There has been plenty of spin in the local media about how much SAF cares about us (example that “safety is a core value”). Well here are three instances in the last few weeks that contradict the spin.
“Combat medics are not fully equipped to handle asthma attacks among Singapore Armed Forces servicemen, a Coroner’s Inquiry into the death of Private (Pte) Dominique Sarron Lee heard”, I read on Tuesday in Today. The death happened during training.where the training team knew smoke grenades were going to be used. Surely the necessary eqpt could have been indented for the medic on duty?
And then there is this:
Defibrillators for all SAF camps soon
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is planning to put automated external defibrillators in all camps from June this year.
The potentially life-saving devices will be kept in common areas for easy access in emergencies, such as when a serviceman suffers a heart attack.
These include “high human traffic” areas in camps and military bases where physical training is conducted, said the Ministry of Defence.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20130401-412691.html
When I read the above, I was shocked to learn that external defibrillators were not standard equipment in SAF camps*. In developed countries, they are standard equipment in factories, and increasingly in offices. And they are standard equipment in the military. After all as, “The SAF’s Chief of Medical Corps, Colonel (Dr) Kang Wee Lee, said having easy access to the defibrillators will improve a first responder’s ability to administer basic life support, and is in line with international best practices.”
And to round-off my rant about the uncaring, boh chap, tidak apa attitude bof the SAF, here’s something trivial by comparison to the above but telling in its own way of the way SAF treats us, PRspeak notwithstanding.
Last week, I got my package of vouchers from SAF. I only got $80 and not the $100 that was touted in the local media as the standard. Was I surprised? No, because I had read on TRE that Mindef had told someone “From our records, you have not completed any ICT before reaching statutory age.” It went further to state that “Should you have any documentary proof that you had attended ICT, …please send it to us …”.
I don’t know how many of us were affected by the inability of Mindef to keep proper records, but I find it insulting that Mindef did not keep proper records. Every time anyone goes for reservist training, he is paid a sum based on his civilian pay, or on his NS pay (for those who didn’t want to give or couldn’t give civvy pay details). Where are these records? And where are the copies of the notices, ordering S’poreans to attend in-camp training?
Worse is the tot that Mindef could be trying to save money by not bothering to check its records properly. After all $20 multiplied by say 100,000 is not “peanuts”.
Never mind, come the next GE, I’m sure no matter how much goodies the govt throws at us at our expense, there will be S’poreans who remember the SAF’s institutionalised uncaring attitude, and attribute it to the PAP.
—
* To be fair to SAF:”Medics already carry the devices to all training activities with risk of drowning or heart trauma. These include physical fitness tests, route marches and river-crossing exercises.”
Thoughts of a Cynical Investor
*Article first appeared on http://atans1.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/does-saf-really-value-those-who-d...