Hey all,
I'm considering signing on to the Navy purely out of interest and passion for being out at sea. Thing is, I'm going to pursue my degree first. I just graduated from JC last year, and this year I'll be pursuing a Communication Studies degree at NTU.
So that means if I go ahead, I'll be signing on to be a Naval Officer when I'm 23 or so.
My questions are:
Thank you in advance!
Follow your passion but consider if it's the height of your ambition. It's not a demanding career, you'll lead a life of relaxation and enjoy job stability. That helps you achieve financial goals. Trouble is you might not want to stick it in forever and won't be job mobile later. I'm dishing this out because you have better things to do, not that it isn't a fun career.
Get the contract terms here http://www.mindef.gov.sg/navy/careers/careers.html
Women can take on any shipboard role. Some ships have women COs.
As to what happens if you fail IPPT or BMT, some say you get to re-course it, some say you're let out, some say you're stuck in as a specialist. Best you ask a recruiter AND scrutinize your contract.
Are you hot?
Originally posted by snugglybug:Hey all,
I'm considering signing on to the Navy purely out of interest and passion for being out at sea. Thing is, I'm going to pursue my degree first. I just graduated from JC last year, and this year I'll be pursuing a Communication Studies degree at NTU.
So that means if I go ahead, I'll be signing on to be a Naval Officer when I'm 23 or so.My questions are:
- Is it worth it?
- How long will I have to serve if I get into the Navy?
- What happens if I fail IPPT in BMT and can't get into OCS?
- Any women can share their experience as a Naval Officer?
- Is it okay that my degree has hardly anything to do with the Navy?
- When should I contact SAF if I don't want to waste time, and want to get in immediately after I finish my studies?
Also, I've heard that women aren't allowed on the ships during missions. As in, they can only do paperwork and what not, even as an Officer. Is this true?
1) actually, if you are set to sign on, you don't have to sign on after uni. you can sign on and serve for 1 yr, and disrupt to do your degree, under training award. Tuition fee will be covered, and depending on scheme, you may cont' to receive a monthly salary throughout your course of study.
2) as for whether it is worth it. It depends largely on individual. I suppose you did so out of interest for seafaring. If that's is your interest, well, signing on with the navy is definitely worth it.
3) It depends on what scheme you sign up under. most usually requires a bond of 5 yrs.
4) you have to pass your ippt if you want to sign on, ocs or not. for women, if they can't make the cut in bmt, their service will be terminated.
5) not a woman, so no comments.
6) Unless you want to take up technical position, e.g. engineer. you do not have to take any relevant degree.
7) you can apply to sign on at any point of time in your life. perhaps near the end of your course.
8) there are female sailors. and yes, they can be officers. But they are the rare few. since most eventually will request for transfer to shore-based positions after having children. Women do get to see action. they will usually be doing support roles, e.g. navigation, communications etc.
alize: but i'll have my degree, so if i do end up leaving the Navy, i'll still be able to find jobs. right. right? ._.
TheBlueBlade wei, no link leh. okay-okay lah.
deathmaster: haha that's like SAF scholarship alrd isit? my A's results aren't good enough to get scholarship, but good enough to get into most courses. also, i didn't know you could do that. but i feel like i should finish uni first. if not, I'll go do BMT and my brain will switch off.
but i'll get to do seafaring right? that's what's important to me.
i should probably also mention that i'm not Chinese. my race is under Others and i'm a Muslim. i heard SAF got play race one, so will that affect my ambition?
also: i am definitely not fit at the moment. it's a struggle for me to get bronze for NAPFA. the only thing i can do well is sit-ups. inclined pull-up cmi. so i think i'll wait till after my degree to sign on. need to train =P
its rather conflicting choice....seems u have 2 interests...if u just like the sea ...u can still make use of your comm degree to work in resorts...or club med or cruises or anything dealing with sea....
armed forces is pure militaristic and bureaucratic...may dampen your sea spirits if thats what u r after...most of the time u may be involved in deskbound/ admin duties....
think twice and be sure u find out what the job actually entails...
Females tend to be more likely to be sea-sick....
So TS shld just take a little note about this
Originally posted by snugglybug:alize: but i'll have my degree, so if i do end up leaving the Navy, i'll still be able to find jobs. right. right? ._.
TheBlueBlade wei, no link leh. okay-okay lah.
deathmaster: haha that's like SAF scholarship alrd isit? my A's results aren't good enough to get scholarship, but good enough to get into most courses. also, i didn't know you could do that. but i feel like i should finish uni first. if not, I'll go do BMT and my brain will switch off.
but i'll get to do seafaring right? that's what's important to me.
i should probably also mention that i'm not Chinese. my race is under Others and i'm a Muslim. i heard SAF got play race one, so will that affect my ambition?also: i am definitely not fit at the moment. it's a struggle for me to get bronze for NAPFA. the only thing i can do well is sit-ups. inclined pull-up cmi. so i think i'll wait till after my degree to sign on. need to train =P
Civilian vs navy cruising: trust me, Navy cruising is easier. There may be some physical labour, fitness is a concern, but there is a heck of a lot of free time. The mental burden is 10X less.
alize: but i'll have my degree, so if i do end up leaving the Navy, i'll still be able to find jobs. right. right? ._.
TheBlueBlade wei, no link leh. okay-okay lah.
deathmaster: haha that's like SAF scholarship alrd isit? my A's results aren't good enough to get scholarship, but good enough to get into most courses. also, i didn't know you could do that. but i feel like i should finish uni first. if not, I'll go do BMT and my brain will switch off.
but i'll get to do seafaring right? that's what's important to me.
i should probably also mention that i'm not Chinese. my race is under Others and i'm a Muslim. i heard SAF got play race one, so will that affect my ambition?also: i am definitely not fit at the moment. it's a struggle for me to get bronze for NAPFA. the only thing i can do well is sit-ups. inclined pull-up cmi. so i think i'll wait till after my degree to sign on. need to train =P
Job mobility: you might enter the civilian workforce 4 years later (at minimum) and that might not be helpful.
Civilian vs navy cruising: trust me, Navy cruising is easier. The mental burden is 10X less. You won't be concerned with your image all the time etc, the sucking up is of a different kind. ie YOU CAN BE YOURSELF. What other job lets you switch off your brain so much. On top of this, there is a heck of a lot of free time.
Use this time to be yourself, slack off do whatever you want. Even though there is some physical effort, it isn't much. Fitness is a concern, but they make time for it, personal benefit too.
Use this time to be yourself, slack off. They even make time for fitness, personal benefit too.
As to play race or gender, yes and no. We got alot of successful minorities. Many officers are careful to avoid being called racist or sexist. Some females are fast tracked since they want a poster girl.
Any industry you are in can be sexist, particularly male dominated ones.
yeah, there's something that doesn't really appeal to me about cruise ships. far too many people and too many attractions. it distracts from the main point of being out at sea: the sea.
i also imagine a sort of camaderie among the people on the ship when i think of navy cruising (i not familiar with the terms, so i just copy yours), which makes navy the better choice in my mind.
mm, is it bad that i'll have this lag time in going into the industry?
ahaha navy sounds even more attractive liao. are/were you in the navy?
Is a good choice and great passion, love of being out at sea . You would enjoy, but are you firmly intent to stay onboard ship for the entire career as Navian, to serve the interest of Singapore and its neighbouring countries? If your passion is a commitment but out of sea is not a long term interest, you may discuss with the recrutiment center for an appropriate vocation that can accomodate your long term interest out at sea and on land, be amphibious so to speak (mass comms)...u would love it....i dun think it is the interest of the Navy to wrap you up out at sea...the interest of reproduction, your gracious get together with friends and family bonding also needed to be considered, for your good healthy living....haha
Originally posted by snugglybug:Hey all,
I'm considering signing on to the Navy purely out of interest and passion for being out at sea. Thing is, I'm going to pursue my degree first. I just graduated from JC last year, and this year I'll be pursuing a Communication Studies degree at NTU.
So that means if I go ahead, I'll be signing on to be a Naval Officer when I'm 23 or so.My questions are:
- Is it worth it?
- How long will I have to serve if I get into the Navy?
- What happens if I fail IPPT in BMT and can't get into OCS?
- Any women can share their experience as a Naval Officer?
- Is it okay that my degree has hardly anything to do with the Navy?
- When should I contact SAF if I don't want to waste time, and want to get in immediately after I finish my studies?
Also, I've heard that women aren't allowed on the ships during missions. As in, they can only do paperwork and what not, even as an Officer. Is this true?Thank you in advance!
Your post is very strange. You are going to pursue a degree soon. After four years of studying, your thinking will change and be more mature.So you should start to consider after four years later.
If u are trying to sign on a SAF scholarship, this will be a different case then. It would be wise for you to look at my first paragraph and consider more.
Signing on Navy is a fufilling career. Regardless of gender, you will get to be on the ship, and get to sail all over the world. Many places are not accessable to normal people, you will have a chance to visit.
There are many women who serve the Navy. You will face the problem of dealing with your supervisor. This is the usual office politics.
I suggest you consider your career after four years.
eh, so weird, i posted a reply but it's missing.
thank you for your advice Amitayus48 :]
to Lokey, i know that it seems weird that i'm considering navy when i haven't even started on my degree. maybe you're right about me thinking about this too early, i should start thinking only when i'm halfway through my course or something.
however, i think i should gather information earlier. say, if i had asked this question just a few months earlier, maybe i could have given more thought to serving first and disrupting serving to pursue my degree with the financial support from the Navy.
definitely not going for scholarship la, app period over, results, don't think can make it for scholarship also.
maybe after 4 years, i might change my mind. hopefully not though, as i have been interested in the navy since i was in secondary school. i just feel that it's more important for me to finish my education first, so if anything, i have something to fall back on.
i may want the experience from the navy, but i can have other interests as well right? :]
the advice i've gotten from all the helpful people so far will definitely help me when i revisit the idea in 3 years or so. :]
If I were you, I'd just take it and sign a contract so they pay me during my studies.
I think the navy has the most females in uniform. And not to be sexist, but there will be lots of navy guys on the lookout for navy girls.
dowan ah, i unfit leh! skali fail bmt, kena let go with nowhere to go. o:
Originally posted by snugglybug:eh, so weird, i posted a reply but it's missing.
thank you for your advice Amitayus48 :]
to Lokey, i know that it seems weird that i'm considering navy when i haven't even started on my degree. maybe you're right about me thinking about this too early, i should start thinking only when i'm halfway through my course or something.
however, i think i should gather information earlier. say, if i had asked this question just a few months earlier, maybe i could have given more thought to serving first and disrupting serving to pursue my degree with the financial support from the Navy.
definitely not going for scholarship la, app period over, results, don't think can make it for scholarship also.maybe after 4 years, i might change my mind. hopefully not though, as i have been interested in the navy since i was in secondary school. i just feel that it's more important for me to finish my education first, so if anything, i have something to fall back on.
i may want the experience from the navy, but i can have other interests as well right? :]the advice i've gotten from all the helpful people so far will definitely help me when i revisit the idea in 3 years or so. :]
Different people have different idea of they want. If you like the sun, sand and sea, Navy is for you. They will train you on IPPT, and teach you to be an officer.
If you like to put on make up and dress pretty everyday then Navy is not for you. Sailors dont get to bathe often on the ship due to limited water supply. They are on watch of the ship everyday. Duty can be on very odd hours throughout the night, then you sleep in the day. You have heavy responsibility, a wrong decision results in death. For instances, the Courageous incident happened eariler.
Most of the female regulars that I know have already stopped serving. "It is a good experience!" - this is what they always says.
"duties can be odd hours"
Is not can be....its ALWAYS the case.
After all, its 24 hrs manning, and the watches can be pretty long.
At one segment of my tour with RSN, I never got to see the sun for 5 days straight because I took the 6pm to 6am watch.
And it gets worse when you can't even get the full 12 hr break you desire after a whole night's watch and you scramble around with drills and such.
Forget the movies...the reality is that RSN lacks people so be prepared to go without rest and even proper sitting down and eat types of meals (ie stand and eat while on watch)...even officers are not spared.
girl of course like to put on make up and dress pretty at least once in awhile right. doesn't make me a bimbo or any less capable. if i don't do that at least once in awhile, later kena label butch, how. :o
you think a girl who is scared of breaking a nail will even consider a career in the Navy meh? hahaha.
odd hours sounds nice. ^^ i tend to live that way in normal life also, so, not much problem there. the lack of bathing sounds abit icky, but that's okay too i guess.
haha so ironic, surrounded by water, but not enough clean water on board. ever feel tormented by the sheer amount of water around?
hm, the lack of rest does sound very strenuous. i never really watched military movies, so i don't have any impression of the navy from movies, thank goodness. i would guess that they really over-glorify the military, eh?
i really want to say thank you to you guys. if i just read things on their website, i wouldn't know all these little facts about sea life. in fact, i can't even find infographics about the training period. ahahah.
seriously, thank you.
Why not check out the air force open house on the following weekend?
hmm, maybe i will. :) but air force is air force. all the SAF branches (as in navy, air force and army), the open house is once every 3 years is it?
anyway you guys, what were your positions in the navy? i'm curious.
Actually the part about water rationing depends on the platform. Larger ships dont have this problem because they can desalinate their own water.
I served my tour of duty for only 1 year odd....as a seaman.
Hello,
I was a NSF naval officer but I've met quite a few female officers.
Is it worth it?
- If you like the sea, yes it is. Just bear in mind that you will have to keep watch and do duty; the latter means sometimes you miss your public holidays and weekends. Sailing also sometimes happens on weekends.
How long will I have to serve if I get into the Navy?
- Probably about 4 years, ask a recruiter for specific details.
What happens if I fail IPPT in BMT and can't get into OCS?
- You're out. If you want an SAF career you should at least make sure you are reasonably fit.
Any women can share their experience as a Naval Officer?
- Some love it, some decided it was just not for them and OOC-ed from OCS or applied for early release. Your mileage may vary.
Is it okay that my degree has hardly anything to do with the
Navy?
- It's okay.
When should I contact SAF if I don't want to waste time, and
want to get in immediately after I finish my studies?
- You can do BMT and OCS before you commence university, and SAF will sponsor your degree. However, signing on after studies gives you more time to think about it and keeps your options open (you'll also be better paid as a recruit or midshipman since you hold a degree).
Women can serve any shipboard role including Commanding Officer and do get to see action, including on overseas missions and deployments. The work does get grimy and sweaty sometimes, especially when on deck officer duty. Conning the ship is something you'll have to do a lot of and it is quite a unique (if sometimes stressful) experience because the responsibility for the safety of the ship lies with you. Smaller ships may have water rationing and do often eat their meals packed while standing up or keeping watch.
Lack of rest/sleep deprivation is something you will get a massive amount of in OCS and it does sometimes happen on ship, usually when sailing or when you are on duty. Of course, there will be lull periods where you can slack, such as when the ship is in yard, but don't expect a career that is always easy.
It's hard to find the camaraderie you see on a navy ship elsewhere. That doesn't mean there aren't office politics - they still do exist, like anywhere else.
After some time on a ship (usually after your XO tour) you'll be posted to shore as a staff officer. You might want to stay there or request to post there earlier if you intend to settle down and start a family.
Originally posted by SBS2601D:Actually the part about water rationing depends on the platform. Larger ships dont have this problem because they can desalinate their own water.
that's damn cool, man.
Originally posted by escherichia:Hello,
I was a NSF naval officer but I've met quite a few female officers.
Is it worth it?
- If you like the sea, yes it is. Just bear in mind that you will have to keep watch and do duty; the latter means sometimes you miss your public holidays and weekends. Sailing also sometimes happens on weekends.How long will I have to serve if I get into the Navy?
- Probably about 4 years, ask a recruiter for specific details.
What happens if I fail IPPT in BMT and can't get into OCS?
- You're out. If you want an SAF career you should at least make sure you are reasonably fit.Any women can share their experience as a Naval Officer?
- Some love it, some decided it was just not for them and OOC-ed from OCS or applied for early release. Your mileage may vary.Is it okay that my degree has hardly anything to do with the Navy?
- It's okay.When should I contact SAF if I don't want to waste time, and want to get in immediately after I finish my studies?
- You can do BMT and OCS before you commence university, and SAF will sponsor your degree. However, signing on after studies gives you more time to think about it and keeps your options open (you'll also be better paid as a recruit or midshipman since you hold a degree).
Women can serve any shipboard role including Commanding Officer and do get to see action, including on overseas missions and deployments. The work does get grimy and sweaty sometimes, especially when on deck officer duty. Conning the ship is something you'll have to do a lot of and it is quite a unique (if sometimes stressful) experience because the responsibility for the safety of the ship lies with you. Smaller ships may have water rationing and do often eat their meals packed while standing up or keeping watch.
Lack of rest/sleep deprivation is something you will get a massive amount of in OCS and it does sometimes happen on ship, usually when sailing or when you are on duty. Of course, there will be lull periods where you can slack, such as when the ship is in yard, but don't expect a career that is always easy.
It's hard to find the camaraderie you see on a navy ship elsewhere. That doesn't mean there aren't office politics - they still do exist, like anywhere else.
After some time on a ship (usually after your XO tour) you'll be posted to shore as a staff officer. You might want to stay there or request to post there earlier if you intend to settle down and start a family.
E. Coli? ahahah.
yeah, i'd expect to lose weekends and holidays. but that's okay, media sector would probably see to it that i miss those too. i'm not really the desk-bound, 9-5 job type i think.
mm, that's why i want to sign on after uni mah. need time to get fit and time to think it over and over again. i'd probably contact a recruiter if i'm very sure in my 3rd year or 4th year. or go navy open house in 2013.
woah, woman CO. ._.
grimy makes me think of the worst feeling: when a whole shitload of sea water or sea spray gets dumped on you and you can't wash it off. super itchy.
so sleep deprivation occurs more during training in OCS itself than on the ship?
yeah, when i went to the navy open house last year, i got to go on the RSS Endurance, and you could feel the homely, family-ish feeing in the break room. and the conning tower, but that felt more stressful.
but navy open house was full of foreign workers/foreign talents with their families. Grandmother grandfather all have.
i seriously think there were less Singaporeans (you know, who can actually serve) there, and the foreigners dominated everything, so it was pretty hard to learn or experience anything. very frustrating. ಠ_à²
wondering if air force open house will be the same.
how long are XO tours for Singapore Navy?
Grimy is what generally happens when you sweat a lot (due to direct sunlight, humid and stuffy ship compartments, physical exertion, DCBA suits or any combination of the above), get wet in salt water (happens in bad sea states), or get your hands greasy from seaman work. It's uncomfortable but at the end of the day you usually get to shower and change into clean clothes (unlike army on outfield exercises) so it's not that bad.
Sleep deprivation occurs during OCS training more than in normal ship life, but on exercises or sailing you will still have to be up a lot. Most officers manage it so while it can be tiring it doesn't require superhuman energy levels.
NOH is good to peek into what the Navy does but, as always, it only shows the good side. Someday you could be on the other side, going to Changi Naval Base at 7am on a Sunday morning to give endless tours of your ship to civilians. The LSTs and frigates are the glamorous ships always seen by the public, but be sure not to miss out the PVs and MCMVs next time you go to Navy Open House because you're likely to spend at least part of your career there.
As a shipboard officer it will take you about 6 years after being commissioned as an officer before you end your tour as XO (the XO is second in command to the CO). You'll go from an officer under training (understudy senior officers, sharpen your navigation and duty skills, buy coffee for senior officers) through a variety of shipboard officer appointments before becoming the XO. You'll then be posted to shore for several years before you can be assessed for potential to take command of a ship.
are you hot?
Originally posted by escherichia:
Sleep deprivation occurs during OCS training more than in normal ship life, but on exercises or sailing you will still have to be up a lot. Most officers manage it so while it can be tiring it doesn't require superhuman energy levels.
NOH is good to peek into what the Navy does but, as always, it only shows the good side. Someday you could be on the other side, going to Changi Naval Base at 7am on a Sunday morning to give endless tours of your ship to civilians. The LSTs and frigates are the glamorous ships always seen by the public, but be sure not to miss out the PVs and MCMVs next time you go to Navy Open House because you're likely to spend at least part of your career there.
Surprised that the shift is 12 rather than 8 hours. Always thought there were 3 shifts. No wonder we manage to keep the frigate crew at 68, when standard complement is 168.
I went to NOH, one of the MCMV's (RSS Katong) CO was a woman.