it useless to blame the "commanders" who themselves only enlisted few months before the trainee. It at least 3 generations since the start of National Service. Most if not all current dad serve National Service donning the No.4 so should know what to expect when their own sons switch their pink IC to 11B.
i enlisted without any input from my old man who way overage when the first batch was lorried away from depot road. So i entered cmpb with only input from a ex schoolmate who enlist a year earlier(JC batch) before me where he talk about kenna tekan @ 40sar. i enlisted as a blur cock but return to civies with my eyes open and at least believe i had 90% of NS figure out. Despite enlist as a recruit in tekong, i end up in gedong as an AI and had experience being a rifleman, armskoteman, storeman and later 25mmBX gunner during reservist.
now i already indoctrinating my kid what can do and what cannot do in army green. i also been telling him dont be afraid of the "commanders" as they wont have anymore experience than him. It better to be punish for insubordination and live another day than worry being punish SOL and end up dead. So all Dads shd do their part to ensure the kids passage of NS is as safe as it can be and dont everything push it SAF.