Managed to scroll past some of the responses, hope I can help out here. Some background about me, Currently a DXO, worked for slightly over a year, degree awarded by Unism (Note: not SIM,
MINDEF do not recognize SIM Global), no honors just a pass degree and previously in
MOE. I came to
SAF as a mid- career switch but pay offered was 3k plus and after confirmation and recent pay adjustment, pay now approx. $4k.
I pulled some strings and referred my bro to the
SAF Film Unit, but he didn't managed to go pass the interview session. The 'strings' I pulled is referring my bro through an employee referral system. My bro managed to pass psychometric test but didn't go beyond that. I referred other friends and they didn't managed to pass psychometric tests so no offer. 'Pulling strings' does no work.
If you go for interview/unit preview and not get a reply after 2 weeks, means you are not in. If you are in, you will know within a week.
Pros
Healthy Work-life balance
Competitive remuneration schemes
Can take leave very easily, work less demanding,
SAF takes very good care of its employees.
Bosses are generally very nice and friendly as long as you are respectful.
Very flexible hours and you are home usually before 7pm (unless you work in CMPB or
MINDEF)
Little or no politics, work is relaxed and less demanding, people are understanding, keep asking you to have more babies... etc fun environment. Very pro- family!
If you have a family, want quality time, hopes for more personal time and feels obliged to be there for your kids, come to
MINDEF.
Cons
Extremely Bureaucratic and many red tapes. Processes are slow and changes are not fast enough to be reactive and helpful.
Personally, I have met some senior commanders who are arrogant, narrow minded and self- righteous. They feel that they are very important and they want others to make them feel important. I don't like it. They can be very full of themselves and boastful (about salaries). One commander told me he earned a quarter million last year and he feels underpaid. IMO, defence is like insurance, better to have it when you don't need it then to not have it when you need it. I know its importance but I cannot help but feel that the organization likes to justify its salary and benefits in the premise of the life- changing work it does.
Arrowing work. Supervisors will always arrow work out and find fault with the lowest living forms. I despise that. And the white- horse, scholar worshipping cultures.
Non transferable skill-sets, hard to define contributions and achievements. The things some DXOs do are very specialized and cannot be transferred elsewhere.
In the end, I left after 17months in the organization, it was a fruitful experience and I enjoyed the company of great colleagues and fun environment. No learning curves but you definitely become more vocal after that due to the need to write staff papers and minutes (not all). I personally had the experience of speaking with a senior command once and he refused to acknowledge me, not even look at me. Not offended, just want to point out that it is not for everyone. I enjoy a more challenging and corporate experience so I traded stability and comfort in the job for a more challenging job with greater learning experience.
Hope this helps.
