As officers of SAF are getting much more younger, those born after 1985, I think the older batch of officers (those born in the 1970s) are much more experience and gungho. I remember those 80s army officer I saw in my NSF was just 2 years older than me, but majority of the men thought he was a 'nua' guy despite his rank. Much more of he older guys would tell me, that they would call him 'Sir' out of the respect of his bar, but his personality was very much in questions. Always threw 'smoke', scolded his soldier for nothing, often talk loudly but suddenly become humble in front of the CO. I was the only man he would not, and would not dare to speak loudly - you see, I was the CO's runner. And also due to the fact the CO's PA was ORDing, clearing leave, I took over as COPA as well. Much of the officer's matters I would handle for them, so in front of me, he also 'guai guai'.
Then our camp had most of the 1970s officers ORDed, then came in many 1980s officers, there was even a female infantry officer leading the men, same age as me that time. But mostly CMI during 'chiong sua'. Our S3 (probably the shortest officer I ever met in SAF) did comment on the performances of those new batch of officers were too relax becos of the peace we have and tend to treat exercises not seriously.
Maybe in times of war, we can see how seriously our younger batch of officers are. but in times of war, every citizens have a part to play, not just soldiers. In our recent ICT, one of the trainer revealed to us that in times of war, school boys (cant reveal which level) would have to take up arms to fight should our country be invaded - after frontline NSmen & NSF units remaining < than 30% fighting strength.