I watched the highly regarded "The Hurt Locker" that won the "Best Picture" award at the 82nd Academy Awards Ceremony. It is an intense film that chronicles the tour of duty of a section of bomb disposal squad members whose job was to defuse bombs and improvised explosive devices in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq under US occupation.
I've had some basic training in demolitions during my full-time NS service and understand some of the lingo used in the film. Detonators, det-cord, fuses etc were things I've seen for myself in real life and could understand in reel-life. That is one of the few benefits of serving NS in the army. You actually understand war movies and could comment intelligently on whether the film is realistic because I actually can do some of the stuff people in war movies can, e.g. shoot a rifle, GMPG, throw grenades, duck from blasts and taking cover from (simulated) enemy fire etc.
When I watch the modern US forces at work in real or reel-life, I am constantly amazed at the quality of their equipment, i.e. personal gear that the soldiers are equipped. Their combat load must be quite heavy as typically the infantryman are shown with vests, skeletal battle order and helmet, personal weapon (usually M4 with scope). Even their uniform is something the SAF has emulated in the new pixelised camouflage pattern and high mandarin type of collar shirts.
Thus, I'm not surprised that recent news report about the US army changing their physical training exercise drills to emphasise core training and ability to move quickly under load in FIBUA (fighting in built-up areas) combat environments echoes the realities of the battle scenarios actually experience by US soldiers.
US soldiers are volunteers and comprise a fully professional military whereas our army is staffed with mostly conscripts. One has to wonder if really an army of conscripts would fight as hard as an army of professionals if the conflict did not involve defending one's own country. That was what struck me while reading General Ngiap Vo Ngyuen's biography on his experiences leading the North Vietnamese Army against the French, the Americans and against his own countrymen the South Vietnamese.
"The Hurt Locker" appealed to me because it was not a story "about" the Iraq war. It is about a small group's experiences in combat that sees them fighting against faceless insurgents in Iraq whose main (effective) weapon was the improvised explosive device (IED). The difference between life and death in combat is mere seconds where a simple sniper's bullet, explosive shrapnel from an IED or small arms fire can snuff out a life just like that. It really makes one appreciate the peace we have in Singapore and the region.
Thinking back, I put my life on the line twice for this country as well, performing protection of installations duty as part of operations to defend Singapore against terrorism. Whilst the probability of attack was low, it could still have occurred if it happened that the day my team was patrolling was attacked by an IED or even by someone who wanted to trade his life for ours in the name of religion or his fanatical beliefs.
The unsung reservists and full-time NSmen go through our duty and responsibilities as loyal citizens of Singapore. But increasingly, we are being marginalised in our own country given the disparity between our obligations and duties versus our rights. Permanent residents enjoy many of the privileges and non of the duties, including that of possibly sacrificing their lives for Singapore. Even Singaporean women enjoy more rights than Singaporean men as they serve no form of compulsory national service.
A lot of talk recently by the State on balancing between welcoming immigrants and making citizens feel included has helped to ease but not eliminate this disparity, for Singaporean men risk economic loss, injury or even death in their duties to the State. The tax reliefs and SAFRA memberships and additional top-ups of $50-100 does not do much to balance the scale. More has to be done because currently, the price of our NS sacrifice is only worth $1,500 to $5,000 (Year of Assessment 2010 - depending on whether you are active/inactive NSman and if you are a Key Appointment Holder) relief. That is not even giving you cash of $1,500 or $5,000, that only saves you tax of your effective tax rate multiplied by that amount.
I am just glad that my own NS obligations are over and I have done my duty to my country without any deferment. 2.5 years of full-time NS in combat units and 10 years of reservist in the People's Defence Force with 2 tours of operational duties.
Majullah Singapura.
Posts
3 comments:
The state has always been exploitative of NSmen. It has NEVER recognized the heaven and earth difference between sacrificing ones life for the country by being put in harm's way and a fatal injury incurred while employed in a civilian occupation because both are treated in the same scale of the workmen's compensation act. That's how much the current policy of the country regards your service to the nation.
I also knew of an instance when a reservists whose father passed away while he was in Taiwan training being brought back and discharged of his in-camp training ON THE SPORT at the Singapore airport AND TOLD TO RETURN THE OUTSTANDING AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION BY THE SAF GIVEN IN LIEU OF HIS CIVILIAN PAY. The serviceman was expected to report back to his civilian employer who had in the meanwhile adjusted its work schedule due to his reservist absence from work including employing temp replacement, AND GET THIS, THE NSMAN WAS EXPECTED TO APPROACH HIS EMPLOYER FOR COMPASSIONATE PAID LEAVE TO ATTEND TO HIS LATE FATHER'S FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT.
The govt obviously beliefs in value for money and nothing of the wishy washy stuffs like posting him back to his local reservist parent unit for the duration of his in-camp! In other words, he was dropped like a hot brick the moment his utilization became encumbered by personal difficulties such as this!
Hi Gary
The sad thing is that stories like what you have shared are becoming more common the more I connect with fellow reservists in person or online.
Why are we NSmen voting in a party that treats NSmen like objects and means to an end?
Are we here to defend the country or to defend certain vested interests of the elite in this country?
Majullah Singapura.
Post a Comment