Finally got my posting. My first reaction was:
WTF IS THIS SHIT...
Well that's because frankly speaking, i was expecting either an OCS or SCS.
No, I wasn't overestimating myself or having too much false hope.
I have been a realistic person, making rational and realistic guesses.
I predicted 100% of my section mates right, except for one who landed up at this weird vocation with me.
Those who went command schools and even OCS were expected. So obviously it's not something wrong with my prediction.
2weeks ago during our admin time before 16k road march, a list of names were generated and passed around. 15 names from our platoon of 60 were asked to come out. That instance when the names were read out, i knew what it was all about. All the high profiles, the ex-ICs, the well-liked people, in another words: the above average guys. I felt glad that my name was included. So anyway, these names were called out for an 'Officer-recruitment Talk' at a lecture hall.
Now this hall is normally filled up by a company of 250 people with a bit of squeezing, however at the talk, 5 companies were there, and the hall was filled up just nice.
So using 1 divided by 5, i got 0.2. Which means roughly only 20% or less of each company was in the hall.
OCS chances are 10% in the whole of BMT. But since standard batch got no chance of command school, the average from enhanced leadership batch entering would be ~15%. In another words roughly 1/2 to 3/4 chance you'll be going to OCS if you're physically there in the hall, and the remainings would of cuz be sent to SCS from my guess.
But then again, 2 days before my POP, i consulted my lieutenant and platoon sergeant regarding the 'security clearance'. This clearance thing is done by the higher up department to gauge a recruit's 'reliability' to the country. If you're a PR, especially from malaysia, or you're a malay, then you'll probably fail. Nope i'm not being racist or anti-foreigner here. But the government is. So my lieutenant told me my chances are very very slim for OCS like what my brother told me. He himself also failed his security clearance so me of course will never pass it. I felt dejected back then, guessing i'll probably land up in SCS like my bro due to my stupid background. So for the past whole week after POP I haven't been nervous about my posting at all as i thought i would surely end up in SCS since i only got slim chance for OCS.
... how wrong am i..
That brings me back to my first paragraph, about my first reaction:
WTF IS THIS SHIT!
That's right. My heart totally sunk so deep that i felt it emerging out from my anus.
2 reason for my reaction.
1) Like i just mentioned. I expected myself to be 90% SCS. and 10% OCS. Not once does it cross my mind that i would become a man (just a normal soldier listening to orders), or any other vocation since my knowledge about posting is tiny
2) My impression for police was bad. I've always thought that place is for the malays or those who did not studied well and decided to sign on as police.. and their job scope include looking for threats and protecting singapore (in actual fact just patrolling MRT, airports, or sitting in airconed room waiting for calls) And to think i'll be spending my 2 years there is disappointing. Not that i'm racist or what, but i prefer spending my 2years with more chinese due to some communication barrier. I've hang around a few malay friends to know that we speak their mother tongue whenever they meet someone of their race.
The instance after i know my posting, i was dismayed for like 5minutes. Then i closed my chrome tab, reopened the eposting page and logged in. There it is, the word 'Police' stared right at my face.
After i finally calmed myself down, i took the effort to read everything.
HOME TEAM ACADEMY
POLICE OCT INSP
I always thought police was mono intake (selected before even going through BMT). I never knew that one could jump from SAF to Police department after Basic MILITARY training rofl. In another words i can basically throw all my SAF items all the uniforms and shit.
So my second thought is whether if there are any difference between normal mono intake police vs national service Police. What does this 'OCT INSP' means?
I started by sending a few message to my friends hoping someone could enlighten me, and posted on fb to see if anyone knows wtf is this. Then i went to google for more information.
Apparently it is not as bad as i thought it is, well not even half bad actually. OCT stands for Officer Cadet Trainee, while INSP stands for Inspector.
Apparently it's like some OCS for the police department. The same prestige and honour. Going through 9 months of tougher training before commissioning as an officer. To get in, you'll have to perform well in BMT with good fitness and dicipline.
So what makes them so different?
One is in SAF doing more of war trainings, while the other is in Police doing more of homeland security trainings.
OCS are more known to people as they have a higher intake than OCT INSP which only take in 4-5 recruits per company. This makes OCT INSP almost unknown to public.
OCS have a SLIGHTLY higher pay, however OCT INSP comes with standard pay + meal allowance.
Different uniform, different camp, duh~
So how on earth did i ended up in OCT INSP and not OCS if they're sort of the same level?
Quite saddening. Like i previously mention: Security Clearance.
My brother who was once a platoon sergeant in Tekong also mentioned that those recruits that he seen who made it to Police OCT INSP did pretty well enough in BMT to qualify for OCS but due to security clearance, they cannot go OCS.
Mostly those outstanding malays who deserves to go OCS but maybe still not the cream of the crops, go to this place. The same applies to people like myself, PR.
So why so little people? I'm guessing because PRs and malays in enhanced leadership BMT batch are already little to begin with, + you have to do well, + you must not smoke, + you must have no tattoos, and no criminal records.
Also during BMT, we had 2 EI (expressed interest) surverys. In this survey, they asked generally these few questions:
Do you want to go to command school (OCS/SCS)?
Do you want to go to OCS/SCS/dont mind both?
To the question above, how much do you want it?
And my answers were YES, OCS, 10/10. LOL~~
So I'm guessing those who qualified for OCS but not the cream and like me, a PR/malay and chose 'don't mind both' would be sent to SCS.
And me, I preferred to be an officer, 10/10 and here i go. they literally gave me an Officer, IN POLICE!
Anyway to my surprised, quite many people both i know and in forums actually WANTS this vocation and dying to get in here. Cuz you get similar pay, no outfield, no sandflies, office hours most likely, and you're still an officer!
Well, i admit after doing some research on what OCT INSP is all about, i felt a bit better. At least i know i am recognised and capable. Just that my background + the fact that i'm not the cream restricted my entry to OCS.
What to do? suck thumb and try to enjoy as much and ace in OCT INSP lo..
Lastly my thoughts about getting this vocation.
Mixed feelings. feeling sad because my dream was to commission as an officer. I've always dream high, wanting to be recognised for my abilities. And if i were to tell others i'm in OCS, you know got the 'kick' more, they'll know I'm something at least. However even if i'm the officer in Police, both being recognised, i tell others i'm Officer Inspector they'll be like 'what...? right i see, cool'
Even though both OCS and OCT are prestigious, OCS are more known to others..
Get my point? yeah you can say i'm being materialistic. Yes i believe i am.. i just want to be acknowledged.
not to mention i practically wasted my past 2 months in BMT, learning things which i'll have no use in Police.and throwing all my SAF issued items. lol.
On the other hand, inspector doesn't seems or sounds bad at all. good pay, good rank, good training, get to study some law, some good unarmed combat, get to experience both army and police. see more people. got recognised by the inside and knowledgeable people. Not that bad hmm..
Still hard to get over my dream of going OCS though.. For now just prepare for the worst, hope for the best, try to learn as much things as possible and excel in OCT INSP!
If only I haven't broke up with her, then she can tell her uni mates that her bf is a senior officer haha.
