So This is How FAPee Justifies Defence Budget

[makapaaa]

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=560><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=550 colSpan=2>SAF arms recruits with laptops <!-- TITLE : end--></TD></TR><TR>

</TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=550 colSpan=2 align=left><TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD class=content_subtitle>Jermyn Chow</TD></TR><TR><TD class=content_subtitle align=left>Sat, Apr 17, 2010
The Straits Times </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TD width=400 align=right><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top align=right> </TD><TD height=15>

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EVERY modern soldier needs one - a notebook computer, that is.

And the modern recruit of the Singapore Armed Forces undergoing basic military training now gets one, along with his green fatigues, helmet and boots.


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<EMBED src="http://s0.2mdn.net/2685388/guinness_a15638_2010Apr05_300x250.swf?clickTAG=http%3A//ad.doubleclick.net/click%253Bh%253Dv8/397f/3/0/%252a/o%253B223384784%253B0-0%253B2%253B39581935%253B4307-300/250%253B36234836/36252714/1%253B%253B%257Esscs%253D%253fhttp%3A//www.stomp.com.sg/guinness" quality=high wmode=opaque swLiveConnect=TRUE WIDTH="300" HEIGHT="250" bgcolor=# TYPE="application/x-shockwave-flash" AllowScriptAccess="never"></EMBED></OBJECT><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><!-- Zone Tag : SPH In-Text --><SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="http://cdn.innity.com/network.js"></SCRIPT>http://www.asia1.com.sg/<SCRIPT type=text/javascript src="http://as.innity.com/synd/69cb3ea317a32c4e6143e665fdb20b14/4564/js/**/**/NEWS/1271474460492"></SCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>At the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC), recruits go online to learn how to assemble and handle their rifle, throw a grenade, carry out first aid and clear battle obstacles before going outfield to get hands-on experience.</P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

 

[makapaaa]

Apr 17, 2010

SAF arms recruits with laptops

<!-- by line -->By Jermyn Chow
<!-- end by line -->
<!--background story, collapse if none-->Fourth BMT school opens next month
A NEW basic military training school will be set up on Pulau Tekong next month, bringing the total number of schools to four.
The schools will train some 16,000 recruits every year. Each will helm seven companies that can take in about 250 recruits each at full capacity.
The Defence Ministry said the new school at the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) was set up so that class sizes would get smaller.
Mindef spokesman Darius Lim said a lower recruit-commander ratio will give BMT instructors 'more time to supervise, coach and review the performance of recruits'.
He added that smaller class sizes would improve the level of engagement between trainers and trainees, and provide a more enriching and positive national service experience for recruits.
A BMTC instructor, who has been training recruits for a year, said that previously he was responsible for 12 soldiers.
Now, he trains eight.
The 22-year-old said: 'Now that the workload is shared with more instructors, I don't have to rush through the syllabus and have more time to answer recruits' questions.'
The move comes after the Singapore Armed Forces' 18-month BMT review, which ended last year.
Other changes included extending BMT for obese and unfit enlistees.
JERMYN CHOW



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EVERY modern soldier needs one - a notebook computer, that is.
And the modern recruit of the Singapore Armed Forces undergoing basic military training now gets one, along with his green fatigues, helmet and boots.
At the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC), recruits go online to learn how to assemble and handle their rifle, throw a grenade, carry out first aid and clear battle obstacles before going outfield to get hands-on experience.
The Straits Times understands that about 2,600 enlistees were issued laptop computers in December at the start of their BMT. The recruits returned the devices to the training centres after they graduated last week.
The online tutorials have replaced some lectures in the training shed or classroom, used now instead for discussions of current affairs and national education.
Soldiers learn the how-tos of the practical skills in their bunks through BMTC's online platform Learnet. Questions can be directed to their commanders through a live messaging system.
A BMTC instructor, who declined to be named, explained: 'We would be at hand to explain, help to clarify more complex details with the recruits, or even hold online discussions.'
Aside from familiarising themselves with military skills, recruits have to post their thoughts and reflections about their BMT experience at least once a week.
Responding to queries, the defence ministry said yesterday that Learnet lets recruits carry out 'self-learning' of lessons such as weapon handling, individual field craft, first aid and training safety.
'It complements existing training methods like field training and classroom-based lectures conducted by BMTC,' said Mindef spokesman Darius Lim. 'The Learnet system provides the recruits easy access to learning resources, and is part of the improvements made to the BMT system to enhance the recruit's overall training experience.'
Equipping men with laptops is part of the SAF's modernisation drive to harness technology in the training of today's cohort. In a December interview, former army chief Neo Kian Hong said the SAF had to engage troops 'intellectually and emotionally' as they are now more educated, intelligent and inquisitive.
Major-General Neo, now the Chief of Defence Force, said: 'This is an important part of the third-generation SAF where we focus on training thinking soldiers.'
Agreeing, one recent BMT graduate, now training to become a specialist, said basic training is no longer stereotyped as a boot camp where clueless recruits are 'whacked' into physical and mental shape. The 19-year-old added: 'Training is still tough but I feel that I've learnt more effectively to become a modern and smarter soldier.'
As part of the SAF's 18-month review, BMT was extended for the obese and unfit. Now, the rite of passage for some 20,000 18-year-olds every year can range from nine to 19 weeks, depending on their fitness levels.
Full-time national servicemen (NSF) told The Straits Times they liked their new gadget. In the initial weeks, some had even figured out a way to get in touch with friends on the mainland through e-mail and social networking sites.
But the social networking sites and e-mail were later blocked, said some NSFs. There were also a few technical glitches like failed log-ins and a slow network.
All in all, soldiers said they preferred the flexibility of their 'online tutors', which gave them more time for hands-on training in the field.
'Navigating through the slides and videos was a breeze, and we could learn and absorb the more tedious details very quickly,' said one recruit, who declined to be named.
Another said having a laptop was helpful with revision: 'This gives us more confidence when we go outfield, especially when we had to throw a live grenade.'

 

[blackmore]

Hic, SAF has become so soft now that it should be named Showy and Femininistic.

Computer tutorial for lessons of this nature may be methodical in thought but bad for comprehension and practical experience for the individuals. Imagine going thru first aid step by step base on the understanding of the tutorial , eventually with real life scenario, it cultivate the same approach in dealing with a bleeding victim. In real life, a victim can die bleeding profusely. in practice it doesn;t.

Or at worst give a hokkien peng a notebook for that matter .

Also during training phases, as recruit/specs/cadets, given the tones of manuals doctrines,etc. Honestly, how many individuals still have the drive to read thru it after a hard day's of training; physical & mental wise. Even those are interested, how many have the stamina nowadays.

 

[Sideswipe]

Or at worst give a hokkien peng a notebook for that matter .

long long no more hokkien peng recruits already
completed primary school here, can speak and write English.

Hokkien peng all ROD already.

 

[Received_by_Kings]

long long no more hokkien peng recruits already
completed primary school here, can speak and write English.

Hokkien peng all ROD already.

They graduated to being coffee shop heroes frequently gathering bravely together like an inseparable band of blood brothers for not just a simple cup of coffee but also to spout loud heroic complaints and stout oppositions to the establishment's various policies.

But whenever the meet-the-people session is being conducted in their ward these unrivaled fearsome warriors would by sudden ritual freak twists of fate become shy, humble and toothless paper tigers.

Tears* always come to my soft and, sensitive eyes whenever I see these self-anointed People's Representatives helplessly but voluntarily lose their tiger-like strength and their lion-like vocal abilities.



*Tears of uproarious laughter.

 

[allanlee]

long long no more hokkien peng recruits already
completed primary school here, can speak and write English.

Hokkien peng all ROD already.

No more hokkien pengs but now they have the variant of it....... the FTs platoon !! :( ......... yes it's back...... some newly arrived FTs from PRC who sent their sons to NS have their children grouped together in a MANDARIN speaking platoon if they are unable to communicate in simple english !!