Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: NS and Officer Pillay
From: slam@eve.wright.edu (Sau Chun Lam)
Date: 6 Apr 92 10:21:06 EST
Organization: Wright State University

In article <uTNRiB1w164w@temasek.uucp> harish@temasek.uucp (Harish Pillay) writes:
>zlim@bnr.ca (Zack Lim) writes:
>
>  [stuff about the bad taste of Reservist duties]
>
>I'm a reservist Officer and I beg to differ. If what you said is for real,
>you, assuming a non-commissioned officer, have all the rights and 
>opportunities to complain against your officer.  Being in the reserves, gives 
>you even more options to lodge a protest/complaint.
>
>> I used to have an officer who used to pull rank with me by making me 
>> clean his rifle, (more like an office boy type of job).
>
>If the above did happen, was it because of something you did - you've not
>told the whole story?  I'm, however, not disputing your story.  If it is 
>indeed true, and the officer did act unjustifiably he needs to be reprimanded.

Ok! Sure! He made a mistake and the officer involved, decided
to make him clean his rifle. That was convenient enough wasn't it. If
that was supposed to be punsihment it sure as heck was not instructive
or constructive. Let us not deny it. There is a class distinction within
the military itself, NS and otherwise because that is the very nature of
the military. And if you think that trying to seek redress is an option
think about it again Officer Pillay. The system itself is designed to 
discourage any one from seeking redress. Why don't you try on the boots 
of a Private, GD man or some no name no authority NCO and see what is like!

>[Now, don't give me the excuse that it is not worth the time etc.  If you are
>sincerely pissed off, you should seek proper redress.  If not, hold your
>peace.]

Even if we were to attempt to seek redress what is going to come of it?
If your OC and higher ups ignore it what can you do, petition your
Brigadier General. Ha! Ha! Ha! You are an Officer. Do you know of the
experiences of the people under you?

>> I feel that if the government do not want to make
>> use of my skill but rather have me charge around 
>> the hill and bushes like a mad dog or become an office
>> boy every year, wasting tax payers money, which I hated,
>> I have to do something about it.  There is no way out
>> except to immigrate which is what I did.  
>
>I did my full-time service in the Police.  Following ROD, I did about 5 yrs
>of reserve service in the Police which, for an Reservist Inspector, is a real
>waste of time.  After that I was transferred to CD and had to disrupt for
>about 6 years.  After my return to Singapore last year, the CD requested 
>me to update my particulars.  On reviewing my qualifications, training and 
>experience, they *called* me up asking if I'd consider being posted to a comms 
>department.  I was very surprised that they bothered to call me and ask if I 
>would approve of my transfer.  I did accept for I felt that since they think
>that I can be useful somewhere that uses my skills, it would be worth my
>time.  Since I must do reservist, I might as well do something I like and 
>spend my time fruitfully for after all it is something that I pay taxes for 
>anyway.

You are an Officer by training and therefore you were evaluated IMO by
your previous status. You, my dear Officer Pillay, are the creme de la
creme, the pick of the crop, etc, etc. For everyone of you, there are at
least 10 other privates, LCPLs and CPLs that are not evaluated. Show me
otherwise and I will withdraw my argument. 

>I do recognize that not all persons get opportunities as I did, but that
>no way implies that individuals should not try.

The CD *requested* you for a information update. You did not go to them
to petition for a change in your Reservist duties. So who or what branch
of Mindef should we approach to file our petitions for assignment
changes in Reservist duties?

>In your case, if you felt that your skills were not used, you should bring it
>to the attention of your officers or relevant authorities.  I'm sure that
>they'll try to accomodate you.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! You know what those officers will tell you. They will
tell you not to dream!

>Instead of bitching and moaning about doing reservist duties, one should try
>to use that time positively and productively.

Like what? Swat mosquitoes and wonder where your next shit-hole is going
to be dug. From my experience in NS, forget about being imaginative or
even give constructive suggestions. Officers will tell you that they
know best! So we go to our assigned fox-hole and bitch and moan. What do
you expect us to do? Mutiny?

>When I was in Pre U 2, I had a teacher whose life philosophy made an
>impression on me.  He (who is a Rhodes scholar), said this about NS:
>
>"NS is the rule of the land.  You've got two choices.  One to say that you do 
>not agree perform NS where by you have the choice of leaving the country after
>surrendering your citizenship or two, go do NS and do the best you can.  If
>you cannot beat them, join them.  If you do anything, do it to the best of
>your ability, no matter how much you dislike it."

Soemtimes the best of your abilities is unfortunately not up to the
"standard" somebody else requires. Worse still, if your mentality and
opinions differ from those with power and authority. That could really
cause you some severe pain and suffering. My opinion about NS is to 
basically throw your mind away for 3 years and be a robot. Don't even 
think in a logical manner cos' **IT DON'T PAY NONE TO BE SMART**!!!!!!

>It was with that frame of mind that I went on to serve my NS and subsequently
>my reservist duties.

Good for you Officer Pillay!

>I do not believe in war - no matter what; nothing can ever justify war. 
>Cultivation of friends should be the cornerstone of my country's foreign 
>policy.   To a large extent, I'm glad that Singapore seems to be following 
>that path.

I understand the philosphy of "talk softly but carry a big stick"! So
everybody in SEA arms themselves to the teeth and puts themselves on the
leading edge of early warning and first strike capabilities. Tell me,
doesn't that bring us closer to war accidental and otherwise????????

Didn't the Cuban missile scare teach us anything?? If the history of the
Cold War and the practice of detente did not teach us anything then I'm
sorry to say that while the West has stepped away from nuclear conflict
SEA has taken a step forward in creating a possibility of involving the
superpowers in a regional conflict of unknown consequences.

>NS, IMHO, serves to remind Singaporeans that the prosperity they enjoy comes
>with a premium.  Just like paying insurance premiums, we pay as prosperity
>premium, our sweat, time and effort spent doing full-time NS and then
>reservist duties.

I have no objections if your argument for NS is such but tell me. How
many NS and Reservist personnel have good memories of their service
stint? How many really felt that their service made a difference to
their country and society? How many have felt that they were appreciated
for their service to their country? How many actually felt that because
of our obligations to the nation we were being mistreated or unfairly
treated? How many have experienced the class distinction between a
regular and NS personnel? Equal rank but unequal treatment!

Put them through NS but treat them well and use them to the best of their
skills and abilities. Don't put up sideshows only when their parents, 
family and friends visit. We all know that the courteous treatment, 
care and palatable food ends when the last civilian walks out the gate
of the camp. Such hypocrisy stinks! Of course, officers have the
officers mess. Who wants to mix around with riff-raff!

>> Reservist sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough said.

I have not done a single Reservist stint yet so I cannot comment on this
yet.

>I've always looked forward to reservists duties for it was a break from work
>and a total change of scenery.  Above all, it is a time to renew old and make
>new friendships.  'nuff said.

The initial pleasure would be to renew old acquaintainces but that would
not last too long I'm afraid. We would be spending the rest of it
wondering what all this Reservist stuff really means. Are we really
serving a need or is it all a very unfunny and cruel practical joke?

>
>Enjoy.

While I'm here in the US, that is........

>
>--
>Harish Pillay                harish%temasek.uucp@cs.orst.edu
>Bukit Purmei, Singapore.     harish@ece.orst.edu


"No name" CPL SC "Bad Attitude" Lam - slam@eve.wright.edu