Did anybody see my M110 Sniper Rifle?
Hearts and minds of soldiers matter most
High-tech gear no substitute for human commitment: Army chief
By Jermyn Chow
Major-General Neo Kian Hong says he is 'never enamoured of all the high-tech stuff', and believes what is most important is that soldiers be willing to fight for their country. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
DO NOT get too caught up with technology.
It is the hearts and minds of soldiers that matter most to Singapore's army chief.
At a time when much has been said about the Singapore Armed Forces' latest machines and systems, Major-General Neo Kian Hong wants to turn the spotlight on the man behind the armour.
In his first interview with the media, Maj-Gen Neo elaborated on how the soldier's commitment to defence is what will take the third-generation army to a higher level.
The 'solid equipment' must be backed by soldiers who are willing to fight for their country, he said.
'That's the reason why I'm never enamoured of all the high-tech stuff. I'm rather hard-nosed and I say in the end, we must make sure that our people are committed, every one of them,' said the 44-year-old army chief, speaking ahead of tomorrow's Army Open House.
Dr Bernard Loo, defence analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, agreed with the emphasis on having the right man behind the right equipment.
'What is the point of having the best combat systems when the operator cannot be bothered or motivated?' he said.
Keenly aware of the importance of the human element, Maj-Gen Neo makes it a priority to hone the skills and fighting spirit of soldiers.
Having a steady stream of highly educated and tech-savvy enlistees has helped.
Up to 70 per cent of soldiers are now A-level graduates or polytechnic diploma holders, and many of them can process reams of information and act on them quickly, he said.
While the new breed of soldiers are smarter than their predecessors, critics said they may not be as tough.
Maj-Gen Neo disagreed. The new enlistees may have grown up with maids and parents helping out with their chores, but they are not any weaker.
'They are just different and we need to understand them and be able to make them stronger than we were before,' he said.
To this end, the army has worked with schools on how to improve students' fitness before enlistment.
Smart as they may be, the new 'thinking soldiers' are no slaves to technology.
Gone are the days when soldiers are put through routine drills and exercises.
To train them, commanders in the 3G army put soldiers through mock battle scenarios, and expect them to come up with the best way to overcome and outwit the enemy.
'It is this cunning that we are trying to teach our people,' he said.
Sophisticated training simulators, for example, have helped train soldiers more effectively.
In the past, it took about two weeks to train a signaller to operate a radio signal set. Now, it takes only half a day, Maj-Gen Neo said.
Efficient training methods also allow full-time national servicemen to serve only two years of national service - six months shorter than their predecessors. Ditto for NSmen, who now go back for in-camp training over 10 years instead of 13.
Ultimately, the SAF exists not just to uphold the defence and security of Singapore, Maj-Gen Neo said.
'We're actually training the whole fighting spirit of the nation so that we can define our future and determine our way of life,' he said.
Hearts and minds of soldiers matter most
High-tech gear no substitute for human commitment: Army chief
By Jermyn Chow
Major-General Neo Kian Hong says he is 'never enamoured of all the high-tech stuff', and believes what is most important is that soldiers be willing to fight for their country. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
DO NOT get too caught up with technology.
It is the hearts and minds of soldiers that matter most to Singapore's army chief.
At a time when much has been said about the Singapore Armed Forces' latest machines and systems, Major-General Neo Kian Hong wants to turn the spotlight on the man behind the armour.
In his first interview with the media, Maj-Gen Neo elaborated on how the soldier's commitment to defence is what will take the third-generation army to a higher level.
The 'solid equipment' must be backed by soldiers who are willing to fight for their country, he said.
'That's the reason why I'm never enamoured of all the high-tech stuff. I'm rather hard-nosed and I say in the end, we must make sure that our people are committed, every one of them,' said the 44-year-old army chief, speaking ahead of tomorrow's Army Open House.
Dr Bernard Loo, defence analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, agreed with the emphasis on having the right man behind the right equipment.
'What is the point of having the best combat systems when the operator cannot be bothered or motivated?' he said.
Keenly aware of the importance of the human element, Maj-Gen Neo makes it a priority to hone the skills and fighting spirit of soldiers.
Having a steady stream of highly educated and tech-savvy enlistees has helped.
Up to 70 per cent of soldiers are now A-level graduates or polytechnic diploma holders, and many of them can process reams of information and act on them quickly, he said.
While the new breed of soldiers are smarter than their predecessors, critics said they may not be as tough.
Maj-Gen Neo disagreed. The new enlistees may have grown up with maids and parents helping out with their chores, but they are not any weaker.
'They are just different and we need to understand them and be able to make them stronger than we were before,' he said.
To this end, the army has worked with schools on how to improve students' fitness before enlistment.
Smart as they may be, the new 'thinking soldiers' are no slaves to technology.
Gone are the days when soldiers are put through routine drills and exercises.
To train them, commanders in the 3G army put soldiers through mock battle scenarios, and expect them to come up with the best way to overcome and outwit the enemy.
'It is this cunning that we are trying to teach our people,' he said.
Sophisticated training simulators, for example, have helped train soldiers more effectively.
In the past, it took about two weeks to train a signaller to operate a radio signal set. Now, it takes only half a day, Maj-Gen Neo said.
Efficient training methods also allow full-time national servicemen to serve only two years of national service - six months shorter than their predecessors. Ditto for NSmen, who now go back for in-camp training over 10 years instead of 13.
Ultimately, the SAF exists not just to uphold the defence and security of Singapore, Maj-Gen Neo said.
'We're actually training the whole fighting spirit of the nation so that we can define our future and determine our way of life,' he said.
