SAF!!!!. Yay, the decisive force...

I sent an e-mail to ns.sg regarding a request for deferment. Previously, I had spoken to a customer service officer after calling 1800-3676767 (1800-eNSNSNS). This is the e-mailI sent to them..

Hi,

I called that day regarding a clash in ICT timing and spoke to a customer service officer.

I am XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX from XXX and I was told that I have an ICT somewhere in Sep 09 during the previous ICT. As I am in the midst of planning for my wedding, I intend to request for a deferment. I do not know how to go about doing it as my officer (OC) in my Unit cannot confirm when the ICT dates are and the customer service officer said that I should log in to the NS protal to apply for deferment there. I tried but I was not scheduled for any ICT (perhaps the dates are not fixed yet) and thus I cannot apply. My unit has also issued stern warning against personnel who apply for deferment straight without consulting the superiors first. We were told that the those who "jump the gun" would ultimately lose the ability to defer as it is the CO who has the final say. Although I can request for higher authority to look into things, I believe that by the time this gets through, the ICT will be well over. I have also defered once before and my CO told me that that would be the last time I can defer.

As mentioned, I had once requested for deferment and it was quite a bad experience as I still had to report to camp on Monday (despite requesting for it weeks before). To add to it all, I waited for 1 whole day until I get to see the CO and was subsequently released out of camp only at 8 plus 9 pm at night. On top of that, I was given a hair cut that made me looked like a complete idiot despite trying my very best to explain to a very unreasonable RSM that I was just here to settle some paper work and will be out of camp in a few hours. He was deaf for only the moment that I was speaking and said he would charge me if I didn't obey him. I had no choice but to follow the orders of a very power-humgry elderly man. His reason was that because I was meeting the CO, I had to cut my hair as the CO will only meet people with short hair. The image of the CO painted to me then was in a form a deity. This and that happend and all these led to a very unfruitful week as I had to go for an emergency hair cut after that and valuable time was wasted.

Putting that behind, I have no intention to repeat the same process again. This time, I will notify SAF 9 months ahead. This 9 months lead time, I hope, will be enough to cross any red tape that the SAF may have. However, I am facing a problem to notify the right channel and I seek advise on this. I hope to have the assurance that I will not need to be at my wedding in my Number 4 and I also hope to be given enough (ample) time for my wedding preparation (as it is stressful enough without SAF interfering).

I sincerely hope to hear from you guys soon.

Best Regards,
XXXXXXXXXXXX

And a Miss Tan from Div just called me. Telling me that I had to produce some form of ducument to let them know when my wedding date is. But from www.rom.gov, the earliest time that I can get the paperwork done is 3 months before wedding which will be in June. So she said that's ok, I can request for deferment when they serve the ICT. (serve means announce in SAF's language) And I can then apply then which she estimates will be in March 09... Now, they cannot serve the ICT cos the dates are not fixed yet. I told her I can only get the papers in June and she said "3 months is more than enough time to process".. We'll see about that... I'm just posting this to remind myself of what has happened and what was transpired in case there's a big foul up in Sep 09.