> The military is indeed a great choice for many people: there non-combat roles like medical and IT Do you even get to select what role you want to get into?

> The military is indeed a great choice for many people: there non-combat roles like medical and IT Do you even get to select what role you want to get into? My (conscript) experience is that everyone first goes through Basic Military Training, then you get assigned somewhere randomly and that's basically it. You never get a choice. If you're lucky, you get assigned to an interesting unit, then you enlist and are set for the next 10 years. edit: The way the conscript system in Singapore works is 1. if you're 'highly' educated (highschool diploma equiv), you get a chance at becoming an officer. If you enlist, you get put on a career track (ie. set for life). 2. if you're 'technically' educated (tech/vocational diplma), you get a chance to be a technician or unit leader. You automatically become a sergeant after 1.5 years. If you enlist, you get to become a slightly higher ranked sergeant and eventually on course to become an NCO. 3. you're not educated so you're disposable cannon fodder (infantry). You're rejected for enlistment.