumps, change parades and the like.

In terms of discipline, cadets were expected to jump to every command, however absurd. I remember when 20+ cadets were told to squeeze into a toilet cubilcle as punishment! I also remember instances where cadets were awoken at night for PT!

Now, it would be difficult to get the cadets just to shut up! The change is amazing!

ken_nerve SG

Please lor.. now if teachers in charge or CLT make the cadets do push up on the hot tar road parents start to complain. Nowadays some schools even ban practices such as push ups on hot tar road, running in afternoon sun and other petty stuff due to the endless complaints from parents.

Johnston SG

In an age where schoolgirls get "traumatised" from hearing a word which they use a lot online and in school, and where Principals are dimissed for tapping student's head with a thin book... not to forget the book tearing video incident...

Makes you wonder where we're going.

Anyway, 2 years ago not even our most sadistic instructor made us push up on hot tar.
Smile

patriot SG

There seems to be a misunderstanding of the term "paramilitary." "Para" may be simplistically translated as "like" or "similar to." Thus, generally speaking, a paramilitary organisation is simply one that is modelled after an established military organisation or bears attribute resemblance to it.

NCC is a paramilitary in that sense. Not in the sense that it will be called upon to fight a war together with the SAF.

palmerised SG

what we need is a well regulated, paramilitary organisation that works along govermental forces.. Mr. Green

like for eg, www.awrm.org

LazerLordz SG

Dude.It's a school.Not a boot camp.When the distinction is blurred, society will suffer in the long run.

MunnaBhai_MBBS SG

NCC are bunch of [email protected]#

FiReDuKe SG

It takes a possie to noe a bunch of possies....

baer SG

Hmm trying to recall where I learnt; that in times of conflict the NCC will be demob immediately and all 'weapons and equipment' returned to SAF. This is to avoid contravene geneva conventions on use of 'child soliders'.

Scouts were used in UK and Singapore during WWII b/cos they are considered 'youth movements' like the YMCA, Red-Cross/St John's and Boys/Girls bridgade (church movement). During the Second WW in UK, the UK equal of the NCC (name escapes me) were immediately disbanded b/cos above concerns.

In reality - Para-miltary organizations are more like armed bands linked to political parties or religious organizations. They are a dime a dozen in Indonesia etc. Such para-miltary units include the Bre-Mob (Police reserve), Force Ankarta (local militia) are oftern armed, discplined on military lines and uniformed. These guys can be as tough as our guardsmen without the sophisticated armoury.

tvdog SG

hahaha, NCC "paramilitary"... goes to show that Tim Huxley is a foreigner and he shouldn't ever have attempted to write a book about Singapore's defence.

He based his entire book on facts and figures - and propaganda - that was fed to him or through his own research.

What he lacked when writing this book was in depth understanding. He made Singapore out to be a super military power while making the Malaysians and Indonesians look like boy scouts.

He forgets that the Indonesians especially, are experienced, ruthless and battle-hardened soldiers.

SouLRaideR SG

ncc is in this state is not bcoz the cadets are weak..but bcoz of the way the society works..BMT now is not as tough as it use to..i can seriously tell you that if CLTs are given the authority they used to have..NCC will not b wat it is now..the situtation it is in is bcoz of parents who are pampering their children and not bcoz the organisation is weak..so pls do not look down on NCC..

anyway..i've been through SAF courses where i c officers and even scholars who behave juz like ncc cadets..

LazerLordz SG

What the hell gives a mere CLT the authority he thinks he deserves?Punks all of them.Have they served a single day of NS?No.So they should learn to shut up and realise that this is not their private fiefdom.No professionalism at all.Gee.

SouLRaideR SG

no offence..but some officer and sergeant are younger than the CLTs and serving NS does not necessary means that they are any better..CLTs have not served any day of NS not bcoz the dun wan to..but bcoz they are still persuing their studies..

n when i say giving them authority does not mean doing anything they wan..but giving authority to train up their cadets like wat the gd old NCC used to..its bcoz of parents of todae who complains and complains that coz NCC to b wat it is todae..and the SAF also facing the same thing..so pls do not juz laugh at NCC everytime it is mentioned..do gif it due recognition that its cadets has earned swords of honours in OCS and silver boynets in SISPEC...

Drain-V- SG

Hmmm...Silver Bayonets? You haven't served, have you? Wink

The problem in general is not because of the lack of power of the CLTs but the generation that we're having nowadays...

This includes the CLT/SCLTs as well...Period..

LazerLordz SG

One big distinction,when you are in NS, you are a legitimate combatant under the Geneva Convention.You are trained to kill or as a force that supports and replensihes those that kill.NCC authority is used to knock down people who straddle the fine line between military-like organisations with civilian members.CLTs who can get things done get my respect, but not those who think they own the parade square.Those days are gone, get with it.

SouLRaideR SG

tt wat i'm trying to say..and qoutes like above is doing disservice to those who had served well...so watch how u put ur words

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