I spoke to a Grab driver. He was previously served over 20 years in SAF and retired as a major at age 45.
He said that the pay was good but there were no challenges to continue a career in SAF. He wanted to try something new.
Here are some thoughts that crossed my mind:
a) With his kind of training (and SAF does provide top class leadership and operational training to their regulars), surely he could be useful for some suitable jobs in the private sector, rather than drive Grab?
b) Could be be retained in the SAF to provide training to NS men, rather than rely on young and inexperienced NS officers and NCOs to provide the training?
What do you think?
He said that the pay was good but there were no challenges to continue a career in SAF. He wanted to try something new.
Here are some thoughts that crossed my mind:
a) With his kind of training (and SAF does provide top class leadership and operational training to their regulars), surely he could be useful for some suitable jobs in the private sector, rather than drive Grab?
b) Could be be retained in the SAF to provide training to NS men, rather than rely on young and inexperienced NS officers and NCOs to provide the training?
What do you think?
1 comment:
1. He likely overspent on lifestyle e.g. landed pty or D9 or 10 condo. With his salary he cld have build up portfolio to provide passive income by 45. I know becoz I know 2 other ex-regulars who made wiser decisions.
2. He was a "casualty" of prev change to SAF HR policy -- those with no potential for Colonel & above are forced to retire at 45. Today I think changed to 55. But problem still the same -- too many overpaid jiak liao bees in Mindef.
3. Most of these long service regulars have lost touch with on the ground operational matters. They are mostly involved with wasteful admin, HQ, politicking, indian chief, procedural matters. Most of the nitty gritty operations are delegated to NSFs, NSmen or outsourced to contractors. Every small batch of younger regulars doing the siong nitty gritty operations want to quickly get promoted & rotated out of those siong duties after 2-3 years.
4. He probably given 2nd career in MOE as Ops Mgr in one of the schools, but maybe quit or let go. Some can't adapt to civilian style of working with colleagues. That's why you see many prefer solo jobs e.g. selling insurance or pty, or now pte hire drivers.
5. SAF just needs to aggresively streamline & professionalise itself to improve, while tearing down the entrenched culture of protecting old birds & top mgmt.
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