This is an excerpt from my reflections. Perhaps I really am suited for the military.

haha


Perhaps the course is lacking in its diversity. 14 NSF officers do not make for a very experienced course, as I have reflected on in previous weeks. However, I feel that what is the mindset and mental model from keeping my fellow peers from learning is that same Singaporean education model trumped over the past 20 years. In Singapore, Education is spoon fed. I read the valedictory speeches, the emails on the “llumination wall”, the articles on Thinking Hats and Span of Control, the newspaper forums on Mr. Soh’s office cubicle wall. (I think I read everything, even safety postersJ). What struck me is that Singapore students are so used to being spoon-fed knowledge; it has created a culture of teaching, rather than learning. This is very apparent in the shift to a more thinking culture during our A levels; I personally found the thinking and analysis question interesting and fun, while my peers found it challenging and hard. I hope that someday, the students in EOAC will be able to find illumination in the theories and tools that the instructors are teaching now. I do not profess to understand everything, but I will constantly think and analyse to understand and hopefully, utilize the tools in the future.

Another issue that struck me during the week was the expulsion of 2 OCTs from the Cadet Course. I believe that the actions were right. In fact, for my course, some cadets should not have been commissioned in the first place. When the men look upon the Officers for leadership, a bad apple in the entire officer corp. would reflect badly on the rest of the officers. Again, I am circumspect in my reflection, as I must profess that I have not been a model officer all throughout my PC tour. I did try my best, and I find joy and satisfaction in getting to know my men (who are my peers in JC), and helping my specialists and men solve their myriad of problems in the personal lives. Being in CBRD gives me the opportunity to do CD FAM around the units of the SAF, and personally, I have had the opportunity to talk to many men who are disillusioned with the leadership in the SAF at the moment. Perhaps some will learn along the way during their NS lives, others will just be shot by their men during wartime. And to tell the truth, I wouldn’t blame them one bit.

The week ended with the Engineer Officer’s Convention. The most vivid images were the ones of Melauboh and the destruction the Sumatran earthquake has wrought on Indonesia. While it is prudent on the diplomatic level to offer assistance and help, I believe that the SAF has indeed administered disproportional assistance with limited aid. And again, this is due to our leaders in Singapore. I am also inspired by CA, LTC Alex who struck me as an ordinary citizen doing his bid for the country. I for one am unsure if given the opportunity and responsibility, I would also offer to extend my service. I have already made sacrifices in choosing to go OCS instead of MDC, and sacrifices when I chose to study abroad instead of rooting myself to Singapore. Through it all, I believe that EOAC has indeed made sense of NS to me as a whole, and equipped me with many life tools for the future. There is always a need to balance the self and external demands for your time. Well, at the moment, if we are require in relief operations, I, as an NSF, do not mind certainly extending my ORD to assist in the relief efforts. “Those with the ability to do something have the responsibility to act” – Colin Powell. I believe I have the ability, and thus it carries with it the responsibility.


ranting