Saturday, July 30, 2005

I verily swear, I have, in one of my rare "Eureka!" moments, found the answer to the SAF's labour problems.
CIP-hour-hungry secondary schoolkids.

Imagine - they do menial work for us (compile reports, help conduct checks on equipment). We give them hours to top up their CIP. We involve them with community work (military defefence work benefits all leh), we get more things done, we see less flag day cans out there on the streets in the hands of bored-to-death teenagers. And they get their hours, and their CCA points. And they get a glimpse of life beyond BMT, a look at NS life behind-the-Carnival@Marina.

There are more deathly options available, of course. How about job attachment programmes? Experience the life of a clerk in manpower branch. Or a transport supervisor. Or an ops specialist. Or ordinary chiong-sua PS. Imagine, a chance to see life in the army even before you enlist. (And also to see how much menial sai-kang one can possibly handle). Brrr - you can hear the students shivering with excitement now.

If at all possible we should make this a compulsory programme (NS hours + CIP hours?), or increase the CIP hours requirement to a point where they have no choice but to come ;-) Singapore population is decreasing, mah. All you young-uns, time to do your national duty!

I can hear knives sharpening in the background already ^_^; but you have to admit, it is a pretty good idea...



9 comments:

k said...

C'mon, there's lots of stuff the SAF does that is classified "restricted" only because it makes perfectly mundane documents look slightly cooler, and because it's safer to put it at a higher classification level than a lower one.

Besides, they are going to be PTEs one of these days, if they can't handle R documents now, when can we expect them to? Besides, can always make them sign a clause not to reveal contents disclosed "or risk getting your door kicked down by ISA, lor"

They could help clean rifles, or collect $$$ for AHM, or shred/burn outdated documents. Lots and lots of little mundane stuff the SAF should have outsourced to contractors.

incognito said...

its a great idea if u ask me. that way, students will get to experience 1st hand how bad the SAF can be. from doing all the saikang to eating all the crappy food.

On Eagle's Wings said...

Hahaha! Good idea! I sure would like them to help me update red booklets and do end of course reports. Help for sai kang party during field camp's more than welcomed as well. That way, ppl like me can full concentrate on training. Haha. Good one! Though I know it may never become a reality.

k said...

Yeah, pity huh. The students would burn NCC uniforms in protest...

Linus said...

They are already getting primary sch kids to help out in some way or another, I don't see why not we would not see more of them getting more "attachments" ... though preferably not start them so young

k said...

Well, moving funpacks around sure sounds more productive than standing around looking decorative while holding a flagday can.

Just in case you have the wrong idea, we officers take our instructions from higher-ups as well. Don't be so quick to crucify your PC. He's the unfortunate messenger between your OC and you. If he had community sevice volunteers looking to clock hours by helping out your job would probably be much easier. But he doesn't.

I think it's time you realise that no idiot in the SAF is going to thank the ground staff for the hard work they put into NDP. We do what we do because "we want to serve the nation", we are bloody NSFs and we have no other choice. I do the things I do not so that others can thank me, I do it so I can ORD in peace and without regret. And earn the right to say "back in my time, NS was..."

markhsx said...

I am a student myself, currently 15, in VJC. i believe that that suggestion is quite good actually. heh. would allow young men an eyeopener, and experience some army life, so that they don't get shocked when they enter ns. and cip gets real boring... i'm not one for tedious or hard work, but i think it would be interesting if we students had the choice to do cip for the army. yeah

Jin Xian said...

markhsx: don't bloody count your chickens before they hatch. if this ever goes through... *sinister laughter* its not just a pandora's box you guys open. its the gates of hell. =)

markhsx said...

heh. i better take your advice then.