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22-04-2015, 09:30 AM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
THE PROBLEM WITH PAPER GENERALS
Post date:
21 Apr 2015 - 9:56pm
http://therealsingapore.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/MILITARY-WWII-PAIRS-OF-US-ARMY-font-b-OFFICER-b-font-5-STAR-GENERAL-font-b.jpg?itok=b7bzT4cl (http://therealsingapore.com/sites/default/files/field/image/MILITARY-WWII-PAIRS-OF-US-ARMY-font-b-OFFICER-b-font-5-STAR-GENERAL-font-b.jpg)
It's interesting how Singapore's military's top rung consists of mostly scholars. Hence the term paper generals as they are famously referred to.
Table #1: Top Military Leaders in the SAF, circa 2014
TitleRankIncumbentScholastic Award(s)UniversitySecondary/JCChief of Defence ForceLieutenant GeneralNg Chee MengSAF Overseas ScholarshipUnited States Air Force AcademyHwa ChongChief of ArmyMajor GeneralPerry Lim Cheng YeowPresident's Scholarship, SAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridgeRaffles InstitutionChief of Air ForceMajor GeneralHoo Cher MouSAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridge, HarvardHwa ChongChief of NavyRear Admiral (2 star)Lai Chun HanPresident's Scholarship, SAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridge, HarvardRaffles InstitutionDirector of Military Intelligence, Chief C4IRear Admiral (2 star)Joseph Leong Weng KeongPresident's Scholarship, SAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridge, MITAnglo-Chinese Secondary
This means that how high these scholars ascend in Singapore's armed forces is predicated on them winning some big-name scholarships at age 19. Imagine... your future entirely depends on your gauged potential when you were a teenager. This, ladies and gentlemen, can only happen in Singapore, and North Korea, where the potential of the ruler is also determined at birth.
Come on, surely there must be other more capable non-scholar rank-and-file soldiers who can become 2 or 3 star generals and admirals. Education is important, but should NOT be the overriding criteria for promotion to the upper echelons of the military service or government. This is one of the biggest flaws of the PAP regime in fielding leaders. Military big-name scholars do NOT necessary translate to being competent ministers. LHL is a prime example. He, too, was a 1 star general and has a big-name father... oops scholarship.
National Slavery
*The author blogs at http://renounce-sg.blogspot.com (http://renounce-sg.blogspot.com/)
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://singsupplies.com/showthread.php?205169-The-problem-with-paper-generals&goto=newpost).
THE PROBLEM WITH PAPER GENERALS
Post date:
21 Apr 2015 - 9:56pm
http://therealsingapore.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/MILITARY-WWII-PAIRS-OF-US-ARMY-font-b-OFFICER-b-font-5-STAR-GENERAL-font-b.jpg?itok=b7bzT4cl (http://therealsingapore.com/sites/default/files/field/image/MILITARY-WWII-PAIRS-OF-US-ARMY-font-b-OFFICER-b-font-5-STAR-GENERAL-font-b.jpg)
It's interesting how Singapore's military's top rung consists of mostly scholars. Hence the term paper generals as they are famously referred to.
Table #1: Top Military Leaders in the SAF, circa 2014
TitleRankIncumbentScholastic Award(s)UniversitySecondary/JCChief of Defence ForceLieutenant GeneralNg Chee MengSAF Overseas ScholarshipUnited States Air Force AcademyHwa ChongChief of ArmyMajor GeneralPerry Lim Cheng YeowPresident's Scholarship, SAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridgeRaffles InstitutionChief of Air ForceMajor GeneralHoo Cher MouSAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridge, HarvardHwa ChongChief of NavyRear Admiral (2 star)Lai Chun HanPresident's Scholarship, SAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridge, HarvardRaffles InstitutionDirector of Military Intelligence, Chief C4IRear Admiral (2 star)Joseph Leong Weng KeongPresident's Scholarship, SAF Overseas ScholarshipCambridge, MITAnglo-Chinese Secondary
This means that how high these scholars ascend in Singapore's armed forces is predicated on them winning some big-name scholarships at age 19. Imagine... your future entirely depends on your gauged potential when you were a teenager. This, ladies and gentlemen, can only happen in Singapore, and North Korea, where the potential of the ruler is also determined at birth.
Come on, surely there must be other more capable non-scholar rank-and-file soldiers who can become 2 or 3 star generals and admirals. Education is important, but should NOT be the overriding criteria for promotion to the upper echelons of the military service or government. This is one of the biggest flaws of the PAP regime in fielding leaders. Military big-name scholars do NOT necessary translate to being competent ministers. LHL is a prime example. He, too, was a 1 star general and has a big-name father... oops scholarship.
National Slavery
*The author blogs at http://renounce-sg.blogspot.com (http://renounce-sg.blogspot.com/)
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://singsupplies.com/showthread.php?205169-The-problem-with-paper-generals&goto=newpost).