[URGENT]Please fill in my survey on NS

[nitrovo]

My name is Jarrod and I am studying Society and Culture at the Australian International school Singapore. I am doing research of National service and its role in Singapore for my Personal Interest Project (PIP) which is a vital part of my HSC mark. I would greatly appreciate it if you could fill out this survey to help me obtain first hand information. This questionnaire is anonymous. Please email or PM me your answers if you dont want to post here. Thankyou. nitro.vo@gmail.com

Age

Sex

Nationality/Race

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment

What do you think should change about NS?

What do you like about NS?

What don’t you like about NS?

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)



Thankyou bery much for your time and participation

 

[Nemesis]

Age - 17

Sex - F

Nationality/Race - Singaporean

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why.
Yes, of course. The guys will have a sense of belonging after being in NS, making Singapore a more unqiue place. [credit Social Studies!]

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment.
Better care for guys? Better food? More humane? I guess that few...

What do you think should change about NS?
Shorter time of committment?

What do you like about NS?
You get income.

What don’t you like about NS?
It's pointless and it's tough.

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future. Nope, I am female! Unless they want females as well, but i hope not.

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)
Not really... None at all! I'm female, remember? Yeah.
:wink: 8)

 

[jeremyrozario]

Age
18 years old

Sex
male

Nationality/Race
singaporean eurasian

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why
yes, bcoz it helps us make new friends

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment
shortened to 2 years, ridiculously slack eg the food is now catered

What do you think should change about NS?
cancel reservice

What do you like about NS?
erm, nice food

What don’t you like about NS?
taking up 2 years, then later taking up up to 2 weeks a year after ORD

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future
yes, anything i wana do after poly is +2 years later

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)
erm...maybe?

 

[hifi_killer]

Age
18+

Sex
male
Nationality/Race

Singaporean/chinese
Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why
yes.. NS is major contributor to Singlish.

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment

training standards have been toned down. More annoying safety precautions

What do you think should change about NS?

abolish those annoying safety and security precautions/regulations e.g. clearing your arms for the 9th time after a live range, cannot bring in computer related devices like mp3 players or camera phones

What do you like about NS?

the m16, Making friends.. having stories to tell ..

What don’t you like about NS?

the Saw,very nasty people whom you have to work with e.g slackers.power hungry idiots. Area cleaning, Sai Kang( logistics related hard labour)
Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future
it breaks my momentum to study.. Its

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)

Definitely.. it improves your self-confidence, self reliancy, fitness level and your vocabulary...

 

[nitrovo]

fantastic. keep them coming. this is great. I've gotta write 5000 words on it :S

but yes, thankyou for your help

 

[Cheez]

Hi Jarrod, since this project is very important for your HSC mark, let me give you some suggestions.

1. Don't use too many open questions in your survey. If you have 100 replies, you are going to get 100 DIFFERENT replies. It's going to be difficult to analyse and write it out. Use scales (Strongly Agree - strongly disagree from 1-5), give options to the answers for people to select etc.

2. Select your target. Do you want male and female from 10-60 years old to answer your survey? Limiting the target will make things easier; also makes the results more sensible.

Hope you do well in your survey!

 

[nitrovo]

doh!

just realised if i used a scale i could graph results easily and clearly.

thanks for your advice cheez

 

[faizal_rocks]

Age :23

Sex :M

Nationality/Race :Singaporean/Malay

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why?

Yep, of coz we need ppl to defend our country, even though there might be some of us who feel we are forced to serve NS.

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment.

Recently, there was a SAF commando who died in a pool while training. There has been quite a no of deaths when I first started my NS in 2002. Makes me feel insecure about SAF`s training methods and safety SHOULD be a no 1 priority, no doubt.

What do you think should change about NS?

More wefare to soldiers!! esp NSF...: ) and more reduction to the ICT 10 yr cycle

What do you like about NS?

BMT, mindless talk cock etc. Bonding is very strong and platoon mates are willing to motivate each other to achieve the goal. Happiest moment in my life so far

What don’t you like about NS?

Regimentation and those f**ked up soldiers who use rank to bully ppl to do the work for them instead of working together and theres always the normal "I charge u, then u know!" by superiors. Of coz, at the time, I dare not talk back to my superiors for fear of punishment. Even though I ORD 2 years ago, I still cant forget the bad memories of my NS life. In fact, there`s somebody in my mind whom I wanna hit on the face at this moment.

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future?

I had a VERY bad NS. Everything went downhill after BMT. I fear going for my annual ICTs.

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)?

Nah, I dont think so. But what I can learn from my NS experience is dont trust anybody so easily n always stand up and fight for ur rights....dont be bullied.

 

[redjackal]

i'm looking forward to read replies by those who have served their NS, as i feel that they contribute better to these questionaires

 

[Ichiro]

Age :21

Sex :M

Nationality/Race :Singaporean/Chinese

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why?

Yes, people like us are defenders of our countries. Although we are all forced to do national service, i believe that if there is war, soldier in singapore will stood up and defend their country

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment.

Army now is transforming into 3G or ratheralrdy transform into 3G, alot of high tech equipment is being intro into army nowadays, and singapore army is becoming more and more indenpendent in their role of defending the country

What do you think should change about NS?

nothing i guess....

What do you like about NS?

shooting, coz i was being selected to shoot for my divison.... and get to know those guys from SSC (singapre shooting contigent), they are so slack.... everyday juz eat, shoot run, slp....

What don’t you like about NS?

Coz always in my mind "army = no life"

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future?

definately... if not because of NS i might be doing my degree now.....

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)?

depending on one perception.... to me is a yes... before entering amry, we guys are juz boys that cannot do anything to defend the country, after 2yrs... most of us learn some skills and we can fight for our country, our family & ourselves...


some suggestion: u shld find ppl from different vocation and different rank and interview them.... coz they learn different things in amry and their perception to army is also diff

 

[nitrovo]

thanks ichiro. and thanks to everyone else.

It would be good to get some people who have already served aswell

btw, whats BMT standfor?

cheers

 

[Giantballz]

Bite My Testicles! hahahaha I'm just kidding dude it stands for Basic Military Training. Its just pre-shit u have to go through before u enter the real shit hole.

 

[Ichiro]

haha... true....

 

[Rollercoaster]

Age 26

Sex Male

Nationality/Race

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why

Not really, Singapore rely more on it's image as a small country with a constant and gradual country development and economic growth as well as a set of global wide known infamous law to get it's identity. Interestingly enough, many Singapore males does not believe in protecting this small country, with the famous quote from some wise man that a single bomb would kill the entire nation. Singapore males believe that serving NS is part of a growing process rather than any national responsibility.

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment

An increase in salary when the proportion between living cost and army salary differs.

What do you think should change about NS?

No comments.

What do you like about NS?

Serving in NS allowed me to meets lots of people, which is pretty interesting.

What don’t you like about NS?

Waking up early in the morning at 5:45am.

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future

Yea.

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)

Yea.

 

[yellowStrat]

survey....

Age : 20

Sex : Male

Nationality/Race :
Singaporean/ Javanese

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why :
Yes, but i do not know the real reason why is it important

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment :
The time to serve NS has been reduced to 2 years. Also the allowance had been raised to SGD$600 per month. The place where the NSmen will sleep has been air-conditioned

What do you think should change about NS?
I dunno...... maybe let us sign out more?

What do you like about NS?
Experience

What don’t you like about NS?
Unreasonable NS buddies and superiors

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future
In fact, if i were to further my studies, it would delay my plans. I would be 24 when NS finishes

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)
Hmm, think so. It would make us braver and more responsible as a young adult.

 

[Panopticon-3]

Age 22

Sex M

Nationality/Race Singaporean/Indian

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why
identity, definitely because its already internationally known that majority of men in Singapore can fire an m-16 (because of NS obviously) and its part of the growing up phase for guys.

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment
A more tougher stand on safety, especially in light of deaths during trainings and so on, where else in the world would soldiers die not by war but by training?

What do you think should change about NS?
to reduce it to just 1 year, seriously, after BMT and whatever courses that come after, i dont see a reason to stay there any longer, all it does is kill braincells.

What do you like about NS?
the best time in your life to reflect about what you want to do for the future, eg. study? work? and it also helps you prepare for working life in the future because you get all the real world politics and backstabbing in your units as well.

What don’t you like about NS?
everything, from the shitty food to the construction work, we do, and we earn less than banglas for that. And of course, the 365/24/7 standby so your social life basically just disappears.

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future
yes, it made me want to migrate.

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)
well for starters, it introduced me to the world of sinning, very subjecting i know, its brought my english standard to an all time low, and its also taught me how its like to be right smack at the bottom of the food chain, think your recruit and private days. And in terms of identity, well its taught me how i look like in the eyes of the other soldiers, think racist jokes.

 

[Lifehouse]

Age
21

Sex
Male

Nationality/Race
Singaporean/Chinese

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why
Yes. You ain't a man unless you serve NS. According to others not me. You born here L L serve 2 years or more.

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment
Nothing really is better for the specs and below. Specs are often given combat pay to do office job. And they slack more. So many don't even go through sispec.

Not much life. Unless you complain or keng, they will die die put you weekend do guard duty.

What do you think should change about NS?
Accept sign on based on talents, leadership qualities not to fill a certain quota. Dump all the old-school tekan shit, it doesnt make people mature just make them sick of all these chickenshit.

No flashy parades. No prize for guessing who do the cleanup? CPLs and below. Want parades can? Every mother son clean up together.

What do you like about NS?
People you meet who suffer together with you.

What don’t you like about NS?
All various form of chickenshit which serves no purpose except to please some big shot's ego.

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future
Yes.

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)
Observed by parents and friends: 'F word, all the various hokkien 2/3 word which normally refers to certain organs'.

I don't believe a male has to go through NS to become a man. There are enough 302s inside or prissies wannabe. You become a man by your actions, by what you do, by what define you. Not by all the chickenshit and fatigue work you do.

All in my humble 2 cents.

 

[finrod]

NS...wasting 2 years at the peak of your precious life.

 

[Mobius]

Age
25

Sex
M

Nationality/Race
Singaporean Chinese

Do you think NS plays an important role in Singapore’s Identity? Briefly explain why
Yup. Its sort of a male bonding thing. Something that u can talk abt it a million times abt it to those who have served and somehow still never get sick of it.

Briefly outline the changes you have noticed regarding NS since its establishment
I served 2.5 years with a 5.5 day work week. Now its 2 years with 5 day workweek. The duffle bag they have now got wheels on it, my time no wheels and we have to god damn lift the dam Fking heavy thing..hahah. So i guess to conclude, its getting easier.

What do you think should change about NS?
Probably to reduce it to 1.5 years. cos seriously speakin. my last 1 year is spent most of time rottin my brain cells away.

What do you like about NS?
The lifelong bond u form with ur platoon mates. And the experience that u will never fgt and can always look back at and laugh abt it with ur NS friends

What don’t you like about NS?
The lack of freedom and the strict regimental discipline. Cannot do this cannot do that.

Has NS influence or affected your plans for the future
Well it takes up 2.5 years of my life and after that I have to serve a 10 year reservist cycle.

Do you think NS will/has impacted your forming of identity (e.g more of a man)
It toughens u up mentally. And moulds u into a person who can take all kind of shit in stride. hahah.. cos u face a lot of shitty situations when u are in NS...hahahah. As for being more man, it depends, I have friends who went through it and still behave the same as before.[/b]

 

[nitrovo]

thanks everyone. still need more!

bump!