(Y) you're right.

To the original poster, you seem to be see sawing between decisions.

The hard truth is in today's competitive world once you join the army for a number of years it will be tough to get a job outside at a senior level.

I had an officer (full Lt) who was quite a rising star in the camp, he decided to get out of the army and did a lot of night courses and finally switched to the banking sector but also started quite low to mid level. He done well if I am to say cause I know how hard it is to come in at his age in banking and still make it.

The world is a lot different from 10 years ago, nowadays you at least one of the few to secure a decent job, connections, youth, extremely smart, tons of experience. For example if you are young but no experience they may hire you cause cheap and got energy. If your old but got experience they may also hire you cause you add benefit to the company.

If you don't have experience, old, no connections well I would say good luck, already Filipinos, PRC, Indians etc all coming in with youth and experience to fight for the jobs you might be seeking after your term with NS.

Also the part someone mentioned about being able to command people that gets you the job is BS, what so difficult about handling a department of people that you need NS experience for? There are foreigners running entire departments (I've run a few as well) that have hardly any NS training. Running a Corporate show and a bunch of conscripts is two different things, hence the pay gap.

You mentioned your situation is tricky which is fair enough. You think about what you want and find a way to get around it, it will be very tough but with a will there is always a way.

Good luck

(Y) you're right.

you're right, the company hire young people for cheap and plenty of energy. Old people for experience that can benefit the company. But old and inexperience people, erm.... -.-
i know about that. But my situation, is pretty different from others and i dont have a well planned life. Thats why im finding myself a way that i wont lose out that much. Thats why im stucked between decisions.

Thats why recently im doing my calculation.

Yeah 1SG is pretty much guaranteed by the end of your contract. I remember having a super slack spec regular leaving with only 1SG after 6 years. He's those kind who get by doing the bare minimum. i.e during guard duty he's those kind who will let the men relak one corner, 1 hour prowl 1 time only (depending on the camp size its usually 3 or more rounds per hour). Fortunately for him he's one of those people who enlisted and signed on early therefore luckily by the time he left saf he was still in his early 20s. Most cases I see leave with SSG, and a few MSG.

Seriously not everything is about money you know. I suggest you enlist first and see whether you really like SAF lifestyle or not (don't get psychoed by retarded shows like Ah Boy to Men or worse, you take the flashy SAF adverts on tv at face value). If i'm not wrong as long as you sign on within the 2 years, you'll be reimbursed the full regular salary for the entire 2 years.

And for the brainless kid who thinks that every regular who quits SAF can be a MG Desmond Quek/ BG Lee Hsien Loong, kindly go f yourself. Go right ahead and sign on then if you think saf is so great.

Breakdown how much you will need for living expenses, support family education etc and work out from there the funds you need. Example if need 2 per per month can try to work out if SAF got any kind of contract that gives better pay but no bond for example. Or how much part time will cost, student loan etc.

Your Spending will be your baseline, from there figure out how to reduce it and then find a best fit for yourself against what the market has to offer Private SAF etc.

for my case, i am already in Armour unit as a Men for 4months already. For me, i dont LOVEEE the army, but i dont hate it too. I just live with it. Signing on for me is never about passion. It is about funding, and future.i wont believe those shows as i've seen what SAF is ''capable'' of. I dont think they will backpay the time you're in service unless you're originally a specs i guess. But not for my case. Pretty screwed up yeah?

i had been doing the math for quite some time already. In simple term, the only 2 ways is either i sign on as specs, and during my service i would take up my private diploma in accounts (interest) concurrently,and after ORD i will continue to work and continue my degree. Or, LLST for my NSF life, and after ORD, work and take up my diploma, then bank loan for my degree. Both doesnt have a big difference in terms of time, the difference is 2years of experience vs bankloan.

For Regular route, i would have stable income, and doesnt need to worry about funding my studies and have savings along the way. For NSF route, i would have more experience in the private sector but i would have to bankloan for my studies and work inbetween.

Which route would you guys advise?

cliesH asserts
 

I guess there is no right and wrong choice. I've 2 friends, both sign-on and left after 1st contract. One took ACCA, joined SME and then big 3. Now he is a partner (>$20k pm) in the big 3. The other took private degree and now he is a junior exec (<$4k pm) in a GLC. Both are in their mid 30s now. So, at the end of the day, it boils down to perseverance and luck. Like your reason for sign-on, they did it to fund their studies.

My advice? Just do it if you don't have any other means to fund your studies.

I would prefer to work in private company than sign on as spec. If you come out as officer, you are at least at a higher standing than a spec.

Also, working gives you the relevant experience. For instance, if you want to be an accountant, try to work as accounts assistant while studying ACCA. Sure, the salary is lower but you know the job better. It also helps you to know if you really want to be doing that for the rest of your working life as studies do not match job positions as many had found out after starting work.