We all have heard stories or articles about life in Army or Singapore Police Force. And it is only right to put SCDF in the picture as well. So these are the things you'll have to know if you are enlisted into SCDF as a recruit.
1) Don't wear formal shirt on your enlistment day.
Yes, you want to look good and smart on your enlistment day and to show others how well you can dress. But trust me, don't. I wore a formal shirt and I regretted it. I had to wear the formal shirt for the rest of the day and it is extremely uncomfortable.
2) Half Right Change
For the PES A to B guys, you must get used to this 3 words, "HALF RIGHT CHANGE". Which means change to push up position facing 45 degree to your right. As a recruit, I think I've heard it more than 500 times. I've heard it so much to the point if somebody were to say "half right change" while I'm sleeping, I'd jump out from my bed and do half right. It's that scary.
3) Semula
This word is a curse word as well. Don't even think about "semula" and "half right change" put together, just don't, it's nothing more than a combination of nightmares. It basically means 'redo'. So if you've already done a crazy amount of jumping jacks and half rights, and you hear your superior say "Semula", it doesn't matter how many half right you've done, you jolly well go back to zero.
4) Not Everyone Can Be a Firefighter
When I was a recruit, my dream was to be able to crossover to Civil Defence Academy (CDA) and undergo Section Commander Course which is something like the Sergeant course in the Army. So for the front liners, there's Firefighter, Section Commanders, Rota Commanders, and Special Rescue Unit(SRU).
TAKE NOTE! If you by any chance have a record with the police, say goodbye to your dream of becoming a firefighter, even minor cases such as illegal driving. Now, a CLEAN firefighters is what they want. Those with "cases", can still be in the front line, but usually on standby and only seldom activated unless needed. They are the Special Rescue Unit which I'll talk about in the next point.
5) Special Rescue Unit
Used to be called Special Rescue Battalion, then to Special Rescue Platoon, and now Special Rescue Unit. There are numerous stories about this unit when it comes to ragging. Out of the whole unit, 90% of them has a criminal record. In the past, ragging happened every single day. However, the generation we live in now, if anything were to happen to you, be a snitch and report. But I can't guarantee what's gonna happen to you after that. So if you are posted to SRU, just keep a low profile and be humble.
6) Sodexo
Sodexo will be your best friend as a recruit. Providing you 3 meals a day with fruits. Get ready to eat chicken wings cooked in 100 different ways you can ever imagine. They do have nice food, occasionally. But whatever it is, it is healthy and I do miss their food. Just make sure the utensils and plates are clean before getting your food.
7) Platoon mates
As a recruit, you'll be stuck with a bunch of people for 3 months if you are in the Physical Training Phase batch or 5 weeks if you are in the Basic Rescue Training batch. You will meet different people with different personalities, ranging from intelligent all the way to stupid. It is not a bad thing, trust me. You will learn a lot from everyone in your time as a recruit. There is usually that one or two guys whom are the noisiest and simply gets everyone in trouble. You'll only learn to grow hatred, annoyed but trust me, you will not be the only one. You and perhaps others who feels the same way too might just question among yourselves "why can't they just shut up?"
5) Special Rescue Unit
Used to be called Special Rescue Battalion, then to Special Rescue Platoon, and now Special Rescue Unit. There are numerous stories about this unit when it comes to ragging. Out of the whole unit, 90% of them has a criminal record. In the past, ragging happened every single day. However, the generation we live in now, if anything were to happen to you, be a snitch and report. But I can't guarantee what's gonna happen to you after that. So if you are posted to SRU, just keep a low profile and be humble.
6) Sodexo
Sodexo will be your best friend as a recruit. Providing you 3 meals a day with fruits. Get ready to eat chicken wings cooked in 100 different ways you can ever imagine. They do have nice food, occasionally. But whatever it is, it is healthy and I do miss their food. Just make sure the utensils and plates are clean before getting your food.
7) Platoon mates
As a recruit, you'll be stuck with a bunch of people for 3 months if you are in the Physical Training Phase batch or 5 weeks if you are in the Basic Rescue Training batch. You will meet different people with different personalities, ranging from intelligent all the way to stupid. It is not a bad thing, trust me. You will learn a lot from everyone in your time as a recruit. There is usually that one or two guys whom are the noisiest and simply gets everyone in trouble. You'll only learn to grow hatred, annoyed but trust me, you will not be the only one. You and perhaps others who feels the same way too might just question among yourselves "why can't they just shut up?"
Yet again, at the end of the day it is people like this that make your recruit life exciting. Like what people always say. Lan lan suck thumb.
8) Salary
You will get a pathetic amount of $480 as a recruit and private. For Lance Corporal, $500. $20 more. YAY right? If you're a smoker, $480 is not enough. If you're not, it's not enough too. This time, it is best to manage your money well and go think of something to do in your free time when you book out. Sell some stuffs on websites or start up something to generate income during your NS time. Even 100 to 200 bucks per month extra can help out a lot. Refrain from clubbing if the only income you have is from your NS pay. There will be people who spends almost their entire pay over the weekends and you start hearing them complaining how broke they are. Not a wise thing to do, so don't.
9) Malay Lingos
As we all know, SCDF is considered a "malay territory." Which means, you will need to pick up basic malay language, for your own sake. Because all the marching commands are in malay. And it will get you in trouble if you do not know the commands for marching. Get used to it.
10) Girlfriends
It is common that people breakup with their girlfriend when they are in NS. Some AWOL for their girlfriends, some cry themselves to sleep at night. Yes it is quite tough training inside while your girlfriend is outside doing god knows what. Let's say you're in PTP batch undergoing 5 weeks of training. And then head over to Firefighter course for another 3 months. You can only meet your girlfriend over the weekends. That's really tough but it is a good time to see how strong this relationship is. Those who make is, usually make it. Those who don't, I'm sorry. Just keep training, you're still young.
8) Salary
You will get a pathetic amount of $480 as a recruit and private. For Lance Corporal, $500. $20 more. YAY right? If you're a smoker, $480 is not enough. If you're not, it's not enough too. This time, it is best to manage your money well and go think of something to do in your free time when you book out. Sell some stuffs on websites or start up something to generate income during your NS time. Even 100 to 200 bucks per month extra can help out a lot. Refrain from clubbing if the only income you have is from your NS pay. There will be people who spends almost their entire pay over the weekends and you start hearing them complaining how broke they are. Not a wise thing to do, so don't.
9) Malay Lingos
As we all know, SCDF is considered a "malay territory." Which means, you will need to pick up basic malay language, for your own sake. Because all the marching commands are in malay. And it will get you in trouble if you do not know the commands for marching. Get used to it.
10) Girlfriends
It is common that people breakup with their girlfriend when they are in NS. Some AWOL for their girlfriends, some cry themselves to sleep at night. Yes it is quite tough training inside while your girlfriend is outside doing god knows what. Let's say you're in PTP batch undergoing 5 weeks of training. And then head over to Firefighter course for another 3 months. You can only meet your girlfriend over the weekends. That's really tough but it is a good time to see how strong this relationship is. Those who make is, usually make it. Those who don't, I'm sorry. Just keep training, you're still young.
It's "semula" not "samula". The whole Singapore uses malay command for marching and it's not only Scdf. Don't be so typical.
ReplyDeleteAnd it's not salary, it's just an allowance. NS is a liability not a job. Get it right before posting thanks.
ReplyDeleteHe wrote so many stuffs about SCDF and all you do is point out his minor mistakes which dont really matter at all..
ReplyDeleteCan understand can already lah..
Anyway, well done author.. a nice overview of SCDF.. especially the "Half-right change" my favorite, cos i was a PTI.. haha..
Ex-PTI from SCDF
hahahahahah
DeletePti suckk
DeleteHaiyohhh. He talking to SCDF recruits so his focus on SCDF what. you sound more typical la.
ReplyDeleteGood job on writing an article targeted for SCDF recruits. As an ex drill instructor of the formal Jalan Bahar camp, allow me share my view points on a few things. 1st thing, be proud of being a CD boy (used to be called) Being assigned as a CD personnel is not typically a condemned role in NS liabilities. Contrary to popular beliefs, SCDF are not a dumping ground for ex-convicts or lowly educated people. These are the issues that a lot of my ex-recruits used to share with me.
ReplyDeleteThere’s constantly a sense of lower self-confidence with the guys in there. Especially so if there didn’t made the mark to be a Fire Fighter which was being recognised as a real men’s vocation. Much like the Commandos or SAF. But truth be told, any role in CD is equally important to the nation’s life saving force. Don’t despair if during your first book-out that your SAF school mates talked about digging trenches and firing M16s and how manly it is while you’re not as “shiong” as them. It’s okay. Don’t fret over it. Medics, Paramedics, Provost, Ops, Shelter unit, USAR and even a clerk plays an important role whether it is directly or in-directly saving someone’s life in this country.
The SCDF now has improved heaps since the CD back in the days of Jalan Bahar doing the orange helmets. Uniform quality (it fades to Purple! YES purple), bunks (haunted mansion), food (we had Frisbee prata last time) , e-mart (goodness, we only had to beg for things to be changed) and an overall wider recognition of SCDF now as compare to last time.
CD used to have CITI aka construction brigade, a lot of the Chao Ah Beng who used to be posted to CD only had CITI to look forward to. CITI unit is where BCA is situated now. HDB flats were built by CD boys in the past. Working side by side with Thai construction workers. Other than that, most CD boys either AWOLed or just kena GD roles (General Duties aka Cream of the condemned) Not that I felt that way about GD but at least that’s how things were back then. USAR (Urban Search And Rescue skills are also taught there to equip all CD boys with knowledge on how to help in the event or any national disaster such as earthquake, tsunami, a collapsed building.) Shelter unit and public warning system is also part of SCDF responsibilities. The Shelter unit was trained to swiftly convert under MRT stations into massive bomb shelters capable of withstanding Air raids. Public warning system is constantly maintained by SCDF to prepare us of the day that we might use it for real. Now, SCDF has not just Nation wide recognition but also regional and in some instance Global.
A few things to point out that SCDF is different from SAF, SAF = Half left down. SCDF = Half right down. SAF = Smoking in designated areas. SCDF = No smoking at all. SAF = BMT, SCDF = BRT (Basic Rescue Training). No need for SBO, there’s no battle to go to. Not sure if there’s SOC now but last time SOC is without “SBO”
In conclusion, serve your NS liability with pride as a SCDF personnel. Concentrate on learning all the life saving skills you can get from it. It may be most important life skill training you will ever get in your life.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a thorough response. There's a lot of misinformation out there about the SCDF, tonnes of generalisations based on a few anecdotes. The SCDF is the life-saving force of Singapore, and if you have the opportunity to serve your NS in it, you should be proud to do so.
DeleteAs a front-line ambulance medic, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to use my skills to help people. Not to denigrate other forces, but I think it would be pity to train months as a soldier in the SAF and not be able to use what I had learnt, as you do in the SCDF.
Nah.
DeleteYou've failed to mention the busiest frontliner NSF which is the ambulance medics. They work on the ambulance attending to more than 120,000 calls per year. Deserves due recognition
ReplyDeleteYes.. I agreed with u. Frankly speaking when 1st I received an enlistment letter from SCDF my heart broke. Make a call to CMPB and wanted to change to SAF but didnt managed to get it. So what to do.. dragged myself on the day for enlistment. After going for hard months of training I realised what I am doing now will benefits me in future and now I am still working as a Fire Officer.
DeleteI feel that the biggest difference that sets SCDF apart from our counterparts in the SAF is primarily the front line. Many of my friends still can not believe what I see on a weekly basis on my shifts and one even commented, "NSFs shouldnt be exposed to such level of gore" to which I replied, in the real world you would want to be okay in dealing with these. But as usual things can be streamlined and maybe give our recruit times the extra benefits, like a POP parade when we pass out from NSTI.
ReplyDeleteI Love your article. I been in BRT for 1 month then Crossover to CDA as a FF. Now FFC for 2 months. There will a short list for SCC again to those "Kilat" in FFC will be serving with the next intake.
ReplyDeleteTo my experience in BFFT,you'll get half right a lot of time for not being disciplined enough cb. But after ORD definitely gonna miss Ns life.
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ReplyDelete