Does the mighty SAF have any weaknesses?
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Too many reservists tuang at reservist......that's one weakness.Originally posted by moca:As much as every other red-blooded SIngaporean, I think very highly of SAF.
But let's put pride aside for a moment and examine what are our weaknesses?
It could be equipment, tactics, morale, racial integration, battle experience, guile etc... Or even our attitude - which can often win or lose a war.
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On paper at least, Singapore must be the most heavily defended place on earth. We have an airforce that way out of proportion to our land mass and population, for example.
aaaa. u mean the third heaviest defended place on earth after north korean and Taiwan? -
weakness being SAF keep too much usless ppl....see for yourselfOriginally posted by moca:As much as every other red-blooded SIngaporean, I think very highly of SAF.
But let's put pride aside for a moment and examine what are our weaknesses?
It could be equipment, tactics, morale, racial integration, battle experience, guile etc... Or even our attitude - which can often win or lose a war. -
Too many reservists failed their IPPT,need to go RT.In case of real war,can they perform?Originally posted by Rock^Star:Too many reservists tuang at reservist......that's one weakness. 
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I think Tim Huxley pointed this out, we have this issue where it seems that some of the people in our higher levels of command are not really warriors at heart, but simply farming cash and a scholarship and see the SAF scholarship plan as a nice way to get it.Originally posted by moca:Very good 2 words.
So what's the alternative?
And what exactly are wrong with these scholar generals? Please elaborate.
How to fix it? That would involve breaking a lot of iron rice bowls and transforming the SAF into an army that rewards true initiative (and not just wayang) rather then keep status quos and impress the latest visiting minister as well as filling endless forms.
It would mean giving the NCOs and CSMs a lot more freedom and leeway in how they run their show, as well as giving more weight to their feedback on what is happening on the ground.
But most importantly I think the mark of a general should be if he has the heart of a warrior, and not if he can manage to ace his studies or what have you not. Not that our generals do not need to be intelligent, but the emphasis ought to be more on a pratical intelligence then what is tested on how well you can mug your books. -
1. Over confidence on our technical edge. Some say competence. I say we have lots of toys but can't track two bumbling robbers on Tekong.
2. Lack of air transport power. Public info. -
Yeah, got computers every where but the lunch convoy lost their way and we had to wait hours for our meal. And this is in a tiny area called SAFTI.Originally posted by touchstone_2000:1. Over confidence on our technical edge. Some say competence. I say we have lots of toys but can't track two bumbling robbers on Tekong.
2. Lack of air transport power. Public info.
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That's why US one is consists only of paid mercenaries... SG is full or unwilling souls serving by obligation... not much ppl care after ORD...Originally posted by Frogleg888:Too many reservists failed their IPPT,need to go RT.In case of real war,can they perform? -
Ooi, dun slander the Yank grunts by calling them "paid mercenaries". There is a BIG difference between the grunt who fights for his country in the professional capacity and an actual mercenary whose loyalties are determined by something else entirely.Originally posted by caleb_chiang:That's why US one is consists only of paid mercenaries... SG is full or unwilling souls serving by obligation... not much ppl care after ORD... -
Actually, I am more optimistic of our patriotism.Originally posted by caleb_chiang:That's why US one is consists only of paid mercenaries... SG is full or unwilling souls serving by obligation... not much ppl care after ORD...
I came from a reserve infantry battalion made up of formerly non-combat personnel. But our battalion was somehow very well-led and morale was skyhigh. Everyone took their training very seriously like you wouldn't believe.
We had one rifleman who was a construction contractor and he dug beautiful trenches at lightning speed and he helped others when he's finished.
We got awarded best this best that as a company, as a battalion etc etc. And I'm quite sure ours wasn't an isolated case.
I had also been attached a to Guards battalion and all the bengs and mamas always slack for the first dew days acting like the laojiao they feel they are. And then, when the serious training start, they will still put on a jolly good show and they know what they are doing.
If Singapore is threatened, I believe most will fight. We are, after all, a very co.cky and aggressive people, don't you think?
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Yeah, you can't call the US troops "mercenaries".Originally posted by SingaporeTyrannosaur:Ooi, dun slander the Yank grunts by calling them "paid mercenaries". There is a BIG difference between the grunt who fights for his country in the professional capacity and an actual mercenary whose loyalties are determined by something else entirely.
Real mercenaries take the money and fight and die without complaining.
Not the US troops. -
I agree with you.Originally posted by moca:Actually, I am more optimistic of our patriotism.
I came from a reserve infantry battalion made up of formerly non-combat personnel. But our battalion was somehow very well-led and morale was skyhigh. Everyone took their training very seriously like you wouldn't believe.
We had one rifleman who was a construction contractor and he dug beautiful trenches at lightning speed and he helped others when he's finished.
We got awarded best this best that as a company, as a battalion etc etc. And I'm quite sure ours wasn't an isolated case.
I had also been attached a to Guards battalion and all the bengs and mamas always slack for the first dew days acting like the laojiao they feel they are. And then, when the serious training start, they will still put on a jolly good show and they know what they are doing.
If Singapore is threatened, I believe most will fight. We are, after all, a very co.cky and aggressive people, don't you think?
I saw the same in the reservist techs who came back for ICT. Sure, they will slack around and be invisible when there is nothing to be done, but when something's gotta be done, they do it lightning fast. -
Please do not forget the lessons taught by the ancient Roman Army:Originally posted by moca:Which country is this you are talking about?
I do feel that we rely too much on technology and equipment but at the same time, I feel there is no other solution as there are no wars to tune the tactics and minds of the SAF. Excercises are after, all, not real life.
''Their Exercises were like bloodless Wars,
& their Wars were like Bloody Exercises''.
I think this was documented/ quoted by the ancient Roman historian
Tacitus.
SAF & all undergoing NS must not forget that. -
The SAF has pretty top of the line military technology but not enough of it if you catch my meaning. We lack the numbers. We may have an advanced navy and airforce but not a very large one.
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Last I checked, a grunt that does not find something to complain about something is not a true grunt.Originally posted by moca:Yeah, you can't call the US troops "mercenaries".
Real mercenaries take the money and fight and die without complaining.
Not the US troops. -
I really wonder about our troops morale. That said, most of our generals I doubt are of the West Point caliber. More like they are excellent administrators, but when it comes to the battlefield, likely will shit in their pants when their nicely tailored plans go awry.
Unfortunately, given our lack of strategic depth, there isn't much by way of room to make mistakes. -
Eh you got proof? Unless you are in the higher echelons of mindef and thus can see these people when they are in fatigues and how they screw up time and time again...i dont think you should say that.Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:I really wonder about our troops morale. That said, most of our generals I doubt are of the West Point caliber. More like they are excellent administrators, but when it comes to the battlefield, likely will shit in their pants when their nicely tailored plans go awry.
Unfortunately, given our lack of strategic depth, there isn't much by way of room to make mistakes.
Many people say so...it's true. I guess we are DOOM. -
Actually, I really feel SAF need to start sending people into combat operations like UN Peacekeeping Missions to begin with.
Send the regulars, especially the officers.
I don't know why SAF is bloody kiasi when it comes to this. In fact, some NS or NSF may even volunteer for such missions providing combat pay is given.
When a real shooting war start in SG, at least we have a staff of officers who knows what being under fire is all about. -
he probably dont have any, but i have read somewhere here that his co, while very good in admin duty always screw up during field exercise.
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I believe it shouldn't be a problem sending a regular/volunteer battalion abroad for peacekeeping, after all, we've done company level deployments in Timor Leste.Originally posted by moca:Actually, I really feel SAF need to start sending people into combat operations like UN Peacekeeping Missions to begin with.
Send the regulars, especially the officers.
I don't know why SAF is bloody kiasi when it comes to this. In fact, some NS or NSF may even volunteer for such missions providing combat pay is given.
When a real shooting war start in SG, at least we have a staff of officers who knows what being under fire is all about.
Time to do a BN level, with some air support elements to help train their new-fangled NCW in a ops tempo environment. -
Huh? Prove what? That they are excellent administrators?Originally posted by CM06:Eh you got proof? Unless you are in the higher echelons of mindef and thus can see these people when they are in fatigues and how they screw up time and time again...i dont think you should say that.
Many people say so...it's true. I guess we are DOOM.
Being excellent administrators doesn't mean they are good at execution. More like good at shuffling people around and sit on their desks. -
Reservists! So called operationally ready troops.
It always the soldiers from these forces that rapist, mass killers of civilians, and looters abound. Part-time soldiers are more apt to do a whole village in retaliation for a comrade. -
[quote]Originally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:
Huh? Prove what? That they are excellent administrators?
Being excellent administrators doesn't mean they are good at execution. More like good at shuffling people around and sit on their desks.[/quote
Obviously prove the stuff you said that they sark part. Anyway not important.
When real rounds fly..more thinking less talking more action less deaths.. -
Where u learn this?Originally posted by mancha:Reservists! So called operationally ready troops.
It always the soldiers from these forces that rapist, mass killers of civilians, and looters abound. Part-time soldiers are more apt to do a whole village in retaliation for a comrade.
Hollywood is it?
Talk about things u know - otherwise, zip it. -
Hahaha.... at least he does one thing well.Originally posted by tankfanatic:he probably dont have any, but i have read somewhere here that his co, while very good in admin duty always screw up during field exercise.
But in all fairness, most screw ups, even by competent officers, usually occur in challenging situations in the field.
And don't knock admin work.
In ROC, when I was in the Brigade S2 Branch, we drew thousands of classified ROC maps to issue to the battalions. By the time excercise ended, more than a hundred were lost.
The Int WO who did fu.ck all most of the time had to pull down his pants for the Taiwnese and really earn his pay that day.