I will add in more as i go on. Please feel free to comment or disagree, but do not flame-bait or troll. I want to have a decent debate/argument here. And oh, if you have any valid points to add feel free to do so.
Originally posted by RockefellerSkank:
- SAF soldiers do not have the right motivation to fight: Compared to Israel, we do not have a common cause for defending Singapore, apart from family and friends living here. Even that can change by migrating elsewhere. Where as Israelis are known to take the first plane home to defend their country at the outbreak of war. With the influx of foreign talent, this might even errode the sense of belonging and ownership of the country. Why defend a country from foreign threats when the country itself is not interested in protecting our own citizens interest.
- Bulk of the Armed Forces are the reserves: Lets face it, how many reservists actually considered or imagine having to fight a war one day? How many do actually keep in shape for combat duties? How many do their keep abreast of the latest development of combat skills. The way war is fought 30 yrs ago might not be the same war we will fight today. Do our reserve training enough time to train our reservist to the level of professional soldiers?
- Resentment between NSFs and Regulars: We all know of this while serving National Service. Arrowing of work/duties, getting charged for the silliest offences. Earning lesser then the regulars but shouldering more workload. Having been part of the lower rank, i always been hearing snide comments to violent outbursts from NSFs regarding Regulars. Are you willing to fight with/for the people who you do not respect or like?
- Overreliance on technology rather than the development of the human factor: Every year or so we would hear about new weapons platform, planes. But how often do we hear about how to improve the conditions of soldiers, be it personal development or welfare or personal equipment. We all know the PE of the average soldier is not exactly world class less if you belong to a elite unit or testing experimental gear. The standard issue gear we have are sub-par compared to what other advanced countries soldiers are using.
I will add in more as i go on. Please feel free to comment or disagree, but do not flame-bait or troll. I want to have a decent debate/argument here. And oh, if you have any valid points to add feel free to do so.
I agree with you. Sometime I think, what if a war or conflict break out in our homeland?
will we able to counter the enemy? Thought we have the latest weapon.
i think TS has hit the nail on the head especially on the PR issue...but i do not c anything wrong with reservist system ...IDF are also mainly reserve force those reserve unit on the front line are relatively young and still fresh from NSF , lao chiao MR like me may be given PDF duty
first point... quite true if you look at it at some angle.
I personally feel i would not fight for the nation, what can be more impt than your life?
I think when war actually breaks out, and people see the propaganda everywhere, they will be motivated to fight. To actually protect their home, family and whatnot. Too early to say. And depending on which country it is and how much we hate it, we might even be willing to give up our lives just for the cause.
Originally posted by RockefellerSkank:
- SAF soldiers do not have the right motivation to fight: Compared to Israel, we do not have a common cause for defending Singapore, apart from family and friends living here. Even that can change by migrating elsewhere. Where as Israelis are known to take the first plane home to defend their country at the outbreak of war. With the influx of foreign talent, this might even errode the sense of belonging and ownership of the country. Why defend a country from foreign threats when the country itself is not interested in protecting our own citizens interest.
- Bulk of the Armed Forces are the reserves: Lets face it, how many reservists actually considered or imagine having to fight a war one day? How many do actually keep in shape for combat duties? How many do their keep abreast of the latest development of combat skills. The way war is fought 30 yrs ago might not be the same war we will fight today. Do our reserve training enough time to train our reservist to the level of professional soldiers?
- Resentment between NSFs and Regulars: We all know of this while serving National Service. Arrowing of work/duties, getting charged for the silliest offences. Earning lesser then the regulars but shouldering more workload. Having been part of the lower rank, i always been hearing snide comments to violent outbursts from NSFs regarding Regulars. Are you willing to fight with/for the people who you do not respect or like?
- Overreliance on technology rather than the development of the human factor: Every year or so we would hear about new weapons platform, planes. But how often do we hear about how to improve the conditions of soldiers, be it personal development or welfare or personal equipment. We all know the PE of the average soldier is not exactly world class less if you belong to a elite unit or testing experimental gear. The standard issue gear we have are sub-par compared to what other advanced countries soldiers are using.
I will add in more as i go on. Please feel free to comment or disagree, but do not flame-bait or troll. I want to have a decent debate/argument here. And oh, if you have any valid points to add feel free to do so.
pretty much agree with what you've just said, i can't really name anything i really feel i would fight for if there's a war.
i can't even go out each day without getting swarmed by foreigners. and the PRs we have nowadays aren't the ones we grew up with. most people i know who are PRs don't want to stay here. they're here for stuff they want then going off ASAP.
I know some do say its unfair to singaporeans because we have to serve ns and they don't but its not an area i can indentify with so i never had strong resentments in that area. what i don't like is why am i sharing my country i like with someone who don't like it? it makes sense if you like it here, i don't mind you here if thats the case. but if i'm going to have to defend my country in a war and i know somewhere behind the frontlines i'm protecting some dipshit who hates my country it doesn't makes sense does it?
Hmm, the thread title got changed...Maybe it was politically incorrect. Anyway i got some more points to add.
Anyway, i dont belong to a minority race, but i feel we are a country for long enough for the politicians to not dodge the issue and come clean, rather than say they dont trust a minority machine gun commander to perform his duty when facing the enemy.
You might have the right concepts, but the thinking is hard to imply on the military, an institution based mostly on tradition and regimentation. Its like trying to change course of a huge oil tanker, it will take time for changes.
I think the Goverment not only discriminate against minority groups, Hell it even starts to discriminate against Singaporeans. " I need Singaporeans to fight in war but during peace, you have to find your own way" I dont even know if a war breaks out the fellas beside me will run or drop their arms. I dont think MPs wont even have the manpower to catch deserters.