Anybody affect? Will be brought forward? Start only in 2010

[Hishercar]

Retirement age of SAF officers to be raised from 45 to 50

By Jeremy Koh/Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 May 2009 1712 hrs

 

 

Photos 1 of 1

 

Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

 

 

 

 

SINGAPORE : The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has announced several new and enhanced career schemes for its personnel.

 

These include raising the retirement age of SAF officers and a new military domain expert scheme (MDES).

 

The retirement age for SAF officers will be raised from 45 to 50.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said this will ensure their leadership abilities and experience are retained.

 

He announced the changes during a visit to Sembawang Airbase on Thursday.

 

For regulars, there will be the MDES, with a retirement age of 60.

 

The aim is to nurture a group of personnel who have deep professional expertise in key military domains, such as engineering and intelligence.

 

The military domain experts will have a new eight-rank structure from ME1 to ME8.

 

Mr Teo said: "Military domain experts will work with cutting-edge systems, receive more academic and professional upgrading opportunities, as well as attractive market based remuneration. Military domain experts with diplomas will have opportunities to upgrade their skills and qualifications through degree level."

 

Mr Teo also announced that warrant officers will have expanded job scope and responsibilities. For instance, they will assume roles previously undertaken by junior officers.

 

To allow for a faster progression through the ranks, a new 3rd Warrant Officer rank will be introduced. With this new rank, high-performing specialists can attain their warrant officership as early as the end of their sixth year in service.

 

There will also be more opportunities for them to upgrade themselves professionally and academically.

 

The Ministry of Defence will implement these enhanced and new schemes by the first quarter of 2010. - CNA/ms

 

 

[Drive_carcar]

I really don't see the logic why officers retirement age is 50 years old, which is still rather young. Should push till longer - maybe 60. Since the gabrament is encouraging people to work longer anyway.

[Davidklt]

the reason is not enough senior officer positions for these people. SAF is trying to do away with a top heavy organisation.

[Blueray]

 

No change for Other Ranks ? still 40yo ?

 

seems like promotion will be even faster ?

 

when I was in NS, my CO and S3 were CPT.

 

a few years into my Reservist, all PCs and 2ICs were CPTs ...

[Ah_tee]

the reason is not enough senior officer positions for these people. SAF is trying to do away with a top heavy organisation.

 

 

tats funny, i tot they are cutting bottom

 

alot of 10yr specialists are not getting pp2 or 2nd contract

[Friedpiggy]

Cut bottom is the specialists. Anyway now change structure already go back to grade type.

 

For officers probably the main reason is to be able to attract more people to apply.

If i were to tell you that you will be forced to retire at age 45, would you want to sign on? Would people want to employ you outside when you have no commercial experience (discount government companies like ST) after age 45? Even if they do, would you get similar paycheck when that time is probably most heavy on your wallet when your kids are in college and going to uni?

 

the PP plan is a failure. Just because of the need for knowledge retention they came up with the plan to increase normal contract from 6/7 to 10years but never bear in mind of the career transition of the service personnel after 10years. If the regular is unable to get a 2nd contract(probably above 80% wouldnt get it, else you have odd shape hierachy), this would mean leaving after 10years in service. Even worser people in PP are specialists, which also means outside nobody(or not many organisation requires your specialised skills) wants you. That would mean your experience almost = a fresh dip grad but at age ~30. Then maybe at that point the regular have house/car/wife/maybe kids and restart getting a pay of 1.5-2K typically. Hows that for a living?

[Davidklt]

cos those are non performers. who wants non perfomers in their org.

 

tats funny, i tot they are cutting bottom

 

alot of 10yr specialists are not getting pp2 or 2nd contract

 

[Leslielai]

In view of that, they're coming up with new ranks - S/LTC and S/COL

 

No idea how the insignia will look like.

[Curahee]

5 more yrs, our tax payer need to feed 5 more yrs of high ranking, highly paid civil servant... Dunno what our govt will do to us to cover the cost

[Little_prince]

retire at 45 and retire at 50 no my diff in my opinion...

 

these ppl should wake up their ideas...

[Leepee]

Don't be too happy....sekali NSmen liability will also pushed up to 45yrs old from current 40yrs old.

Sekali reservist also pushed up from 10 years cycle to 15 years cycle.

 

Good luck to the future young men of Singapore.