random thoughts…from steven

On a few occasions I’ve written some comments about my experiences in Singapore’s military. And over time I’ve noticed that this is one topic that is close to the heart of many Singaporeans. I guess the fact that it is mandatory for all Singaporean males does make it a hot topic. 

In fact, a recent comment did ask for my opinion as to whether I think National Service in Singapore should be mandatory or voluntary for both males and females. And I thought it interesting enough to share my views on that…

Let me say outright that I don’t think there is a right or wrong to this. It works for some countries and not for some. And I think it’s important to differentiate the two. Mandatory service means you have no choice, you are recruited into it by law and not going would mean breaking the law. Voluntary on the other hand means you can choose to sign up and it means you would make this a career choice and it would essentially become your “job” compared to just “service” for those 2 years (and the 2 weeks of reserve training each year).

That out of the way. I would say mandatory national service has worked for a country like Singapore. Here are some reasons why I think so.

First I would argue that Singapore is so small and so we cannot in all practicality rely on just a career army. There literally aren’t enough people in the country to allow the nation to have both an effective military and a robust economy. We must protect our own people with our own people at the helm.

Secondly, the army was for me a great learning experience. Having grown up in what I believe is a “very sheltered” Singapore, it gave me a chance to meet other chaps from all walks of life and to learn many life skills. Many of us grown up knowing only certain groups of people, but once in the military, it’s a melting pot and you learn just who are the guys you can truly rely on.

Thirdly, it really gave me a chance to build some very strong bonds with the guys I served time with. For almost a year we were together 6 days a week, 24 hours a day. You either got along or you learnt to get along. At the end of it, you cannot help but know each other very well. And there are many friendships I delveloped there which are still strong till today.

As for women being made to go full time in the military…I don’t think this needs to happen. One could argue that they would also benefit from the same experiences (as I mentioned above), it’s true, but I think it’s better that they spend their time in other areas. It is a unique quality that makes a woman suitable for military service and from a general point of view, most women do not have that quality. And that’s great because it means they can excel in other areas, so once again a balance of nature occurs.

So yes, my experience in the military was fulfilling but I believe that is largely because I chose to make it so. It’s up to every individual to either make the most or the least of it. So it can be a waste of time or it can be a great learning experience. It’s a personal choice.