Over-reliant culture to blame for 'soft' soldiers

Ref:
NSman makes maid carry backpack SPOOF
SAF will take appropriate action against serviceman who made maid carry backpack
NSmen trained to be fit, strong soldiers -- yet this one makes maid carry backpack

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: STOMP, ST, Mindef)

Dressed in Singapore Armed Forces fatigues, the man was trailed by a woman carrying what is presumably his fieldpack. The picture made its rounds on Facebook before being posted on citizen-journalism website Stomp on Sunday.

Most netizens poked fun at the man's apparent inability to carry his own fieldpack and labelled him "gu niang", a colloquial term meaning "ladylike".

Such labelling reeks of sexism. I'm reminded of a female platoon-mate from the Officer Cadet School (OCS) who I respect.

For the record, like the rest of the about 60 male cadets, the now Lieutenant Low went through a gruelling jungle-survival course in the jungles of Brunei, and is now an infantry officer.

She certainly is as capable as any man I know.

So, no, I don't think the young man is "ladylike", but it is worrying that this full-time national serviceman was happy to let someone - likely his maid - carry his fieldpack while he was probably texting on his cellphone.

It might have been forgiveable if he had other things to carry, and it certainly raises the question: Is there a maid behind "every Singaporean Son"?

This photo only adds fuel to a brewing perception, especially among older NSmen, that the third-generation SAF produces "soft" and spoilt soldiers who are quite a far cry from their predecessors.

Here's the hard truth: the parents are the ones who have conditioned their kids to expect everything to be served on a silver platter. It's the reality their sons know and are accustomed to.

Their reliance on parents and/or maids becomes second nature and is difficult to shake off.

Sure, it is natural for parents to want to show care and concern for their children. But if they really think of their children's long-term welfare, they must wean them off such reliance.

If their sons can't even carry their own fieldpacks - assuming they are fit - how can one expect them to carry their rifles when the country needs them most?

Let's start with the root of the problem.

Go to their parents. Tell them to instil discipline and independence in their sons.

And let them carry their own barang-barang, please.

ORIGINAL SOURCE