National Service in Singapore

[Evillusion]

Recall manning just activated....cone come.....whi kana activated.....lucky 'Hardnail' oredy mr.....

[D3badge]

What I fail to understand is that when he was still a student and applied for exit permit; his father would have had to put in a bond or surety or bail/ guarantee like thing right?? Would his father have already paid that amount (which for him may not be much for him since he may be a top notch lawyer; but I know it runs into a few hundred K's $)

Not sure about the bond cost now, but back then was on SGD$75,000 apply through local banks

[Kusje]

Not sure about the bond cost now, but back then was on SGD$75,000 apply through local banks

 

Very worth it for 2.5 years of your life at the prime.

 

But to come back is really buay kan.

[Pocus]

Unfortunately, unlike the American system where is welfare and medical care for their veterans, here in Singapore, we have non at all.

 

 

It is not entirely true. I was in a FB group for American Veterans and I can tell them a lot of them fall thru the system and didn't get adequate help from the Veteran's Association or VA for short. Some served and fought but didn't fit the criteria to receive certain help, depending on vocation, rank and other factors.

 

Basically it's not all bees and flowers considering some of them had PTSD and are disabled. Help needed for them are ten-fold. Given these veterans are unique bunch of people and not like 80% of citizen males considering their Army is volunteer

 

 

I read too many incident of suicide and violence resulting from poor to no response from the VA. It's kinda as shitty.

 

Recently some of them got their beneifits cut, that's why many Veterans blamed Obama's administration and that's why many voted from Trump hoping to change the system.

Edited January 15, 2017 by Pocus

[Atrecord]

An often forgotten issue. Is this wishful thinking?

 

 

Many of us had already served our NS with vigor and dutifully. During the period, I am very sure like myself do suffer countless injuries. Some more severe than others. Joint and spine injuries are the most common such as ligament tears and disc prolapse which in our later years would give significant problems.

 

Not even counting Reservist where we may even sustain further injuries.

 

Unfortunately, unlike the American system where is welfare and medical care for their veterans, here in Singapore, we have non at all.

 

Apart from all the financial and social lost during our national service period which I gladly sacrifice, how about taking care of medical needs such as injuries sustained earlier but significant / severe problems manifest itself only in our later years. Can they at least provide with some form of medical benefit that does not need us to exhaust our medisave. Many I am sure cant afford the privilege time and treatment for their injuries in their later years.

 

There are those like myself who have medical, hospital and surgical private insurance and hence do not need but our fellow Singaporeans (if need be, lay down their life with us in times of war) may be suffering and be in need of help. Lets take care of our people just a little better, one step at a time. Is this wishing thinking or too much to ask?

 

Good point this.

 

Indeed there are some full-time NS guys who could get injured, and they deserve to be better taken care of.

 

In fact, the more worrying one is on those who lost their lives serving NS. There are some, and they shouldn't have happened. Yet when the unfortunate happened, it is very sad and disappointing that the compensation given to them is (at least it was) peanut. 

 

Around mid 90s, there was an accident in NZ when a faulty ammo round took 2 lives. The cleaner auntie in my company said she knows the mother of one of them, and the compensation given was a mere $8k...

 

Speechless. 

 

I hope she was wrong.

[Evillusion]

Good point this.

 

Indeed there are some full-time NS guys who could get injured, and they deserve to be better taken care of.

 

In fact, the more worrying one is on those who lost their lives serving NS. There are some, and they shouldn't have happened. Yet when the unfortunate happened, it is very sad and disappointing that the compensation given to them is (at least it was) peanut.

 

Around mid 90s, there was an accident in NZ when a faulty ammo round took 2 lives. The cleaner auntie in my company said she knows the mother of one of them, and the compensation given was a mere $8k...

 

Speechless.

 

I hope she was wrong.

during my ns in the mid 80s we were already offered group insurance. Not sure if it was compulsary or not. We were close to ROD then and i think i didnt took up the offer. And ya.....i heard but not verified the sum was about the same offered when my section mate died during BMT. Edited January 16, 2017 by Eviilusion

[BanCoe]

Not sure about the bond cost now, but back then was on SGD$75,000 apply through local banks

Yeap thats what I reckon; its pittance but at the same time I remember its 50% of the parents (husband+wife) income which ever is greater; so don't know which Cat. he had to pay under;

 

But parents having forfeited/fined at that juncture or paid that; the outstanding warrant against the kid is still active         

[Kusje]

during my ns in the mid 80s we were already offered group insurance. Not sure if it was compulsary or not. We were close to ROD then and i think i didnt took up the offer. And ya.....i heard but not verified the sum was about the same offered when my section mate died during BMT.

 

Insurance has never been compulsory until recently. In fact, until recently you had to pay for your own insurance from the meager amount they give you every month. I understand there is free universal insurance for everyone now but the payout is just pathetic.

Good point this.

 

Indeed there are some full-time NS guys who could get injured, and they deserve to be better taken care of.

 

In fact, the more worrying one is on those who lost their lives serving NS. There are some, and they shouldn't have happened. Yet when the unfortunate happened, it is very sad and disappointing that the compensation given to them is (at least it was) peanut. 

 

Around mid 90s, there was an accident in NZ when a faulty ammo round took 2 lives. The cleaner auntie in my company said she knows the mother of one of them, and the compensation given was a mere $8k...

 

Speechless. 

 

I hope she was wrong.

 

Not just no compensation. No justice for NS men too. Case in point: The smoke grenade case where the family can't even get justice because the officers and SAF are hiding behind the law.

 

Imagine both officers getting promoted within 2-3 years of getting someone killed.

 

What kind of respect and loyalty does the SAF expect from us? Pui.

Edited January 16, 2017 by Kusje

[Evillusion]

Insurance has never been compulsory until recently. In fact, until recently you had to pay for your own insurance from the meager amount they give you every month. I understand there is free universal insurance for everyone now but the payout is just pathetic.

 

 

Not just no compensation. No justice for NS men too. Case in point: The smoke grenade case where the family can't even get justice because the officers and SAF are hiding behind the law.

 

Imagine both officers getting promoted within 2-3 years of getting someone killed.

 

What kind of respect and loyalty does the SAF expect from us? Pui.

this july will be 30th anniversary of me RODing.......thats why i not sure. I remembered we discussing about the insurance thingy....think the coverage was around 40k! We were going to ROD in a few month and had just came back from ROC.....who would want to take the offer. Then a few week later an m203 round exploded and an nco had his leg amputated.

[Kusje]

this july will be 30th anniversary of me RODing.......thats why i not sure. I remembered we discussing about the insurance thingy....think the coverage was around 40k! We were going to ROD in a few month and had just came back from ROC.....who would want to take the offer. Then a few week later an m203 round exploded and an nco had his leg amputated.

 

My time 10 years plus ago was that you could cover yourself up to 1 mil (i think that was the cap) but of course the premiums would be sky high.

 

The best part is that they got this insurance agent to come in during the first week of BMT to tell you how many people get injured/die/maimed and then they have no insurance and SAF doesn't cover much blah blah blah. Got me damn pissed off with both the agent and the SAF.

[Evillusion]

My time 10 years plus ago was that you could cover yourself up to 1 mil (i think that was the cap) but of course the premiums would be sky high.

 

The best part is that they got this insurance agent to come in during the first week of BMT to tell you how many people get injured/die/maimed and then they have no insurance and SAF doesn't cover much blah blah blah. Got me damn pissed off with both the agent and the SAF.

hahaha....that wan normal procedure......my time the officers were the ones that briefed us. The only people who were going around for contracts were from mindef asking recruits to sign-on.

[Atrecord]

Insurance has never been compulsory until recently. In fact, until recently you had to pay for your own insurance from the meager amount they give you every month. I understand there is free universal insurance for everyone now but the payout is just pathetic.

 

Not just no compensation. No justice for NS men too. Case in point: The smoke grenade case where the family can't even get justice because the officers and SAF are hiding behind the law.

 

Imagine both officers getting promoted within 2-3 years of getting someone killed.

 

What kind of respect and loyalty does the SAF expect from us? Pui.

 

I don't even want to talk about the justice part. Can open up lots of worms...

during my ns in the mid 80s we were already offered group insurance. Not sure if it was compulsary or not. We were close to ROD then and i think i didnt took up the offer. And ya.....i heard but not verified the sum was about the same offered when my section mate died during BMT.

 

I remember NTUC Income went to BMT to talk to all the recruits, and told us to sign something. That generation all go in shaved the head botak already all became blur sotongs, didn't know what it was but followed. Then later said we signed up for the insurance, which my brother asked me to get outside one better and i went to cancel the NTUC one. 

[Evillusion]

I don't even want to talk about the justice part. Can open up lots of worms...

 

 

I remember NTUC Income went to BMT to talk to all the recruits, and told us to sign something. That generation all go in shaved the head botak already all became blur sotongs, didn't know what it was but followed. Then later said we signed up for the insurance, which my brother asked me to get outside one better and i went to cancel the NTUC one.

i think my time ntuc was still a supermarket belonging to the Union...

[Kusje]

I remember NTUC Income went to BMT to talk to all the recruits, and told us to sign something. That generation all go in shaved the head botak already all became blur sotongs, didn't know what it was but followed. Then later said we signed up for the insurance, which my brother asked me to get outside one better and i went to cancel the NTUC one. 

 

Frankly, the group insurance term life isn't bad. In fact, I bought it after ORD and I'm still on it now.

 

Just angry at the fact that they push the onus on NS men when they should automatically cover us.

[SuPerBoRed]

Frankly, the group insurance term life isn't bad. In fact, I bought it after ORD and I'm still on it now.

 

Just angry at the fact that they push the onus on NS men when they should automatically cover us.

 

yup.. cannot agree more.. under payed.. under protected... 

[Ktglfc]

Frankly, the group insurance term life isn't bad. In fact, I bought it after ORD and I'm still on it now.

 

Just angry at the fact that they push the onus on NS men when they should automatically cover us.

I am still in the aviva saf group insurance scheme ...

just another insurance for me :)

[Atrecord]

My time 10 years plus ago was that you could cover yourself up to 1 mil (i think that was the cap) but of course the premiums would be sky high.

 

The best part is that they got this insurance agent to come in during the first week of BMT to tell you how many people get injured/die/maimed and then they have no insurance and SAF doesn't cover much blah blah blah. Got me damn pissed off with both the agent and the SAF.

 

And you know what, among my circle of friends prior to NS, among those in my class and my ECA club, only 2 other guys got posted to combat vocations, and one was was DYS4. So many of them became instructors, clerks, storemen, etc. I pai miah became a armoured engineer.

 

Posted to combat engineer first on a Fri. Next morning before book out, showed us photos of mangled body parts that we didn't even know what they were until almost the last few photos where we could recognise part of a face with some resemblance of a nose and one eye...

 

Told us engineer deals with explosives, and we need to be very careful to avoid those fate 

 

That day booked out, told my older brother and he looked for a friend who sold insurance and i bought a policy, with my own savings... 

 

Did i ask to be posted to that type of vocations (c.f. to my classmates who became clerks)?

No!

 

Did SAF offer to do whatever symbolic gestures to appreciate and take care of those whose lives they (OK, they had no choice, some people will get the shorter straws) put into very real dangers, by even ensuring got insurance coverage?

No!

 

What they did? Tell you you're not white horse, so LL have to do those sh*t vocations, then frighten you by telling you high chance of death (gruesome some more), so better ownself settle go buy whatever you think will give you some peace of mind should the unfortunate happens...

i think my time ntuc was still a supermarket belonging to the Union...

[Kusje]

Die still nvm - that time got no dependents other than parents and mine are self sufficient.

 

Scared don't die only.