Thursday, December 17, 2009
*enters super un-politically correct mode*
the official rationale behind the USMS is quite solid and reasonable: engage the serviceman on the ground and allow him a channel for suggestions and feedback, which will hopefully improve the organisation. it's a perfectly good reason, and i am definitely going to complete mine because i believe it is.
and yet - i have no way to prove this one way or the other - and yet i wonder, what do the senior regulars actually think of the suggestions that nsfs come up with?
because from the impression i get from how the other (way more significant) matter was handled, i dont think the regulars take us very seriously at all. for trivial things like USMS, it's like they'll go "wow, he's right, it really would make sense for more lights/shelters/fans/whatever to be installed in this area, kudos to the little 3sg who brought it up lets give him $15!". then they'll implement the suggestion, turn around, and say "you see, we listen to nsfs when they suggest ideas!"
for serious matters, however, its like a totally different ball game. it seems to me that no matter what we do, we will never earn the regulars' trust. its like when they look at us there's some sort of 'nsf filter' in their eyes that automatically makes them take us less seriously. i dont know whether its worse to be dissed in the 'tactful' way that tends to be employed by the majs/ltcs/cols, or in the blunt way that is more often employed by the WOs, but either way it sucks like hell.
im trying to do some good for the SAF, dammit. i really want to serve to the best of my ability, and im in a position where i can actually DO something beneficial for people all across the SAF, if they just freaking let me. just because i dont have that oh-so-glorified crest or even a bar on my rank doesnt mean i am incapable of thinking up ideas to help solve serious matters. but no, when i sincerely want to help, i have to voice my opinion to the other parties using my officer as a proxy, and even with his one-bar some people still wont deign to treat him (also a nsf) as seriously as they would a regular. my upperstudy (a 3sg) thinks of an idea which my officer approves of, and sends it off to all the senior regulars with my officer's verbal blessing. immediately a WO shoots an email back at him, saying something about following procedures and even going as far as to cc the email to our unit's CWO.
i have great respect for the wisdom and intelligence of the senior officers (CO,S3,OC) and WOs (CWO,DyOC,FWO) i serve under. it is because of the good image of the higher echelons of the SAF that my commanders created in my mind, that when i meet higher-ups from other units, i have no problem trusting that they are of the same quality. it makes me feel sincere and happy to address them with the honorific "sir" every time i see one of them.
why isnt it reciprocated? why? seems like the only time a 3sg or a 2lt is ever going to get an enthusiastic greeting is from some of the more earnest recruits/cadets. obviously since we're lower rank there's no need for 'sergeant', but most of them sound so dead when addressing us. even when the WOs call the 2lts "sir" you can tell it doesnt carry the same feeling. if encik tan can do it so well i dont see why those from other units cant. no need to respect us for our rank; we dont have powerful ones. but apparently being respected as a person is too much to ask from some.
if they already trust us to handle serious stuff like this daily, what's so difficult about taking that just a little further and considering our suggestions related to the serious stuff? i dont feel like im being consulted at all. i sure as hell cant go directly to the higher-ups because no matter how sincere i am or how good my suggestions are the reply will inevitably be to "get your officer to come and see me". and then im forced to explain it to my officer who doesnt know the stuff as well because hes not the one doing it on the ground. and then my officer goes to see them and his single bar gets eaten for lunch by all the crests, and he comes back and consoles me leaving me utterly helpless. i dont know. maybe i should just stick to suggesting we install seat-belts in vehicles or some lame shit like that.
in all fairness nsfs havent built a good image of ourselves at all. what with all the negativity towards ns, malingering attempts and all that crap. but everyone starts at the same place right? even senior regulars had to have spent their first two years of service in almost the same way as the nsfs. finding a nsf who has his heart in the right place shouldnt be so hard.
my faith is strong, and i still believe that my little corner of the SAF is a wonderful place to be. but if the rest of the organisation keeps such heavy-handed treatment up, perhaps starry-eyed young servicemen like me will become extinct soon.
- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Thanks to http://clearkid.deviantart.com/art/Luma-Plush-Tutorial-122020448 !- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
CC: so do you have any questions for me?
me: um, the postings arent out yet right?
CC: no...(goes on to explain why he cant reveal them yet)
me: ok, but sir, can i check if someone is posted with me?
CC: well...i cant reveal to you because its not finalised yet...i dont want to disappoint you incase cmpb change it at the last minute...but just wait for the good news lah huh? are you confident about working on your own?
me: err you mean with like one or two people only? i guess it should be okay.
CC: ok...well...then all the best to you arh...just wait for the good news ok?
me: um sir i think you misunderstood me...i was asking if i could check if one particular person was being posted together with me or not?
CC: well if you wanted to go together with someone you should have raised your hand and volunteered to go to 3 sig together right?
me: ......
- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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Monday, September 07, 2009
- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
I believe the morning sun'sAlways gonna shine again and
I believe a pot of gold
Waits at every rainbow's end
I believe in roses kissed with dew
Why shouldn't I believe the same in you?
I believe in make-believe
Fairy tales and lucky charms and
I believe in promises
Spoken as you cross your heart
I believe in skies forever blue
Why shouldn't I believe the same in you?
You may say I'm a fool
Feelin' the way that I do
You can call me Pollyanna
Say I'm crazy as a loon
I believe in silver linings
And that's why I believe in you
I believe there'll come a day
Maybe it will be tomorrow
When the bluebird flies away
All we have to do is follow
I believe a dream can still come true
Why shouldn't I believe the same in you?
You may say I'm a fool
Feelin' the way that I do
I believe in friends and laughter
And the wonders love can do
I believe in songs and magic
And that's why I believe in you
You may say I'm a fool
Feelin' this way about you
There's not much I can do
I'm gonna be this way my life through
'Cause I still believe in miracles
I swear I've seen a few
And the time will surely come
When you can see my point of view
I believe in second chances
And that's why I believe in you
- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
the only difference with mine is that my batteries are replacable so the whole thing doesnt die when the battery runs out as it would if you followed the instructable exactly
- sqrt(1-v^2/c^2)
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