Motherfucking Straits Times is suggesting that the actor is guilty of self negligence.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...or-their-tasks
One is a sales executive who serves as a combat medic when he reports for his annual in-camp training (ICT). Yet he wonders if a four-day course on performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and setting up intravenous drips, among other areas covered, is ample refresher training should the need to save the lives of fellow soldiers arise.
Another is a business undergraduate who returned for his ICT last year, after three years away from the Bionix armoured vehicle that he commands.
"After our ORD (operationally ready date), we don't touch the equipment for a few years and have lost touch with them," said the Bionix vehicle commander, adding that his peers were "more chill" than during his active days. "Sometimes, in ICTs, people cut corners because they want to save time."
Such sentiments are not unusual among the country's operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen), who are also civilians with day jobs and various commitments.
The debate on whether NSmen are well-prepped for their tasks during their ICTs has come under the spotlight in the past week, following the death of Singapore actor Aloysius Pang, 28, last Wednesday.
An armament technician from the 268th Battalion Singapore Artillery, Corporal First Class (NS) Pang was on ICT duty during a military exercise in New Zealand.
He was part of a team called in last Saturday to diagnose a suspected fault inside a Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH).
Before the diagnosis could begin, the gun barrel had to be lowered to a neutral position. But the actor could not get out of the way in time and was crushed between the end of the barrel and the interior of the howitzer. This caused chest and abdominal injuries that led to his death.
The fatal incident is the fifth reported by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) since September 2017, following four preceding years of zero training-and operations-related fatalities.
RUSTY SKILLS AND UNMOTIVATED?
Investigations are ongoing, but the high-profile death has sparked contrasting reactions to the SAF's deployment of NSmen and the support the men receive to ensure that they could carry out their duties during ICTs.
Some NSmen interviewed by The Sunday Times said they were concerned that they did not practise their vocational skills for long periods.
At a media briefing last Thursday, Colonel Terry Tan, commander of the Combat Service Support Command, said CFC Pang was qualified and competent to carry out his work as an armament technician.
Col Tan said the actor had undergone refresher training when he reported for his ICT duty in New Zealand and also completed seven ICT stints. If it is beyond the competency of the forward maintenance platoon - which CFC Pang was part of - regular technicians would be asked to come forward to diagnose the fault, added Col Tan.
Yet some NSmen interviewed were unsure if the few days or weeks allocated for refresher training could reacquaint them with their vocational skill sets and allow them to pick up where they left off.
For instance, steering an armoured vehicle was unlike driving a car, pointed out one NSman, who is in an armour unit.
"We have familiarisation drives. But it takes time to adjust to steering an armoured vehicle again, especially when one hasn't driven one for a long time," said the NSman.
Some NSmen said they had observed their peers being uninterested in updating themselves and seeing ICTs as "a break from work".
An NSman in an infantry unit said: "The atmosphere is more relaxed than our active days. So there are some who come to slack and while their time away. There needs to be more urgency and initiative."
Others, however, believe the processes to equip these Singaporean sons for their roles have improved over the years - but the onus is on the individual to do his part.
Observers interviewed also remain confident that NSmen today are competent and qualified.
Mr Kurt Wee, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and a member of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, said he does not think it is a question of the NSmen's unfamiliarity with the drills, adding that they are trained and certified before undertaking certain roles.
"But sometimes there are unexpected situations that present themselves, and accidents can happen as a result," he said.
Defence analyst Ho Shu Huang of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies also believes the systems to train NSmen well "are in place and regularly improved".
"What unfortunately is beyond the SAF's control is the level of interest, motivation and attention individual NSmen demonstrate.
"NSmen invariably face competing demands for their time and attention. Competency can be developed, and any inconveniences can be overcome if an NSman is sufficiently motivated," he added.
"The million-dollar question then is what would motivate NSmen?"
NSMEN A CORE OF SAF
But observers said it is necessary for Singapore, being a small nation, to continue relying heavily on NSmen, whose sacrifices over the decades have helped the country develop a respected defence force.
Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira, deputy chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said NSmen are a core part of the force, "given that Singapore has a small resident population and has to meet its defence needs without crippling our labour force needs as well".
According to the Global Firepower, an index of countries' military strength, Singapore's military personnel total over 500,000, with some 432,500 reserve personnel.
The same index has Taiwan's total military personnel at 1,932,500, with 1,675,000 of them reserves. Israel's total is 615,000, with 445,000 reserve personnel.
Underscoring the view of NSmen as the SAF's backbone, Mr Ho pointed out that the term reservist was replaced with "operationally ready national serviceman" more than 20 years ago to plainly show they are not second-tier soldiers, as the previous term had implied.
"The end of one's full-time service merely marks the entry of a new phase of front-line service, not a relegation to the rear," he added.
After their full-time service, NSmen are liable to be called back for ICT of up to 40 days a year, serving as NSmen until age 40. For officers and senior military experts, the liability is until age 50.
Nee Soon GRC MP Henry Kwek, who also sits on the GPC for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said NSmen serve on the front line along with the regulars and full-time national servicemen (NSFs).
"Ensuring that SAF stays effective is a tremendous task sustained by the contributions of our NSmen, and the support of their families and employers," he added.
RECOMMENDATIONS
But some have questioned if it is wise for an NSman to be expected to handle heavy machinery after a period of absence from it.
Unlike professionals who work on these huge machines daily, an NSman's experience is limited to those few weeks of training yearly.
Mr Mark Lim Xian Jin, who wrote to ST Forum last Thursday, said expecting NSFs and NSmen to be able to handle and maintain complex machinery, such as tanks and artillery, "seems unwise".
"Mindef can instead employ a much larger team of full-time maintenance personnel, outside of the NSF population, to reduce the need for young NSFs to handle unfamiliar heavy machinery," he added. "There may be better solutions than the ones I have proposed, given the many challenges Mindef faces."
Yet, others said it was necessary to tap NSmen for non-combat roles. Civilian technicians could not be expected to go into battle, said adjunct film lecturer Eternality Tan, who is an automotive technician in his NS vocation.
"Having civilian technicians as operational support is useful because of their vast experience and expertise, particularly in diagnosing faults and techniques to rectify them.
"Sometimes, we may need to rely on them," said the NSman, who completed his ICT two weeks ago.
"But in terms of combat skills, we really have to rely on our soldiers."
Ms Pereira said the challenge was in ensuring that NSmen underwent adequate training without affecting their other commitments.
She suggested using digital tools and online portals so that NSmen could be trained more frequently outside their ICTs.
"Regular training helps to maintain the readiness of our forces, but training that is too time-consuming or takes place too frequently could affect the other commitments of our NSmen," she said.
Mr Ho added that "as much as we see it is the SAF's organisational responsibility to ensure safe training... people, including NSmen, form that organisation".
"Everyone has a part to play, first by taking training seriously and paying attention to what they or others are doing. After all, NS training, by virtue of what one is training for, is inherently risky."
• Additional reporting by Lester Wong
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...or-their-tasks
One is a sales executive who serves as a combat medic when he reports for his annual in-camp training (ICT). Yet he wonders if a four-day course on performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and setting up intravenous drips, among other areas covered, is ample refresher training should the need to save the lives of fellow soldiers arise.
Another is a business undergraduate who returned for his ICT last year, after three years away from the Bionix armoured vehicle that he commands.
"After our ORD (operationally ready date), we don't touch the equipment for a few years and have lost touch with them," said the Bionix vehicle commander, adding that his peers were "more chill" than during his active days. "Sometimes, in ICTs, people cut corners because they want to save time."
Such sentiments are not unusual among the country's operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen), who are also civilians with day jobs and various commitments.
The debate on whether NSmen are well-prepped for their tasks during their ICTs has come under the spotlight in the past week, following the death of Singapore actor Aloysius Pang, 28, last Wednesday.
An armament technician from the 268th Battalion Singapore Artillery, Corporal First Class (NS) Pang was on ICT duty during a military exercise in New Zealand.
He was part of a team called in last Saturday to diagnose a suspected fault inside a Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH).
Before the diagnosis could begin, the gun barrel had to be lowered to a neutral position. But the actor could not get out of the way in time and was crushed between the end of the barrel and the interior of the howitzer. This caused chest and abdominal injuries that led to his death.
The fatal incident is the fifth reported by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) since September 2017, following four preceding years of zero training-and operations-related fatalities.
RUSTY SKILLS AND UNMOTIVATED?
Investigations are ongoing, but the high-profile death has sparked contrasting reactions to the SAF's deployment of NSmen and the support the men receive to ensure that they could carry out their duties during ICTs.
Some NSmen interviewed by The Sunday Times said they were concerned that they did not practise their vocational skills for long periods.
At a media briefing last Thursday, Colonel Terry Tan, commander of the Combat Service Support Command, said CFC Pang was qualified and competent to carry out his work as an armament technician.
Col Tan said the actor had undergone refresher training when he reported for his ICT duty in New Zealand and also completed seven ICT stints. If it is beyond the competency of the forward maintenance platoon - which CFC Pang was part of - regular technicians would be asked to come forward to diagnose the fault, added Col Tan.
Yet some NSmen interviewed were unsure if the few days or weeks allocated for refresher training could reacquaint them with their vocational skill sets and allow them to pick up where they left off.
For instance, steering an armoured vehicle was unlike driving a car, pointed out one NSman, who is in an armour unit.
"We have familiarisation drives. But it takes time to adjust to steering an armoured vehicle again, especially when one hasn't driven one for a long time," said the NSman.
Some NSmen said they had observed their peers being uninterested in updating themselves and seeing ICTs as "a break from work".
An NSman in an infantry unit said: "The atmosphere is more relaxed than our active days. So there are some who come to slack and while their time away. There needs to be more urgency and initiative."
Others, however, believe the processes to equip these Singaporean sons for their roles have improved over the years - but the onus is on the individual to do his part.
Observers interviewed also remain confident that NSmen today are competent and qualified.
Mr Kurt Wee, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and a member of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, said he does not think it is a question of the NSmen's unfamiliarity with the drills, adding that they are trained and certified before undertaking certain roles.
"But sometimes there are unexpected situations that present themselves, and accidents can happen as a result," he said.
Defence analyst Ho Shu Huang of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies also believes the systems to train NSmen well "are in place and regularly improved".
"What unfortunately is beyond the SAF's control is the level of interest, motivation and attention individual NSmen demonstrate.
"NSmen invariably face competing demands for their time and attention. Competency can be developed, and any inconveniences can be overcome if an NSman is sufficiently motivated," he added.
"The million-dollar question then is what would motivate NSmen?"
NSMEN A CORE OF SAF
But observers said it is necessary for Singapore, being a small nation, to continue relying heavily on NSmen, whose sacrifices over the decades have helped the country develop a respected defence force.
Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira, deputy chair of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said NSmen are a core part of the force, "given that Singapore has a small resident population and has to meet its defence needs without crippling our labour force needs as well".
According to the Global Firepower, an index of countries' military strength, Singapore's military personnel total over 500,000, with some 432,500 reserve personnel.
The same index has Taiwan's total military personnel at 1,932,500, with 1,675,000 of them reserves. Israel's total is 615,000, with 445,000 reserve personnel.
Underscoring the view of NSmen as the SAF's backbone, Mr Ho pointed out that the term reservist was replaced with "operationally ready national serviceman" more than 20 years ago to plainly show they are not second-tier soldiers, as the previous term had implied.
"The end of one's full-time service merely marks the entry of a new phase of front-line service, not a relegation to the rear," he added.
After their full-time service, NSmen are liable to be called back for ICT of up to 40 days a year, serving as NSmen until age 40. For officers and senior military experts, the liability is until age 50.
Nee Soon GRC MP Henry Kwek, who also sits on the GPC for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said NSmen serve on the front line along with the regulars and full-time national servicemen (NSFs).
"Ensuring that SAF stays effective is a tremendous task sustained by the contributions of our NSmen, and the support of their families and employers," he added.
RECOMMENDATIONS
But some have questioned if it is wise for an NSman to be expected to handle heavy machinery after a period of absence from it.
Unlike professionals who work on these huge machines daily, an NSman's experience is limited to those few weeks of training yearly.
Mr Mark Lim Xian Jin, who wrote to ST Forum last Thursday, said expecting NSFs and NSmen to be able to handle and maintain complex machinery, such as tanks and artillery, "seems unwise".
"Mindef can instead employ a much larger team of full-time maintenance personnel, outside of the NSF population, to reduce the need for young NSFs to handle unfamiliar heavy machinery," he added. "There may be better solutions than the ones I have proposed, given the many challenges Mindef faces."
Yet, others said it was necessary to tap NSmen for non-combat roles. Civilian technicians could not be expected to go into battle, said adjunct film lecturer Eternality Tan, who is an automotive technician in his NS vocation.
"Having civilian technicians as operational support is useful because of their vast experience and expertise, particularly in diagnosing faults and techniques to rectify them.
"Sometimes, we may need to rely on them," said the NSman, who completed his ICT two weeks ago.
"But in terms of combat skills, we really have to rely on our soldiers."
Ms Pereira said the challenge was in ensuring that NSmen underwent adequate training without affecting their other commitments.
She suggested using digital tools and online portals so that NSmen could be trained more frequently outside their ICTs.
"Regular training helps to maintain the readiness of our forces, but training that is too time-consuming or takes place too frequently could affect the other commitments of our NSmen," she said.
Mr Ho added that "as much as we see it is the SAF's organisational responsibility to ensure safe training... people, including NSmen, form that organisation".
"Everyone has a part to play, first by taking training seriously and paying attention to what they or others are doing. After all, NS training, by virtue of what one is training for, is inherently risky."
• Additional reporting by Lester Wong
you set your rifle to auto, everything also kena sprayed. Even her 
