Do army regulars really have good pay and good life?

[garlic]

Hi, i was an army regular who signed on for 6.5 years.

A lot of the perks is quite untrue, at the least for the enlisted.

We pay the same down payment as every other Singapore Citizens, no priority queuing too, certainly no more discounts from Ford for their gas guzzling cars.

Everyone of us signed up for different reasons, some just want a stable job and nua for the rest of their life, some rich kids have nothing better else to do and decided that the army may be a great time killer, some like me lacking paper qualifications chose to enter the army and pursue higher education while being ensured a stable income.

Unfortunately i have seen how this easy money have destroyed many people:
They are not progressive, they have too much money and time and spend their money on gambling and womanizing.

A lot of us have ORD to pursue a more meaningful life and career outside the army. I have done quite ok if not terrific for the past 3.5 years since i left the army. If not for the politics and sycophancy, i would still have remained inside the army to protect this sorry excuse of a nation and my family.

Sometimes i really wished i was born American or Australian, their militaries are made up of volunteers and they take pride in serving. I on the other hand, have felt nothing but disgust after 6.5 years in the SAF bossed around by chickenshit officers and whoever has one more stripe than me.

My friend's husband left the army after 10 years and decided to come out and "chiong" in private sector. Only ST offered him a job and they only offered him on a contract basis for a year with no benefits, welfare nor bonus. After a year, he said he wished he had signed on further coz during that time, he, like with most regulars did not pursue a higher education and now only ST finds him relevant.

 

[wikiphile]

My friend's husband left the army after 10 years and decided to come out and "chiong" in private sector. Only ST offered him a job and they only offered him on a contract basis for a year with no benefits, welfare nor bonus. After a year, he said he wished he had signed on further coz during that time, he, like with most regulars did not pursue a higher education and now only ST finds him relevant.

A lot of former army regulars find their first job in sales as having no previous work experience, many employers are not very keen to give us a chance to learn and contribute.

Some of us got lucky and find a job that allows them to progress in their industry later while some like me, took a little longer and through knocks and a little bit of luck ended up in shipping.

For those with no qualifications, no connections or no back up, the army is still the best employer

 

[wikiphile]

You know in sg's context that isn't really a bad thing. Since when is too much money ever a bad thing? As for slacking off.

Hey comeon even the top dogs like prataman also do that. Shake some hands appear at some functions with escort and earn millions.

Having too much money sometimes can be a double-edged sword, i have so many ex colleauges who got so excited when they recieved their first paycheck, they would start spending beyond their means thinking that money will come in next month on the 10th no matter what.

Unfortunately, some got too carried away and even though they might have been in the force for the past 10 years or so, they hardly have saved any money but contributing it to the GNP of Thailand, Vietnam and PRC if you catch my drift or straight to the bookies.

 

[Don Muthuswamy]

Having too much money sometimes can be a double-edged sword, i have so many ex colleauges who got so excited when they recieved their first paycheck, they would start spending beyond their means thinking that money will come in next month on the 10th no matter what.

Unfortunately, some got too carried away and even though they might have been in the force for the past 10 years or so, they hardly have saved any money but contributing it to the GNP of Thailand, Vietnam and PRC if you catch my drift or straight to the bookies.

Correct me if Im wrong here but even if the pay's all right in the army bcos many of them lack paper qualifications, they'll still have 2 retire at 55 (Officers I tink is 45?). So assume that they have another say 20-25 yrs till 75-80, will they have the money 4 a comfortable retirement? And also what abt those married & having kids? They'll still have responsibilities wont they? As such, mayb the pay mite b gd 4 some1 whose single & not married.

 

[wikiphile]

Correct me if Im wrong here but even if the pay's all right in the army bcos many of them lack paper qualifications, they'll still have 2 retire at 55 (Officers I tink is 45?). So assume that they have another say 20-25 yrs till 75-80, will they have the money 4 a comfortable retirement? And also what abt those married & having kids? They'll still have responsibilities wont they? As such, mayb the pay mite b gd 4 some1 whose single & not married.

Old Scheme
Officers below the grade of COL (42 years old retirement)
Col and above (45 years old )
Warrant Officer (55 years old)
Enlisted (50 years old)

Officers above the rank of Colonel usually get a 2nd career in a GIC or some government body while those below the rank of Colonel is a heng suay situation.

I know a half colonel who is an insurance agent now as he was only offered a 2 yrs contract with MOE and decided at the end of his contract he wasn't going to get permanent employment from the government.

Officers though if they are superscale grade (LTC and above) gets a generous retirement package of around 500k or more though that isn't a lot when it has to last you for the next 25-30 years and supporting school going children

New Scheme
Officers retire at 50 years old
Enlisted including warrant officers at 60 years old
MDES depending on whether you enter the army enlisted or officer scheme

 

[Frankiestine]

U mean their annual salary add up for 20 years?

Its not their annual salary but rather the unpaid portion of the CPF. If not wrong Army personnel only pays 13% CPF, so the balance 7% is actually what they get back as gratuity.

 

[Frankiestine]

As for a enlisted rank regulars, they better wake up their ideas and obtain promotion to WOs as retirement age for enlisted regulars is 45yo. like dat really muz become taxi drivers.

Certain specialist vocation retirement age extend beyond 50.

 

[wikiphile]

Its not their annual salary but rather the unpaid portion of the CPF. If not wrong Army personnel only pays 13% CPF, so the balance 7% is actually what they get back as gratuity.

the 7% is invested in general investment schemes that the serviceman can only exercise three times during his career by choosing the following

Low risk
Medium risk
High risk

I have no fucking idea what i invested in during my 6.5 years as it was always explained vaugely (or i wasn't paying attention ) and that they have 'talks' claiming professional fund managers are managing and investing our money. It is also supplemented by a CPF top up periodically. I only got back 4,000 Top up when i left the service in my CPF

 

[wikiphile]

Certain specialist vocation retirement age extend beyond 50.

no they don't, but if they do want to retain you they can offer you new employment terms as a civillian as a DXO-EA or DXO depending on your last rank and paygrade.

 

[Frankiestine]

no they don't, but if they do want to retain you they can offer you new employment terms as a civillian as a DXO-EA or DXO depending on your last rank and paygrade.

I don't know if they have changed the terms or not but i do know the unit where I was once from, still retained a high portion of the regulars and some already in their 50s...probably because of the highly specialized vocation and difficulties in getting replacement..

 

[wikiphile]

I don't know if they have changed the terms or not but i do know the unit where I was once from, still retained a high portion of the regulars and some already in their 50s...probably because of the highly specialized vocation and difficulties in getting replacement..

I know of such units but i shall not discuss them here

 

[Frankiestine]

I know of such units but i shall not discuss them here

hehe neither am i with the OSA hanging over me....