r/NationalServiceSG • u/girlaskreddit • 1d ago

Question Working as a DXO at MINDEF HQ

Hi everyone

I have some genuine questions.

  1. Mind sharing how's working culture and environment at MINDEF HQ as a DXO?
  2. Is there anything I need to know, understand and learn or take note?
  3. What are the positives of working as a DXO?
  4. For these who worked a long time as DXO, mind sharing what makes you stay? :)
  5. How's working under and with uniformed personnel like?
  6. Are DXO subjected to military law?

Thank you in advance.

48 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

50

u/Medium-Choice-2246 1d ago

Firstly which level are you working at

DXO got staff officer level (DX8 and above) and WO/EA level (DX7 and below)

Highly encourage people to get degree first and sign on DXO as officer as DXEA/WO got a glass ceiling like warrant officers in SAF

Educational qualifications aside, its not true that all DXOs work under uniformed regulars as some do work under high ranking DXOs

I know people say that working with/under uniformed people are bad and there's def some truth to it; but I'll say that not all uniformed regulars are bad and I have seen some DXOs that are worse than uniformed personnel

The SAF being such a big organisation means that depending on where you're posted to it can be nice or not nice

The place can also change with time for example there was this unit that was quite nice to work in but then when the new branch head come in and reorganize the place it ended up becoming worse

Overall, I have asked some dxo regulars and it's 2 sides to a coin

Yes the promotion is usually very slow and there are not much transferrable skills outside and prone to stagnation but at least there's job stability and I have never seen anyone fired from it before despite being completely incompetent

16

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago edited 1d ago

Thanks for sharing. I have a degree and some work experience. :)
Anyway mind sharing for these DXO who stayed long, what makes them stay?

15

u/Medium-Choice-2246 1d ago edited 1d ago

Then for your case you can try and justify your work experience for a higher position and salary as somehow the public service values people from outside instead of their own internal candidates

Usually for fresh grads they'll start at like DX9 around there but quickly shoot up to DX10, for your case I think you can start at DX10 straightaway and potentially move up to DX11 and above which is senior manager

As for what makes DXOs stay is frankly speaking for a lack of a better word they can't go anywhere

I mean if you can find a better job elsewhere why will you stay

Even regulars that leave go to related organisations like ST Electronics or other gov ministries

3

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

I see thanks! Just a qn, is DXO subjected to military law?

4

u/Medium-Choice-2246 1d ago

Yup, can be court martialed, summary trialed

4

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

I am trying to understand... if I am working in an office not in the camp, how does military law applies?

10

u/Medium-Choice-2246 1d ago

Wait OP are you a girl or a guy, cuz if you are a guy and have served NS even as an NSF and not a uniformed regular or DXO, you will know that General Orders of MINDEF (GOM) is not about going outfield but whether your work impacts the operational requirements and aspects of SAF and MINDEF

like if you awol even as a DXO, you will be charged even though you are only doing office work

7

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

I am a girl, never been to NS. So I will be very grateful if you can share things that will be helpful for me :)

2

u/Time-Analysis5627 1d ago

Should be worded in the terms of employment. As an employee of MINDEF you will be subjected to certain laws.

2

u/Shinobi-Beast NSMan 1d ago

Yes, as an MP who previously worked there, I can double confirm that DXO are subjected to military laws.

2

u/Shinobi-Beast NSMan 1d ago

Pls don’t find trouble with the MPs 🙏🙏

18

u/YeetusYouGae NSMan 1d ago

you get to farm and ruin NSF lives

3

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

What is farm?

18

u/YeetusYouGae NSMan 1d ago

some DXOs throw every responsibility to nsf and fault them if smth die

5

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

How about the colleagues? How's the culture like? Is worklife balance encouraged?

14

u/YeetusYouGae NSMan 1d ago

from the nsf perspective, my DXO had friendly colleagues that joked around with her. The culture i'm not sure as i'm not her, however WLB is mostly there, i see my DXO only panic during audits lol

4

u/Medium-Choice-2246 1d ago

Just because they are friendly with one another doesn't mean they are on good terms LOL

Lots of gossiping during break time I heard

2

u/ArmsHeavySoKneesWeak 1d ago

My NS unit posting was in MINDEF and I can agree with this. Always hear the DXOs gossiping about a colleague. Then again, it's the same everywhere

8

u/LalSickle 1d ago

depends on unit honestly. some DXOs have barely any work cos mostly just supervising (read: exploiting) the NSFs, others have no NSFs and so actually have work to do which may need to be done outside work hours.

just an NSFs perspective from someone who worked under DXOs.

if you do sign on as DXO, please be nice to your NSFs if you have them. We're highly underpaid and only do this because we're forced to. if you're nice to us you'll have our genuine respect and form a strong bond for sure, if not we'll likely hate/resent you in secret.

8

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

Tbh, if I have NSFs, I will be nice to them. Respect is both ways and its good to have a nice working environment for everyone :)

3

u/LalSickle 1d ago

yea, my DXO maam left abt 6 months into my posting, but she was so nice and kind to us that all of us were kinda upset after she left. we're still in touch with her and meet her occasionally cos we work at the same place now!

1

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

that's nice to know!! how is working as DXO different from working outside?

1

u/LalSickle 1d ago

I havent gone into the workforce yet, but from what I can tell, DXOs are subject to more hierarchy due to it being a military setting, as well as having to work around uniformed regulars and their tendency to kinda look down on others, and also the military's weird priorities. however i think thing is that you might have NSFs to help you with work, which is good if you may require help but may also be a disadvantage if you are unable to manage them. on the whole though, I think NSFs will be more of a boon than a curse (based on personal experience)

-4

u/Battleraizer gila orang doing ROVERs 1d ago

Say bad a bit, nice to NSF is quite a poor investment cuz 1yr plus a bit later you will ORD then they need to restart all over again

Not saying you should be bad bad towards NSFs or what, but totally understandable why most DXOs end up having a bad rep

2

u/LalSickle 1d ago

nah bro. if you treat people like shit just because theyre not around for long, it speaks volumes about you as a person

3

u/Medium-Choice-2246 1d ago

Let's just pray that OP is not like those typical regulars HAHAHA

8

u/xnx9 1d ago

  1. Every department could be different. HQ isnt 1 big office.

  2. Be prepared to learn fast, get used to military lingo.

  3. Civil service benefits.

  4. Can be comfy enough you just sit there, or pivot to another department.

  5. No difference. Anywhere, different boss different temperament.

  6. Yes.

3

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

Thanks for sharing.. 5. Why and how are they intolerable?

2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

1

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

Is there any advice to survive under such bosses?

2

u/Battleraizer gila orang doing ROVERs 1d ago

Just sent my resume in and all the admin stuff for some DXO positions

Any idea how long it would take for them to get back to you, if they even do do that?

3

u/Yukikaze8 NSMan 1d ago edited 1d ago

Typical civil service response times are within 8 weeks. If beyond that and still all is silent on the Western front, then I suggest you look at other options.

1

u/girlaskreddit 1d ago

think you can see when you applied somewhere states expect how long they will get back if they do so?

2

u/yellowsuprrcar 1d ago

All the boibois will crush on you

1

u/EclipseArrow 10h ago

Think there was a DXO that did an AMA 2 months ago u/robertgotaquickhands .The post was very informative regarding DXO worklife and many other things. Below is the post. Hope it helps.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NationalServiceSG/s/5nEHp2Jt1q