Thursday, January 15, 2009
National Service
You know, I really sympathize with people meeting with mishaps while serving national service. We had seen like 4 major ones reported in The Straits Times since 2008? Of course there are other incidents that I am sure were not reported but never mind.
I hate National Service. When I started BMT, I thought, "yes we must defend our country! My life for Singapore!" As time went by and I spent most of it doing nothing, feeling stupid and last but not least waiting, my opinion changed drastically of course.
After reading about the latest incident(the storeman one), I got annoyed enough to type this post.
According to the newspaper report, so-and-so Sergeant Major said duty personnel can go to rest at 5pm or something like that, so therefore the person is not considered working when the accident happened. I mean seriously, most of the things are so messed up in the army I have even worked from 7am to 12 midnight before. So if I get knocked down by a rover at 12 midnight they are not going to pay for my hospital bill? Of course there was this other statement from the other guy that the storemen were ordered to work from 8am to 6pm, which obviously is the truth.
Then we have the incidents of people running and dying suddenly. We have to come to accept the fact that not everyone is physically-able. Not everyone is like LOOK-AT-ME-I-AM-SO-MANLY-I-CAN-RUN-FOREVER-AND-NOT-SLEEP. Everyone is genetically different. In the reports that I have read(if I recall correctly), most of these incidents happen despite stringent safety guidelines which include most importantly SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP. In my 3 months at BMTC, I am quite sure only less than 7 days out of like maybe 80 days I have 7 hours of sleep.
Now, what is really irking me is that, if you paper pushers want to make guidelines, at least STICK TO THEM. Or admit to the public that your guidelines are NOT BEING FOLLOWED? What is the use of all the nicely printed Arial size 12 black font bullet point safety guidelines Word documents if YOUR GUIDELINES ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED?
I don't really care if I have 7 hours of sleep, because I know I am fit. How about the 1% of the cohort? At risk of death/accidents all the time?
Oh you know, here is a typical scenario during my BMTC.
11pm : Some guy giving debrief
11.15pm: Go up fight to shower hurry clean stuff brush teeth
12midnight: Fall asleep
5.45am: Wake up brush teeth
6am: Breakfast
6.30am: Area cleaning
7am: Start of first activity
Some guy: "Physical training now.. you guys had seven hours of sleep?"
Everyone starts to count. Even if one does not shower, there isn't 7 hours. Speaking of which, someone in my platoon actually said yes because he clocked 6hr30min(close to 7) of sleep. I never stood anywhere near him again. But thats besides the point.
Everyone: "No?"
Some guy: "Okay good all of you had 7 hours of sleep we can begin."
Okay let's see.. ahh my mind is under attack! Save me someone! No not that phrase! Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..
Ok this won the battle in my mind. Epitome of retardedness. It had a close battle with "Overly-used statement by witless people who think they are really funny."
Ask ANYONE who went through army whether this happened to them. I know their answers already.
I hate National Service. When I started BMT, I thought, "yes we must defend our country! My life for Singapore!" As time went by and I spent most of it doing nothing, feeling stupid and last but not least waiting, my opinion changed drastically of course.
After reading about the latest incident(the storeman one), I got annoyed enough to type this post.
According to the newspaper report, so-and-so Sergeant Major said duty personnel can go to rest at 5pm or something like that, so therefore the person is not considered working when the accident happened. I mean seriously, most of the things are so messed up in the army I have even worked from 7am to 12 midnight before. So if I get knocked down by a rover at 12 midnight they are not going to pay for my hospital bill? Of course there was this other statement from the other guy that the storemen were ordered to work from 8am to 6pm, which obviously is the truth.
Then we have the incidents of people running and dying suddenly. We have to come to accept the fact that not everyone is physically-able. Not everyone is like LOOK-AT-ME-I-AM-SO-MANLY-I-CAN-RUN-FOREVER-AND-NOT-SLEEP. Everyone is genetically different. In the reports that I have read(if I recall correctly), most of these incidents happen despite stringent safety guidelines which include most importantly SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP. In my 3 months at BMTC, I am quite sure only less than 7 days out of like maybe 80 days I have 7 hours of sleep.
Now, what is really irking me is that, if you paper pushers want to make guidelines, at least STICK TO THEM. Or admit to the public that your guidelines are NOT BEING FOLLOWED? What is the use of all the nicely printed Arial size 12 black font bullet point safety guidelines Word documents if YOUR GUIDELINES ARE NOT BEING FOLLOWED?
I don't really care if I have 7 hours of sleep, because I know I am fit. How about the 1% of the cohort? At risk of death/accidents all the time?
Oh you know, here is a typical scenario during my BMTC.
11pm : Some guy giving debrief
11.15pm: Go up fight to shower hurry clean stuff brush teeth
12midnight: Fall asleep
5.45am: Wake up brush teeth
6am: Breakfast
6.30am: Area cleaning
7am: Start of first activity
Some guy: "Physical training now.. you guys had seven hours of sleep?"
Everyone starts to count. Even if one does not shower, there isn't 7 hours. Speaking of which, someone in my platoon actually said yes because he clocked 6hr30min(close to 7) of sleep. I never stood anywhere near him again. But thats besides the point.
Everyone: "No?"
Some guy: "Okay good all of you had 7 hours of sleep we can begin."
Okay let's see.. ahh my mind is under attack! Save me someone! No not that phrase! Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..
Ok this won the battle in my mind. Epitome of retardedness. It had a close battle with "Overly-used statement by witless people who think they are really funny."
Ask ANYONE who went through army whether this happened to them. I know their answers already.
