Thursday, April 21, 2005

"Psycho Theory"

As we know SAF comes out with lots and lots of “campaign” to reassures our citizens that our land is well-protected and to attract the youngsters out there to join the SAF.

1) The posters/media – They are all around Singapore, in practically every location possible. Advertisements better known as posters appear on the buses/trains terminal, and also on bus/train itself, advertisements clips on television/movies threatre and the modeling toys/recruitment postcards that they sent to your mailbox. They are working on something called, “what you see everyday can influence you.” These stuff are wonderfully crafted, and always have that very “cool” look. And one more thing is that, no obese personnel had been featured in the posters yet.




2) Uniforms – The uniforms, be it the common camouflage number 4 or the ultra smart looking number 1 uniform. SAF uniforms have made differentiation of many servicemen hard from far (provided they wear their head-dress too). But many women have certainly found uniformed man very attractive. Yes, I agree, all the uniform looks smart and cool. I personally hope to have a chance to wear that number 1…




3) Exhibitions – We have got all sort of open house, where the army/air force/navy exhibit their skills, technologies and equipments. They allow people to “play” with rifles, take a ride on the vehicles, put on camouflage cream on their face, allowing young kid to wear the different type of uniforms and so on… At the exhibitions most of the personnel there would be very friendly to visitors even the most unfriendly person in the SAF. Good public image achieved.

4) Songs/Music – You would have to agree that songs does affect people’s mood. I don’t know how to say it but the songs here but I kind of got sucked into the lyrics of the song…
Music played on certain/different occasion will have a very strong impact on someone feelings too. Here is a very simple example, when you go to school (primary/secondary school), the national anthem would be played, and you are “forced” to sing along, and you don’t like that at all. But if you are at the NDP, and when the national anthem is played, you would actually feel that “something special”.

Maybe there is more, but these are the few I came across.

I guess they are people out there that are immune to all these but I am not...

Again, pardon me for my bad language.

6 comments:

Edwin said...

hmmm, i will not be signing on until, i had experience the real thing...

may or may not happen...

cheers!

and thanks for ur concern/advice :P

jmarki said...

Well, like all advertisement and marketing campaigns, they never tell you the whole story, esp. the unglamorous parts...

Go in with an open mind, but expect to be tested (in all senses of that word) during the minimun 2 years there...

LittleRedDotGuru said...

The most hilarious was when then they had the Channel 8 show following these guys to the new Tekong camp. I went through the whole show just going "YEAH RIIIGGHHHHHTTTT! once the cameras and parents are gone, then we see the real stuff happen." and will someone tell me what the hell is the deal with them now having automated underground AIR CONDITIONED ranges now? I miss my plastic inner liner and the butt party!

Agagooga said...

Individualised Marksmanship Training isn't a substitute for range, it's preparation for it.

k said...

well, lucky for those televised recruits, at least they get a few undisturbed moments of peace.

Jack Chen said...

Some observations that are true.

A lot of those things you see in a poster is part of the Army 21 concept art part.

Meaning to say, you don't actually see them, touch them or even know of them after you enter Army.

They are what they are, a concept.

If I want you come into my company and then work for me, would I show you the hazards and difficults in the job or I will show you the glamour, the pay, the ideals that we imagined ourselves to be?

Being Naive isn't a crime, but not when you can simply ask many who have served before. They truely know the pro's and con's, so why not get more information first.

By the way, excluding Officer and certain vocations, a spec contract seems to be 10 years nowadays. That is an entire decade. Think carefully before you signed on the dotted line.