Wondering if I can pay the government S$9,000 to stop bothering me for Reservist and IPPT every year?
I don't mind paying foreign workers or talents to do my Reservist and not risk my employers from firing me and hiring one with no 40-days liability instead.
So sick of all this easily thought out $olutions. If money really can fix all issues like work and life commitments, I guess we don't really need a world class- talented government.
Showing posts with label Reservist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reservist. Show all posts
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Life After Army
Weekend was great and back to work soon. So some after-thoughts after the recent 2-weeks reservist stint. I finally had a SAR21 technical handling course as well as a range shoot using the electronic and real life bullets. Love the scope on that thing, little need for calibration and adjustments and the fact that the technical handling course was completed within 30mins. I could strip and assemble the weapon under a minute in total.
The technical handling course was conducted by a Warrant Officer who was observed to be very dedicated and passionate about teaching us reservists, whom many can be seen to be simply "bo chup" otherwise known as I-don't-give-a-shit attitude. Seriously, quite often we give less thought about the training we receive and even much less thought when the trainer tells you about his 31 years of dedicated career in the force. From an uncompleted secondary school education to signing on the army and give it over 30 years of your life, you wonder what would this Warrant Officer do if he was asked to go? Recently with the streamlined establishment of several appointments and job scopes, we have heard of many of such long-serving soldiers being asked to leave army. And I wonder what is life after army for them, what can they do, what holds for them? Security guards? Did the army think about it for them, with plans on integrating back with the society like the Yellow Ribbon project with the Prison Services? Ask any employer of any industry what useful role can a 40-50 year old Army Warrant Officer do to stay employed in their company?
The technical handling course was conducted by a Warrant Officer who was observed to be very dedicated and passionate about teaching us reservists, whom many can be seen to be simply "bo chup" otherwise known as I-don't-give-a-shit attitude. Seriously, quite often we give less thought about the training we receive and even much less thought when the trainer tells you about his 31 years of dedicated career in the force. From an uncompleted secondary school education to signing on the army and give it over 30 years of your life, you wonder what would this Warrant Officer do if he was asked to go? Recently with the streamlined establishment of several appointments and job scopes, we have heard of many of such long-serving soldiers being asked to leave army. And I wonder what is life after army for them, what can they do, what holds for them? Security guards? Did the army think about it for them, with plans on integrating back with the society like the Yellow Ribbon project with the Prison Services? Ask any employer of any industry what useful role can a 40-50 year old Army Warrant Officer do to stay employed in their company?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Army Life
It has been a restful yet tiring week. Restful because of the lack of thinking during office hours as I am on reservist this couple of weeks, tiring because of running around in camp and IPPT which I managed to clear in camp - a respectable feat despite the terrain and hot humid weather this week; and also due to the fact that my company does not have a HR leave policy of a staff being on reservist.
Well, I was hired from Hong Kong where my Asia Pacific HR is based, and my company is American. Besides the fact that my direct boss who was based in Singapore before, the concept of 40 days of reservist duty by Singaporeans is quite peculiar to the rest of the company. So nevertheless, the job must be done as I come home to work till 2-3am every day and up at 6am to book in every morning.
I love reservist, its a time of bonding with old friends who go through the last 5-10 years of idle time and thoughtless conversations ranging from cars to politics. Similar to our local "kopitiams" (coffeeshops), where old men sit around and drink beer in the afternoons while chatting over the latest gossips or Jack Neo's "Honey No Enough" escapades.
The Singapore Government tries its best to sell the idea of defending the Nation to Singaporeans but not understand the problems we face at work with the constant pressure of having a cheaper, "faster" (not necessarily true), and NO-RESERVIST-up-our-asses options of worthy Foreign Talents. The citizens clamouring for equality in this context is easily shut with their latest initiative of setting up Business Centres in 3 Army Camps where employees can bring in their laptops to work. Great, as I thought I can do some work during the idle period. Well, as all other wasteful initiatives previously thought of like renaming Marina Bay to Marina Bay to the tune of S$400k, this will be another while elephant in-waiting. Why so? I was briefly "entertained" as my training camp is one of the sanctioned camp which will be ready come 1st Apr and we were allowed to have a trial.
The top three white-elephant potential reasons :
1) We must inform ahead if laptops need to be brought - nothing wrong here, except only there is a limited number allowed per business centre, I believe depending on the network restrictions, so I foresee a tie up with Singtel and probably personal mobile broadband will not be allowed.
2) The laptops will be sealed before entry and are to be under lock and key in lockers (probably chargeable) with a manned reception with CCTV readilywatching you protecting your laptops.
The lamest one yet 3) The laptops can only be used after training hours. And since the business centres are manned, its operating hours are like 8am - 530pm. So bite me...
Ok time to sleep as I have a long week ahead and a physical day tomorrow of morning range and afternoon route march. I have more thoughts about my reservist from more idle observations, hope to blog in the coming week.
Well, I was hired from Hong Kong where my Asia Pacific HR is based, and my company is American. Besides the fact that my direct boss who was based in Singapore before, the concept of 40 days of reservist duty by Singaporeans is quite peculiar to the rest of the company. So nevertheless, the job must be done as I come home to work till 2-3am every day and up at 6am to book in every morning.
I love reservist, its a time of bonding with old friends who go through the last 5-10 years of idle time and thoughtless conversations ranging from cars to politics. Similar to our local "kopitiams" (coffeeshops), where old men sit around and drink beer in the afternoons while chatting over the latest gossips or Jack Neo's "Honey No Enough" escapades.
The Singapore Government tries its best to sell the idea of defending the Nation to Singaporeans but not understand the problems we face at work with the constant pressure of having a cheaper, "faster" (not necessarily true), and NO-RESERVIST-up-our-asses options of worthy Foreign Talents. The citizens clamouring for equality in this context is easily shut with their latest initiative of setting up Business Centres in 3 Army Camps where employees can bring in their laptops to work. Great, as I thought I can do some work during the idle period. Well, as all other wasteful initiatives previously thought of like renaming Marina Bay to Marina Bay to the tune of S$400k, this will be another while elephant in-waiting. Why so? I was briefly "entertained" as my training camp is one of the sanctioned camp which will be ready come 1st Apr and we were allowed to have a trial.
The top three white-elephant potential reasons :
1) We must inform ahead if laptops need to be brought - nothing wrong here, except only there is a limited number allowed per business centre, I believe depending on the network restrictions, so I foresee a tie up with Singtel and probably personal mobile broadband will not be allowed.
2) The laptops will be sealed before entry and are to be under lock and key in lockers (probably chargeable) with a manned reception with CCTV readily
The lamest one yet 3) The laptops can only be used after training hours. And since the business centres are manned, its operating hours are like 8am - 530pm. So bite me...
Ok time to sleep as I have a long week ahead and a physical day tomorrow of morning range and afternoon route march. I have more thoughts about my reservist from more idle observations, hope to blog in the coming week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)