tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post7007267485821116035..comments2024-03-16T15:49:59.567+08:00Comments on Senang Diri: GCE A Level Exams: Pivotal period for young Singaporean students and SAF Scholar aspirantsDavid Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-32563381770377635642011-10-25T22:27:39.893+08:002011-10-25T22:27:39.893+08:00There will always be hierarchies and people needed...There will always be hierarchies and people needed to be sorted according to their abilities. I only ask for the system to be equitable and reflective of real merits. But the halo effect is too real and deterministic. Once you get into that band, you're almost set for life.西北怪狼https://www.blogger.com/profile/11802702781300517553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-85290253064150616352011-10-16T17:08:14.701+08:002011-10-16T17:08:14.701+08:00Reverence for academic over vocational achievement...Reverence for academic over vocational achievement is a social phenomena not just peculiar to the SAF. This is not going to change until society as a whole have a major mindset change.<br /><br />The British Military used to draw it officer ranks from high society but unlike the SAF its commanders have had battle experience. The US military too also have a tendency to draw from certain pool for their officer corps but most are what I call battle harden. Here I need to qualify the term 'battle harden'; it does not only mean proven in combat. It also means having both political (i.e. ability to grasp political issues), diplomatic (i.e. resolve conflict without battle) and leadership (i.e. ability to lead and inspire men) in a field of conflict.<br /><br />The SAF generals are peculiar in that it, unlike its US and British counter pats, don't have the (or a significant) problem of having to "fight' -- loose term -- with their political masters or their peers for funding or establishment of units. <br /><br />The SAF Generals, with rare exceptions, don't have to deal with diplomacy under operational and really trying conditions. For example, a US General in Afganistan has to use his diplomatic charm to hold often factious coalition forces together and not to mentioned his own forces charismatic leaders under his charge (e.g Eisenhower had to deal with Montgomery and Patton in WWII). <br /><br />With a lack of combat opportunities (i.e. as opposed to exercise or peacekeeping), the SAF is unlikely to have the opportunity to have pool of people identify leaders that are battle harden. For example, the Aussie Army ex COA Peter Cosgrove had fought in Vietnam as a junior officer. He then rose to become a Battalion commander. As a flag officer he was the commander of the peacekeeping force in East Timor during the 'combat' phase.<br /><br />Is it any wonder why the SAF would fall back to the Singaporean mindset of academic over vocational experience?<br /><br />I suppose the fact that SAF only draw from the 'academic' pool is not so much a problem if all that is required is administrative leadership. The real danger is should a crisis were to occur will its current corp of leadership be able to cope? <br /><br />Or worst still, if this corp of leadership fail, will they stand in the way of real talent coming to the fore. For example, Eisenhower held a relative junior rank for most of his military career until the start of the war. Although he held no command position but when the times calls for a general with great diplomatic skill he was promoted to the top job and he lived up to that believe. Will the SAF during times of crisis be able to spot appropriate talent or just revert to SOP mindset?<br /><br />I guess we won't know until the crisis come.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-90975845232883948502011-10-16T13:44:13.901+08:002011-10-16T13:44:13.901+08:00Most important is whether these scholars cab relat...Most important is whether these scholars cab relate to and emphatize with the soldier on the ground who has to brave the bullets and not be an armchair strategist. Pointless scoring a string of As and studying at an Ivy League University on a SAFOS if you can't fulfill that above. You'll just be sending your and OUR troops to their deaths and lower their morale.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-57488284264733372312011-10-16T09:18:40.826+08:002011-10-16T09:18:40.826+08:00Dear All,
Here's a synopsis of the report cite...Dear All,<br />Here's a synopsis of the report cited in the comment above.<br /><br />ChannelNewsAsia story titled : Preferential treatment during National Service?<br />Date : 15 October 2011 2156 hrs<br />Synopsis: Next week's Parliament sitting will discuss the disruption from National Service by President Tony Tan's son, Patrick. The question was filed by the Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence, Dr Lim Wee Kiak.<br />*End of synopsis*<br /><br /><br />I'd like to know whether Patrick Tan's disruption window was unprecedented. <br /><br />If not, how many others, for what reasons and when were the disruptions granted?<br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br /><br />DavidDavid Boeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-17037343316224684262011-10-15T22:55:35.136+08:002011-10-15T22:55:35.136+08:00David, stuff to watch.
http://www.channelnewsasia...David, stuff to watch.<br /><br />http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159639/1/.html<br /><br />http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1159633/1/.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-3852486771579628632011-10-15T16:42:23.660+08:002011-10-15T16:42:23.660+08:00when i was in the army, the "farmer" 2IC...when i was in the army, the "farmer" 2IC of our brigade was widely respected, acknowledged as the real "field commander" while the actual bge (scholar)cmdr was "ceremonial". The general feeling was the 2IC was there to take charge if anything really happened.<br />The 2IC later left to join FAS.<br /><br />In my unit, the farmer CO had great respect from the rank and file, the scholar 2IC (who later took over as CO) was compared unfavorably after assuming command.<br />The farmer CO later left to join the pte sector. <br /><br />During my reservist, training officers related how "promotion" war games were conducted such that scholars will win, such that some farmer counterparts became very vocal about the purpose of the excercises. <br /><br />Its no secret that many farmers left the SAF. So the scholar system is really a joke, combat arms should not be judged by a soldiers A levels... or any school cert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com