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I received something which all guys at this period of time hates... SAF 100
If i had a digital cam or sort, i would have post it up here to show the hideous look of this letter that dreads the living day lights out of all NSmen at my age group.
All government letter would inevitably have the Singapore Code of Arms with words in bold "on government service" under it. Then comes the dreadful black icon at the bottom righthand corner. It reads "SAF 100" with this black soldier in his helmet and rifle pointing to the right.Yes, its the exact figure that flashes on the tv or in the movies when theres a open mobilisation exercise.SAF 100 is a letter that informs both the NSmen and his employee of a recall back in camp. Most probable reason will be for in camp training (ICT).
I received this letter early in the morning from mom, before rushing to work. This really not a good time, as i thought the next ICT would be in the end of the year, and not the coming semester vacation after the attachment. SAF really likes to plan ICT during the university vacation period for all new NSmen so as to ensure that all undergrads attend ICT and not defer to later dates due to studying reasons. 1 month vacation plans for going overseas and stuff vanish into dust at the words of SAF 100.
Immediate reaction was to tear the letter open to see the affected dates and brace for the worse case scenario for the semester vacation.
MOB Briefing....
Anxiousness turns to signs of relief with a tinge of crapness. the recall was for a mobilisation briefing in june, a 1 day event. Relieved as it was not ICT and its only for a day and not during the vacation period. Crappy as this is like 5th or more times that i've attended this kind of mob briefing. We have been briefed before we ORD, many times during ICTs and the details from all these briefings can't really change much.
Mob briefings are really boring and a chore. Half a day of briefing with the usual boo-hu. The most important detail to note during these briefing is not the period of probable mobilisation or the time to report but to update ourselves on the fine and penalty for not reporting for mobalisations and recalls. If i did remember correctly it was a $100 fine for the first time offenders. Since most guys are working, this small price to pay is kinda worth it than the hasslethat mobilisations bring into our lives especially during the precious weekends. Some of the worse things includes getting a proper hair cut and trying to fit into the greeny uniforms. Most guys would cry out "Wah, i thought i could keep my golden long hair for 1 year before the next recall". Next would be to fit into the uniform. Usually the top would not be a problem as they are much looser fit, the worst is the trousers. guys usually grow fat after their active days as compared to the skinny days in BMT. The worse case is to find that you can't fit into them 1 day before the actual recall. Then you have to scuffle and find means to get suitable uniform. Trust me, that is from a personal experience.
Sometimes i wonder how come SAF can't just send us the briefing details in letter itself? Or electronically through email since we are already in the high-tech era. This would definitely save our time to go for these breifings. Maybe this is a way to show off their capability to organise their manpower during briefings. To show off their efficient their administration when we guys report. Still remembered once during one of the briefings where my NUS company mate had to defer due to a test or lecture on the saturday. Being a detachment i/c, his name was called out and nobody acknowledge it. In the crowd of hundreds, the RSM cried out his name many times and still nobody answered. He got angry and threatened to not let us leave until my companymate arrived for the briefing. it was not until his platoon mate replied that he had already defered and had informed the headquarters about it. Later after the briefing, i heard that SAF denied that they received any info on this deferment and my NUS friend was to be charged for not attending the briefing. Guess its the way how SAF tries to cover their own stinking backside and pushes the responsibility around.
Just have to live with it. Still many more years and many more SAF 100s to come.
If i had a digital cam or sort, i would have post it up here to show the hideous look of this letter that dreads the living day lights out of all NSmen at my age group.
All government letter would inevitably have the Singapore Code of Arms with words in bold "on government service" under it. Then comes the dreadful black icon at the bottom righthand corner. It reads "SAF 100" with this black soldier in his helmet and rifle pointing to the right.Yes, its the exact figure that flashes on the tv or in the movies when theres a open mobilisation exercise.SAF 100 is a letter that informs both the NSmen and his employee of a recall back in camp. Most probable reason will be for in camp training (ICT).
I received this letter early in the morning from mom, before rushing to work. This really not a good time, as i thought the next ICT would be in the end of the year, and not the coming semester vacation after the attachment. SAF really likes to plan ICT during the university vacation period for all new NSmen so as to ensure that all undergrads attend ICT and not defer to later dates due to studying reasons. 1 month vacation plans for going overseas and stuff vanish into dust at the words of SAF 100.
Immediate reaction was to tear the letter open to see the affected dates and brace for the worse case scenario for the semester vacation.
MOB Briefing....
Anxiousness turns to signs of relief with a tinge of crapness. the recall was for a mobilisation briefing in june, a 1 day event. Relieved as it was not ICT and its only for a day and not during the vacation period. Crappy as this is like 5th or more times that i've attended this kind of mob briefing. We have been briefed before we ORD, many times during ICTs and the details from all these briefings can't really change much.
Mob briefings are really boring and a chore. Half a day of briefing with the usual boo-hu. The most important detail to note during these briefing is not the period of probable mobilisation or the time to report but to update ourselves on the fine and penalty for not reporting for mobalisations and recalls. If i did remember correctly it was a $100 fine for the first time offenders. Since most guys are working, this small price to pay is kinda worth it than the hasslethat mobilisations bring into our lives especially during the precious weekends. Some of the worse things includes getting a proper hair cut and trying to fit into the greeny uniforms. Most guys would cry out "Wah, i thought i could keep my golden long hair for 1 year before the next recall". Next would be to fit into the uniform. Usually the top would not be a problem as they are much looser fit, the worst is the trousers. guys usually grow fat after their active days as compared to the skinny days in BMT. The worse case is to find that you can't fit into them 1 day before the actual recall. Then you have to scuffle and find means to get suitable uniform. Trust me, that is from a personal experience.
Sometimes i wonder how come SAF can't just send us the briefing details in letter itself? Or electronically through email since we are already in the high-tech era. This would definitely save our time to go for these breifings. Maybe this is a way to show off their capability to organise their manpower during briefings. To show off their efficient their administration when we guys report. Still remembered once during one of the briefings where my NUS company mate had to defer due to a test or lecture on the saturday. Being a detachment i/c, his name was called out and nobody acknowledge it. In the crowd of hundreds, the RSM cried out his name many times and still nobody answered. He got angry and threatened to not let us leave until my companymate arrived for the briefing. it was not until his platoon mate replied that he had already defered and had informed the headquarters about it. Later after the briefing, i heard that SAF denied that they received any info on this deferment and my NUS friend was to be charged for not attending the briefing. Guess its the way how SAF tries to cover their own stinking backside and pushes the responsibility around.
Just have to live with it. Still many more years and many more SAF 100s to come.
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