Employees use reservist as an excuse to chao keng.
Social Commentary
Employees use reservist as an excuse to chao keng.
Social Commentary
Reservist call-ups are where we enjoy a brief reprieve from our hectic work life, and once again have everything handed to us. For me, in particular, being a shipboard naval NSman means that I get to enjoy being whisked into the midst of some ocean every time I go, i.e. to say, I can’t – and don’t – have to reply to your emails.
For many reservists, ICT Call-Up notices are just their yearly invitation to another endless flurry of canteen and smoke breaks away from work, with some minor instances of (heavily-guided) training in between. It’s no wonder that the image of the modern NSman is now someone who actively lives his best life by basically being a wastrel.
Are the NSmen to blame? Or is it the system that is flawed? Short answer, it’s us, the NSmen, and we should stop placing the blame on the government. Long answer as follows.
We can start off by being pragmatic and understanding that MINDEF and the government’s systems aren’t perfect. Incidentally, that also means realising and accepting that the systems are run by humans, who also aren’t perfect.
By the virtue of being run by humans, it can never be. Sometimes the top brass contrives bad ideas. Sometimes they come up with good ones, but execute them in baffling manners that leave you wondering just where all the thinking soldiers have gone.
(Canteen break, probably.)
Read our full unabashed opinion piece on reservist culture here.
Reservist call-ups are where we enjoy a brief reprieve from our hectic work life, and once again have everything handed to us. For me, in particular, being a shipboard naval NSman means that I get to enjoy being whisked into the midst of some ocean every time I go, i.e. to say, I can’t – and don’t – have to reply to your emails.
For many reservists, ICT Call-Up notices are just their yearly invitation to another endless flurry of canteen and smoke breaks away from work, with some minor instances of (heavily-guided) training in between. It’s no wonder that the image of the modern NSman is now someone who actively lives his best life by basically being a wastrel.
Are the NSmen to blame? Or is it the system that is flawed? Short answer, it’s us, the NSmen, and we should stop placing the blame on the government. Long answer as follows.
We can start off by being pragmatic and understanding that MINDEF and the government’s systems aren’t perfect. Incidentally, that also means realising and accepting that the systems are run by humans, who also aren’t perfect.
By the virtue of being run by humans, it can never be. Sometimes the top brass contrives bad ideas. Sometimes they come up with good ones, but execute them in baffling manners that leave you wondering just where all the thinking soldiers have gone.
(Canteen break, probably.)
Read our full unabashed opinion piece on reservist culture here.