Sword of Honour
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How does one get selected to receive the Sword of Honour in OCS? Sword of Honour being the highest award in OCS right,what is after that then? And what is the normal sword that all commissioned officers get?Thanks in advance
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Sword of Honour
Sword of Merit
Normal sword
All commissioned Officers get the same types of swords. The only difference is the engravings on their awarded swords (as well as their names of course). SOH candidates have the SAF crest, OCS symbol and Singapore's Coat-of-Arms engraved on it. Other officers only have the Coat-of-arms on their swords. Not sure which one SOMs dun have out of the 3.
SOH is just an oversized ceremonial sword which you get to keep (if you get it) for about a month or so before its returned.
Criteria is to be the best performer in your whole cohort (depending on your arms) and there can be only one for each arm ie infantry, armour, navy, etc. There might sometimes be "politics" involved when choosing the SOH, as was experienced during my cohort. -
Just a note, SOH does not = best officer of the cohort. Generally understood.Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:Sword of Honour
Sword of Merit
Normal sword
All commissioned Officers get the same types of swords. The only difference is the engravings on their awarded swords (as well as their names of course). SOH candidates have the SAF crest, OCS symbol and Singapore's Coat-of-Arms engraved on it. Other officers only have the Coat-of-arms on their swords. Not sure which one SOMs dun have out of the 3.
SOH is just an oversized ceremonial sword which you get to keep (if you get it) for about a month or so before its returned.
Criteria is to be the best performer in your whole cohort (depending on your arms) and there can be only one for each arm ie infantry, armour, navy, etc. There might sometimes be "politics" involved when choosing the SOH, as was experienced during my cohort. -
SOF troopers have "Jing Zhong Pao Gou" tattooed on their backs....
oOopss.... it's CAT1 secret...
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probably politics.Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:Criteria is to be the best performer in your whole cohort (depending on your arms) and there can be only one for each arm ie infantry, armour, navy, etc. There might sometimes be "politics" involved when choosing the SOH, as was experienced during my cohort.
as with the case in sispec, when i pretty much aced every test(written and pract, like ippt gold & ex.wanderer) but didn't even get a bloody #@!#@! platoon best. the fucker who got platoon best pretty much got it because he was 'outstanding' in the sense that he wore a turban. as in seriously... coz' all the instructors knew him and liked to tease him about it. grr...! the guy who got company best was simply, well, well liked by the WO & instructors coz' he's always so bloody loud and hated by everybody else coz' we know he really dosen't do squat.
or like smi, where i pretty much khenged everything and still ended up with best team... my theory was that i did reasonably well, and more importantly was laying low enough to not get marked by the people in smi.
sounds silly but sometimes it's like playing a popularity game. dunno if that's the case for ocs though... hmm....
but yah, it continued all the way to &through unit life for me as well... -
interesting. anyone got pics?Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:Sword of Honour
Sword of Merit
Normal sword
All commissioned Officers get the same types of swords. The only difference is the engravings on their awarded swords (as well as their names of course). SOH candidates have the SAF crest, OCS symbol and Singapore's Coat-of-Arms engraved on it. Other officers only have the Coat-of-arms on their swords. Not sure which one SOMs dun have out of the 3.
SOH is just an oversized ceremonial sword which you get to keep (if you get it) for about a month or so before its returned.
Criteria is to be the best performer in your whole cohort (depending on your arms) and there can be only one for each arm ie infantry, armour, navy, etc. There might sometimes be "politics" involved when choosing the SOH, as was experienced during my cohort.
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is like dat one...if u too famous then think u trying to outshine and u are out. if u too low profile then think if let u take the sword people will think WTF and will KBKB...so they normalise...is like dat one lah...
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Not necessarily that if you ace every thing, you get SOH or Platoon Best or Company Best etc...Originally posted by nomood:probably politics.
as with the case in sispec, when i pretty much aced every test(written and pract, like ippt gold & ex.wanderer) but didn't even get a bloody #@!#@! platoon best. the fucker who got platoon best pretty much got it because he was 'outstanding' in the sense that he wore a turban. as in seriously... coz' all the instructors knew him and liked to tease him about it. grr...! the guy who got company best was simply, well, well liked by the WO & instructors coz' he's always so bloody loud and hated by everybody else coz' we know he really dosen't do squat.
or like smi, where i pretty much khenged everything and still ended up with best team... my theory was that i did reasonably well, and more importantly was laying low enough to not get marked by the people in smi.
sounds silly but sometimes it's like playing a popularity game. dunno if that's the case for ocs though... hmm.... but yah, it continued all the way to &through unit life for me as well...
It's determined by how your peers grade you, how you contribute to the platoon/company, your instructors' assessement of you (which can be biased, I admit) and many more.
So many determining factors, and the best need not be recognised with the most coveted and prestigious award, REALLY. It's just a matter of...preference? -
I'll try to take a few for you guys to see, i think i saw one in my kaki's place, belongs to his dad i think.Originally posted by Gordonator:interesting. anyone got pics? -
effectively, what you've described still boils down to politics no?Originally posted by deathscythe99:Not necessarily that if you ace every thing, you get SOH or Platoon Best or Company Best etc...
It's determined by how your peers grade you, how you contribute to the platoon/company, your instructors' assessement of you (which can be biased, I admit) and many more.
So many determining factors, and the best need not be recognised with the most coveted and prestigious award, REALLY. It's just a matter of...preference?
i was making a point that acing stuff in the school isn't going to help in getting SOH or awards of any kind. it's, like how you've so eloquently put it, preference.
i guess the point would be then, to get the SOH you really gotta play your cards right. It's something that consistent hardwork dosen't count towards... so yah, go ditch that rifle cleaning kit and go buy dinner for your pc instead! -
Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:
During my time in mid 90s, not all commissioned officers get the sword, only combat officers. The batch of MO and ATO didn't get a sword, felt sorry for them. Anyone knows if this has changed? i.e. Does all commissioned Officers get a sword?
[b]Sword of Honour
Sword of Merit
Normal sword
All commissioned Officers get the same types of swordsb] -
Hi, not an officer, but I seem to recollect that there was a period in the 80s, where cost cutting was cited as the reason that SAF stopped giving swords to every commissioned 2 LT ( or CPT for the medical officers). I did not ask my officer friends.... But the "story" stuck in mind, as some years later, I met an older friend who was from the 1970s batches of OCS. He had a sword proudly mounted in his living room . We got to talk about it . He was not a SOH winner and he said that during his time, each 2LT had one, but he heard that it was discontinued. This discussion happened in the late 80s.
Does it mean that the tradition has now been re-instated? Anyone can comment? -
Every Tom, Dick and Harry that came out from OCS with one or two bars all have their own swords.
Its true that acing everything may not neccessary make you a certainty of getting the SOH. However, it does help in making you a potential SOH canididate. The main thing is your attitude and your work ethics as grading by your fellow platoon mates weigh quite heavily when it comes down to selecting the reciepiant. -
hey thanks. make sure u zoom in on the engravings etc.Originally posted by seow:I'll try to take a few for you guys to see, i think i saw one in my kaki's place, belongs to his dad i think.
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wow, gt pics? so cool.
Anyway, is it true that the Officers have to pay for the sword themselves? -
No lahz...dun think so man...
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No. It's all paid for by tax payers.
WHat is this sudden fascination with the sword anyway? Trying to add it to your collection or something? Too bad MINDEF cracked down after that ebay incident. Guy who tried that probably dun deserve to keep it anyway. -
Someone tried to sell...his sword?Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:No. It's all paid for by tax payers.
WHat is this sudden fascination with the sword anyway? Trying to add it to your collection or something? Too bad MINDEF cracked down after that ebay incident. Guy who tried that probably dun deserve to keep it anyway.
OMG. -
so only one sword for one officer from 2LT all the way to general?
anyone knows if reach major (CO of battln) or colonel or star (i.e. general), mindef got give more highly decorated swords to them? -
right, only combat officers as junior as 2LT have sword. Other vocations got to reach Maj then will be issued. commissioned officers from 2LT to CPT want to hv swords can sign 1206.
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that was in the past rite? tink now all will get loh.. log officers considered as combat? think during my sword presentation, i saw some ppl from log getting it too.Originally posted by Ah Cek:right, only combat officers as junior as 2LT have sword. Other vocations got to reach Maj then will be issued. commissioned officers from 2LT to CPT want to hv swords can sign 1206.
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Now even log officers get a sword lorOriginally posted by saline:that was in the past rite? tink now all will get loh.. log officers considered as combat? think during my sword presentation, i saw some ppl from log getting it too. 
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Originally posted by Obersturmfuhrer:Every Tom, Dick and Harry that came out from OCS with one or two bars all have their own swords.
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Officers so wat?
Come out to the corporate world oso need to work under those who were sergeants under them in army...
who more powerful?
LL reservice u oso gota respect tt sergeant and maybe tio tekan by sergeant instead...
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Officers so wat?
Come out to the corporate world oso need to work under those who were once sergeants under you in active days...
who more powerful?
Lanlan reservice u oso gota respect tt sergeant and maybe tio tekan by him instead...
So untimately Officers means jo sai kang...