I am a young expat who went through NS (BMTC & OCS)...

[dariusgrey]

I am a quasi-expat who has lived in multiple countries around the world yet still held a Singaporean passport that my parents got for me when I was very young.

I'm currently an undergrad at the Stern School of Business at NYU.

Please feel free to ask me any questions or concerns about the experience and what your child (or your friends') might go through, and I would love to try to answer them.

[dariusgrey]

I was born in Delhi, India, and both my parents are of Indian ethnicity. I have gone to International Schools (including UWCSEA in Singapore) my whole life until I came to the US when I was 13. Since then I went to middle school in California, and high school in Virginia where I graduated.

After graduation I had to go back to Singapore for NS where I faced massive cultural shock but managed to fit in, make friends and even succeed.

From the concerned questions of parents of my expat friends who were considering what the experience would be like for their PR or quasi-expat kids, I thought I'd take my experience and knowledge and put it up on the net to share.

[carolynW]

thanks for posting!

What units were you transferred to? I have heard of medics and desk jobs, do all go through the same basic training?

Is there much bullying?

Does it really toughen you up?

Did it build your confidence?

What part did you like best and why? What part did you hate the most and why?

[dariusgrey]

Hi Carolyn,

I managed to pass my IPPT test which shaved 2 months off my service. I started out in basic training (BMTC) on Pulau Tekong in Whiskey Company. From there I was posted to Officer Cadet School (OCS) and 9 months later commissioned as an infantry officer. After OCS I was reposted back to BMTC as a Platoon Commander, and given charge of 50 recruits every 3 months to train. I went through 3 of these cycles. My first was a group of polytechnic students, my 2nd cycle I was posted to an actual unit on the mainland, 5 SIR, where I trained incoming recruits who had not even been to a secondary education because they dropped out. My 3rd cycle was back on Pulau Tekong where I got a group of junior college students.

It's true that as long as you meet the basic medical requirements (primarily obesity standards) then you will all go through the same basic training. It is only through performance in BMTC that a recruit's post-BMTC assignment will be determined. Top performers go on to OCS (Officer Cadet School), next tier go to SISPEC (School of Infantry Specialists), and the rest become regular soldiers. Of these regular soldiers, one can be assigned to various fields such as infantry, armor, artillery etc. Within these fields are the various positions of being a soldier, a clerk, perhaps even training as a medic etc.

I must warn you though, although some kids go into NS trying to find the easiest desk job they can as a clerk, eventually sitting behind the same sterile desk doing the same mind-numbing pencil pushing for 2 years will become an infinitely greater torture than having to go through some tough physical activities.

As for bullying, it exists. But having gone through it (and participated on both sides) my conclusion is that it is not so much "bullying" as it is a "boys will be boys." Like on your birthday, don't be surprised if your friends sneak into your room and dust you in powder and smear shoe polish over your face. I never witnessed anything malicious, so its not really bullying. Its just rough and tumble play. Going through tough experiences together means that there is an inherent trust and respect that begins to form between soldiers. Although, to be fair, it is a two way street. Soldiers who don't extend trust and respect to others, will rarely find it given to them.

As for confidence, I feel like it really made a serious contribution. I was always a confident kid, but being in the army showed me how much I wasn't capable of--especially with regards to my physical capabilities (I did theater and student government in high school). But over time I saw myself able to attain higher physical standards than I knew I was capable of. It showed me that persistance towards a goal, no matter how lofty, would eventually pay off. By the end of my time in OCS I was one of the fastest 2.4km runners in my company.

As for what part I liked best or worst...I would say there were a tremendous amount of shitty moments. There was a time in OCS we had been digging trenches all day into the night (digging is one of the worst things possible), and somehow the Cadet who was supposed to wake us all up when he got the call from our instructor (we were in the middle of the jungle and had set up a hard wired phone to the shack where instructors were staying) never woke up himself. Our instructor came fuming up to us, punished us all severely (first thing in the morning... what a way to wake up!), had us cover up all our holes and start again. I mean that was absolutely heartbreaking, and one of my worst moments.

But now, it is an amazing story I can tell to others, and an amazing story I can tell to myself--to remind me of what I have overcome in the past, of what I am capable of. The worst moments become your best in the rosy tinted world of hindsight.

Of course there were also some purely great moments, such as how at the end of an exercise in a foreign country we got close to a week of R&R, and just got to spend that time with my army friends on a guided bus tour through the country, having fun and learning about a new culture, getting up to trouble. It was a great time.


I hope my anecdotes have been useful.[/i]

[Mad Scientist]

[sundaymorningstaple]

Word!

If one enters NS with the right attitude and embraces all that it can teach, you will definitely not regret what has transpired. I wish I never had to go to VN but the fact is I did, and it's given me things that there is no way I could have ever gotten as a civilian. Would I like to repeat it? No. But the experience has been invaluable for the rest of my life. I'm sure MS feels the same way.

Good for you and thank you for becoming a part of this forum!

sms

[Mad Scientist]

I have not gone thru what you have SMS i.e going to a war literally. Skirmishes, rule of engagement while on patrol with UN , yes. Riots in Maluku, Pontianak, Tri Sakti, yes. Chaim Herzog stupid invitation and its debacle yes.
Basra ,Bagdad after the First War in 1991
Do I want to see it again, HELL NO!! I have nightmares till now.

I was under Winston Choo, things are run in different way then. So much different from the ARMY 2000 era.
I was with the pes 65 group so do not get to enjoy of being an instructor. I cannot relate much of what he has said.

Good of him to show the different between now and then.

[hadr]

My respect for darius!
Considering that some locals try to evade this.

carolynW, you can search for "cyberpioneer" in youtube. The army has provided some clips that can offer insight on facilities or training condition.

[carolynW]

Thanks for the long post. I have two young boys and I think if we stay on here they will have to go, I actually think its good for their development (the world isn't an easy place) but my husband thinks its a waste of time, when they could be traveling or backpacking.

Do you think the experience has taught you to be a better person or more realistic?

Do you think you did the most growing up in this period?

Did you get into a mixed platoon, meaning you get to mix with different levels of society (which I think is important). Is it true you stick with this group for reservist? or for those older reservists, do you guys grow apart because of jobs and income?

Do you feel behind your peers that did not have to go? like you are left behind academically and then work wise or you feel you have a maturity from experiences you would not have otherwise been through?

[Sisi2000]

To those quasi-american-expat who has or is going through NS in Singapore, how does it affect your entrance into US universities, having to spend 2 years in NS? Do you apply to university of your choice before NS or after completion of NS? Thanks

[ev-disinfection]

dariusgrey


I have fully completed my national service.
Was with the combat engineers, and loved my time there.
attended all my in camp training as a reservist.

Turned me from a boy to a man.

I think that each "Company" is made up of the same group / level of people,
and since there are many "companies" in camp, you will get to mix around.

In my time, i had friends who started doing their NS, midway through, went off to start their Poly / uni courses, then went back to complete their NS, (or was it the other way around)

In MS time, Isrealis were here to train them, must have been really tough then, these days my nephew told me that after 7 pm, the boys were not to be disturbed... (personal time)

and the SG army is spending a lot on technology, so lesser men needed than before. Example: we needed 40 men, a few days to build a 40 meter bridge, now it takes only 6 men to build that same length, in a few hours.