hehehe, couldn't resist a dig! That's what you really see. Subconsciously he exhibited his frog in a well (box) mentality. One with a ITE certificate how to lose $300,000 in two years? It's merely opportunity cost.
We need to get out of that well. See national service as an honourable service or obligation for your country - your family, your homeland and yourself.
Afterall thousands and thousands of Sporeans have gone through that - undoubtedly a small number do not have desirable vocations like drivers and GD men. I know of one who was a driver, but later went to NUS - and his mother bought him a car!!!