Aristocracy of Armed Talent
ARISTOCRACY OF ARMED TALENT THE MOTIVATION, COMMITMENT, AND ASCENSION OF MILITARY ELITES IN SINGAPORE (1965-2014) SAMUEL LING WEI CHAN Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in International & Political Studies at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of New South Wales, Australia Defence Force Academy Submitted for examination: June 2014 Accepted by the school: October 2014 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Chan First name: Samuel Other name/s: Ling Wei Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: School of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty: University College Title: Aristocracy of Armed Talent: The Motivation, Commitment, and Ascension of Military Elites in Singapore (1965-2014) Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) This thesis examined why generals and admirals in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) were motivated to join the military as regulars, why they remained on active service, and how they ascended to the pinnacle of the office corps. Theories and empirical studies drawn from psychology, sociology, and the management sciences served as sensitizing concepts which guided data collection. Twenty-eight retired military elites drawn from vocations across the tri-service SAF shared their ‘lived experiences’ during semi-structured interviews. There were primary and secondary motivations to join the SAF. The former included prestigious scholarships, that the SAF was the best career option available, military medicine was an atypical path for doctors, cutting-edge technology and technical competency, and genuine interests in the armed forces. The latter categories comprised salary, flying, the sea, ‘escaping’ conscription in the army, and familial roles in the choice of a military career.
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