Signing on with the gahmen. Bond.

P

Poolo

New member
What do softies here think of signing on with the govt?

SPF, SAF etc?

If possible, give some significant pros and cons and details.


Am 20, thinking of signing 5 years including my NS liabilities. Come out, diploma holder still, if possible, part time degree while work. In between, do some passion-related things like music. Sounds like a plan? Or, a waste of 5 years? (The cash isn't bad, sergent rank with 2k for dip holder).

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Poolo
 
yo...

i had this feeling too wen i was in NS spf.
my uncle recommended me like hell then i backed out coz to me i think tat i nid more challenges.
bein in spf is challenging but to me its just not my thing.
no doubt tat the $ is good.

ask urself tis questions:

"are you going to be hepi working in a uniform?"

"do u like the jobscope,KPI and all?"

"are u doing tis for the money or the passion (to protect life n property, to prevent n detect crime) or both?"

there are many2 pros & cons... just how u want to look at it.

good luck bro!!!
 
Polo, you sound as if you are quite certain or on the verge of signing...

Pluses
1. Job security - if you don't screw up big-time, you are ok for the next 5 years

2. Career planning - if you show potential, you may be groomed for higher positions or even sponsored to do a degree.

3. Competitive pay - the starting pay for entry-level civil servants esp uniformed ones, is quite attractive.

Minuses
1. Missed opportunities - you might be stuck in the same job and it may not be that straightforward to break your bond. I suppose there is a minimum period you need to serve if you are paid a salary whilst discharging your NS liability, e.g. if you decide to quit after 3 years, you may still have some NS liability left.

2. Limited flexibility - you may not be able to pursue new-found interests or a different career track even within the organisation if you are deemed not ready, not suitable etc.

3. General restrictions - I suppose there are things that civils servants cannot do, e.g. embarrass the organisation by doing something publicly silly. But, things have become more relaxed.

A pro can be a con and a con can be a pro.
It really depends on how you adopt and adapt to circumstances.

I guess it's better to pen down what matters to you most and decide from thence. Have fun!

RT2
 
you might wanna consider the oppinions of those who are in the force, because i've met several regulars, especially SAF specialists, who'd regretted signing on.
 
go for it if you have the passion for it.

besides if you can get a gold for you ippt thats a $400 bonus, if not it's a $200 or $100.
but please be able to clear your ippt before you sign on, if not it may hamper you chances of getting a promotion.

also, if marksmen, another $200?

erm, submit usms to get $5 more? lol!

furthermore, you get to keep fit too, get to use the camp's gym/swimming pool. go for live runs on 1,3,5.
 
IF you wanna join SAF join the air force or navy.. do not join the army the pay sucks. But if u want more action u can sign in for ADF Army Developement Force u might be deployed to a certain hotspot in Asia if there is a certain crisis. And the pay for just corporals is like 1.8k or more but u gotta do some stand by duties and not be home for 7 days though... these men test new gadgets for the army and if u are a military freak this is the best unit u can sign on to.

or i can say.... SAF is not the best option for a stable career lol...

for SPF or maybe SCDF is the best service you can join. the pay is stable and ALOT of action lol..
 
i was considering the joint SAF poly scholarship thing. anyone here is involved in that? just wondering how it works out.
 
If you want to sign on , you might as well sign on to be an officer, pay is much much higher, you get more benefits, and you can get them to pay for your university fees too. The offers/opportunities for specialists are just not as attractive.

and if you're really concern about money, you should just join be a teacher, a fresh NIE-grad teacher earns slightly more than the average CPT(1) and works for fewer working hours too.
 
sorry to hijack this thread but i've been checking out the career page at rsaf. starting pay for graduate with honours as a aeronautical engineer officer: $3.3k!!
 
shredded said:
sorry to hijack this thread but i've been checking out the career page at rsaf. starting pay for graduate with honours as a aeronautical engineer officer: $3.3k!!
Click to expand...

That is quite little.

I think at private sectors they can get more? (Always hear this from my seniors or older friends)

Diploma Holder, signed on with SPF gets a Sergent rank straight with a pay of 2.1k (Before NS).

After NS (2.3k)

Junior officer rank.

SPF Senior Officer Rank (AKA The degree holders section)

3.2-3.7k depending on the type of honors you have.

No honors, 3.1k.

Singapore Police Force - Career
 
yup, that looks better.

but from what i heard, if you have a crab on you shoulder in SAF, you'll get paid more than those who have in SPF or SCDF
 
shredded said:
yup, that looks better.

but from what i heard, if you have a crab on you shoulder in SAF, you'll get paid more than those who have in SPF or SCDF
Click to expand...

I suspect that kind, must degree + work very long?


Or, you shoot teh-lor-list or block bullet for pleah-see-dent. Should be can get.
 
Working as govt servant, the pros :-

1) Stability - no retrenchment, etc.
2) Lots of bonuses.. if u join SPF for example, u'll get these bonuses :- July Bonus, Dec Bonus, Performance Bonus, Retention Bonus (every 6th,8th,10th and 12th year of service). Then when u get married, U'll get Marriage Bonus from welfare. When ur wife give birth, u'll get Baby Bonus fro welfare also.
3) Free class 3 licence, with intermediate and advance training
4) More allowance if u r in the specialist unit like Seccom, STAR, SOC, CID, etc.


Cons :-
1) once u r tired of doing what u did for many many years, it's not easy to start life anew outside.
2) Maybe no time for jamming too.. hahah
 
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dude, anything below officer for the army is not worth it. and even then, at officer level, some scholarships or bonds are... how do i say... BS

if you sign on as a SAF spec, it's probably decent. but then you are looking at the short run. if you're not gonna serve 10 or 13 years and get your WO rank, i don't see the point in signing on.

if you stay for just 5 or 6 years, you might find that the work is meaningless, the pay is average for the duration that you are there, and after you ORD 5 years of your life had passed by and you would not have much relevant experience to bring to the industry.

If you are gonna sign on as a CPL/LCP/PTE, you should just forget about it unless your situation is dire.

in a way SAF is an easy way out. and SAF will take care of you while you are in it. but since it doesn't look like you intend to stay for long, i would say no point.

my advice is to serve your NS first, and experience first hand what the life inside is like. i guarantee you it is different from anything you have experienced. you will always have a chance to sign on while you are in
 
Yes sir to many experienced people in soft!


Thanks for the advice. In the end, I thought about it; didn't go for the interview.


1.8k in IT industry VS 2.1k at SPF. That 200-300 bucks per mth, I'm willing to sacrifice for more freedom to do some music and have fun jamming with friends. Cheers to all!
 
Bottom line for working for any civil service in in SG. If you're satisfied with a steady pay that's just above average (especially uniform) then its for you.

You'll never be rich, neither will you be poor. And the lower your qualifications the more BS you have to shovel.
 
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