Thursday, June 21, 2012

Are You Kidding Me?

Last month, Mohammad Ridzuan Jamari, 30, robbed a full-time national serviceman (NSF) of a SAR-21 assault rifle while in Pasir Laba Camp. NSF Kang Tai, 21, gave up his SAR 21 rifle without a fight when threaten with a…screwdriver?

WTF? A screwdriver? Whatever happened to “your rifle is your wife”, or “do not lose your rifle no matter what”? A 20cm-long screwdriver? He gave up when faced with a 20cm screwdriver? I don’t care if the rifle wasn’t loaded, that he don’t have any bullets, that he never sign up for the SAF, or that the idiot never got out of the camp with the rifle; you do NOT give up your rifle! Especially when the other guy has nothing but a bloody screwdriver! If it was a knife, it still would be bad, but at least that will be understandable. A screwdriver?

What’s worse is that this NSF was actually praised by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for “diffusing a potentially violent conflict”. WTF is the SAF coming to? If this would have happened when I was in the SAF, this NSF would have been crucified for giving up his rifle without a fight! 

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE! What a sorry joke of an armed forces we have when we praise soldiers for giving up their rifles when threaten with a screwdriver? 

11 comments:

sgcynic said...

Maybe the poor sod has not been trained in rifle and unarmed combat yet.

Anyway, we now have a precedent and role model that current and future NS men can look up to. No big deal to my commanders means no big deal to me!

Scary to think that in the future, our troops may be routed by 'poorly armed' foes.

luke said...

I brought this up with my younger SG colleagues, and some of them also subscribed to the same view that "he is just a NSF", "not worth getting hurt during National Service", etc.

However I am quite disturbed that a soldier would willingly give up his rifle, and to think that I might have to go to war with someone beside me who would surrender his weapon at the first hint of personal injury.

Anonymous said...

What do you expect from a CONSCRIPTION army?

In fact, this is a case for the argument of abolishing NS and have a smaller professional army.

I'm sure a professional soldier earning $3000 a month will die for his rifle then a "chao private" who take $180 a month allowance.

Ghost said...

It doesn’t matter if he was a NSF, that he wasn’t trained in rifle and unarmed combat or that the SAF is a conscription army. He is a soldier in the army. Giving up your rifle when faced with a screwdriver is a screw-up no matter how you look at it. I tell you if this has come out on 1st April, most people would have thought it was an April’s Fool joke. That’s how stupid it sounds.
Look, I was in the SAF myself and I totally understand the concept of keeping your head and just do your time but that does not give you a right to surrender just because you are afraid of getting hurt.

Anonymous said...

The situation can be explained in a different way. Both guys are Singaporeans and they don't want to hurt each other over a riffle. One party has to relent and later report to the police or supervisor which is the best and wise move. Afterall it is a bullet-less rifle. If there is bullet in the rifle, the story could end up quite differently and I am sure the "owner" of the rifle will fight till the end to protect it.

Ghost said...

AKA, the NSF was too much of a coward to fight for the rifle.

Anonymous said...

In the early days of NS the trainers instil the recruits the rifle is to be guarded like your wife. Maybe in this present society it is common to divorce your "wife".

Anon 3:36pm
What do you expect from a CONSCRIPTION army?
You even need to buy the "Stilleto Knife" for memento on ORD after toiling for the duration of NSF.
How is that about sacrificing for the country when mindef/country is not willing to honour the small group of 'elite' in the SAF by presenting the knife, yet requiring the the ORD NSF to pay

Ghost said...

I don't care if the SAF is a conscription army! I was in the conscription army! And you don't just give up your rifle, period!

Anonymous said...

I can understand the sentiments here. But, should we not at least find out first the circumstances. Was he caught by surprise, like that guy grabbed him from behind with a choke hold? The screw drive was sharpened to a point? etc.

Anonymous said...

Are you implying your enemy will inform you well in advance before attacking you.

You'll be ambushed and this will not be a surprise to you.
I thot it is part of routine tactical training not to be caught with surprise.

Is the SAF arm with bayonet which is not sharp nowaday?

Ghost said...

Surprise? Sharpened to a point? Who cares? He still should not have given up his rifle.