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Attitude

I was in Boston with my friend Yewsong. I wrote about this treasured friendship once and he told me he almost teared when reading it. For Christmas 2003, i spent it with my brother and his room-mate Tony. A white Christmas for the first time in my life. Ahh...



~ ~ ~

I had just completed my GCE A-levels, or pre-university, or what the West call high school. While most of Down Under will chill out for a month or so before matriculating into University in Feb, and most of UK and USA take up jobs or a gap half-year before Sept/Oct, we Singaporean males have a certain 2-yr-long National Service to look forward to.

Look forward to? Who would like to give 24 good months of their prime youth to the Nation voluntarily? Which right-minded high-achieving high-school student would like to break the momentum of his academic prowess, and "degrade" to lessons about Military Security, Field Discipline, M-16 Technical Handling, etc etc? Which out-of-school youth would like to forgo job opportunities in the workforce to earn a meager allowance of SGD 300 or so per month, doing things totally unrelated to his future work life, and sometimes having to forgo weekends, to stay in camp, guarding it, or out in the field in some exercise? Who?

No, not one.

I tell you this, as a supposed highly motivated cadet once. I tell you this, as an officer of the Singapore Armed Forces. It does not take a major or colonel to write a 5000-word thesis on "motivation of conscripts" or something like that. It does not take the reading of "Citizen Soldiers" by Stephen Ambrose to understand. The truth is out there, and all Singaporeans know it, if they bother to think and care about it.

My sergeants and friends who went to the School of Infantry Specialists (SISPEC) tell me, "Sir/Jeff... the first day i went to SISPEC was the gloomiest day of my life. There i was, in Basic Military Training (BMT) Days, giving my best, showing the best attitude i could, but i still got tufted to SISPEC, while you went to OCS and get all the glory and honour that comes along with it..."

Then i often hear the quote that so famously comforts them, something that goes like,

"It's not about the rank, it's about the respect you earn."

Most of the time, the SISPEC trainees make it through their sergeant training course. They emerge stronger and fervent, having a baseline level of pride and commitment in the things that they do. They have been trained to a high level of discipline, just like the cadets have as well. They are to be commanders in the Armed Forces, and taking command is no easy feat, albeit amidst peacetime conditions.

~ ~ ~

There i was, with Yewsong, having our Christmas home-cooked dinner with an infantry and armour officer. We chatted and they got us interested about Army. Join the Special Ops, my bro said. They go around storming and shooting and abseil down buildings, throwing flash bangs, just like in Raven Shield: Rainbow Six. I eventually flirted with the idea for real, but that's another post. Then, they delivered the take-home statement, "It's all about the attitude. Just be positive and do your best, since you have to do it anyway."

Take it on. Bravely. Fiercely. Enjoy. And so we did.

~ ~ ~

Now, a certain comment has lead me to deliberate further. An analogy of a distaste for food was provided. It isn't an entirely fool-proof analogy because there is intrinsic taste and then there is acquired taste. However, i do get the reader's point of view, and to each his own. I guess NS is one of those things that either you love it or you loathe it. But my initial point of view and advice for pre-enlistees out there, the attitude makes all, yes, all the difference.

Everyone is in the same predicament. Live your life to the max, or live it grudingly. As a medical student well versed (thanks to Dr. Craig Hassed at Monash University) with Health Enhancement, Psychoneuroimmunology and all that, the former will do you well for your general health at large. Seriously. Weak point? Well, i give you an example, myself.

Imagine i had gone into BMT with a distasteful attitude. I can't enjoy 7 uninterrupted months with my better half as we wait for University to begin. I can't graduate two years earlier because of NS. As i think more about it, i'm really losing out. Here i am gaining useless knowledge about military technicalities and having an "experience" no one else can get, while the females of our age are in the Universities, learning real stuff. Stuff that matters. Stuff that can get them employed in the future. Stuff that help them earn money in the future. Stuff that can help them contribute to the economy. And we? Wearing tight uniforms, marching around, singing stupid songs that are made to brain-wash us recruits, and getting punished for minutiae about our uniforms and what-not. Oh, i forgot, I don't think i like grass.. I hate sharing a common shower room with ten other guys. I dislike male camaraderie; i'd rather stick to my girlfriend and go shopping in the malls, go catch a movie or something. Besides, i agree with the edited ads.

With this attitude, i enter BMT. With my tainted glasses, i view everything and everyone in the military as i think they are. NS is a waste of time. These commanders are fierce and have no life. Please. I am smarter than you are, i boast of perfect scores at my A-levels. You are a platoon sergeant who is just over me in rank but in the society outside these fences, you are nothing compared to me, a potential high-achiever. I am biased. I admit it. I like my tainted glasses. They help me see clearer.

~ ~ ~

Then consider the real me. I enter BMT with a positive attitude. Never mind i am going to delay entering University for another 2 years. Every male in Singapore has done it before, why not me? Perhaps i am just doing my part for the Nation. Besides, i got to do this anyway, why not do it to the best of my ability, as i always have in my studies and co-curricular activities? Also, these 2 years will be a good litmus test to see if i can really last a relationship with my better half. If she can take my absence during this time, then she probably can when i work overtime in the hospitals (i decided early on about medicine). That's right. Let's see how it goes. I get my own allowance too! SGD300!! Woah. My own cash. No longer need my parents to give me allowance... I can spend it however i like. Cool! I get to fire a rifle, throw a live grenade. How many males IN THE WORLD can say they have done that at 18? I think i'm enjoying my BMT life, true there are tough times, i get punished for things i don't think i deserve for, but i think the commanders have a reason for doing so. Let's suck it up and just get through it, as one. Esprit de Corps is strong and felt by all. I like it. I am biased too. And i admit it. But i CHOSE to be. Because, i know, i will have and want to have a more enjoyable experience.

And that's what i got.

~ ~ ~

Let the people who have not done NS be the judge. Which is the attitude you would favour? Remember, attitude is a decision.

The rest of the posts written by Jeffrey can be found here in his blog.


Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

Pilot

I caught sight of his tattoos first up.

I was a newly commissioned 2nd lieutenant, having just completed 42 weeks of training, 19 of which were spent in Officer Cadet School (OCS) at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute - Military Institute (SAFTI-MI). Heck of a long name isn't it; they decided SAFTI-MI sounded nicer than SAFTI. The next 23 weeks were more tortuous. I had been training up to platoon level as an infantry. Now, i got the posting of my wish - Armour. In 23 weeks, i was to learn all about being either an Armour Infantry (AI) soldier or a Tank Crewman. Not just that, i beg your pardon. We were in School of Armour - Armour Officer Cadet Course. That's right. We had to learn all the roles up to being a Platoon Commander - that includes all the organic elements of an AI and tank platoon. Those with the most promise (top 10%) will get a Sword of Merit (SOM) and the top cadet, a Sword of Honour (SOH). These top graduands will then have a chance to go for further training later on, so that when they come back to serve as a conscript (once again) in their 10- or 13-year cycle of "reservist" National Service, they serve as company commanders instead. One level up. The rest? They are awarded what they call it fondly a Sword of Participation (SOP). Just ordinary officers. Just like me. We stood there on the parade square, listening to the President of Singapore say his piece, and then these very words,

"I, the President of the Republic of Singapore, reposing special trust in you... hereby commission you, as officers, of the Singapore Armed Forces."


Graduands of 55/04 Officer Cadet Course throw their peak caps and berets (only commandos, guardsmen and armour warriors had red, khaki and black berets respectively) into the sky!



Today i am starting a series on Army memoirs; hence the title. Pilot. The first of a series. I have no idea how long this will last. I hope you bear with me, as i recount my National Service / Conscript days. I fear that as new medical knowledge displace these valuable experiences from my hippocampus, i forget them. My brother, an AI officer (who then further trained as a reconnaissance scout PC), advised me to start writing them soon,

"lest you forget...."

I was posted to an active Armoured Battalion, to serve the remainder of my mandatory 2year-2month time as a conscript, as a platoon commander. They said that taking on a command role, as opposed to an instructor or staff role, was the toughest. You have men's lives under your charge. You are responsible for each and every one of their actions, in camp, and if you care enough, out of camp. Of course, this was not always possible. But it doesn't matter - they come under your charge, and if any ill-behaviour on their part or mishap occurs, you answer. Yeap, you there, newly commissioned 2nd-lieut. Not your sergeants, or platoon sergeants (who generally have more experience than you and are full-time soldiers; for them, the military is their career.) But you there with the 'chocolate bar'.

[picture of one bar]

Frightening? If i say i wasn't, i would be lying. Every PC enters into his command role with trepidation. It just isn't the same as holding a PC role in OCS. In OCS, you lead fellow cadets who are highly motivated soldiers, determined to do well every second, even when playing the role of a seemingly-less-important company medic, for example. Now that we enter a unit, we get men who are fresh out of high school, sometimes even middle or grammar school. They are of a different educational status (all officers are either diploma or A-level holders). And that's not just it. For me, they were of a different family background.

I come from a humble but complete home of 5. My parents love me, and so do my elder siblings. Some of these soldiers tell me they have this and that problem in the family. They are struggling to make ends meet. Some come from broken families. Some have been hanging out on the streets, jobless, out of school for months, even years. Yet i on the other hand, have domestic help to wash my laundry and clean the house for me, go figure.

Such issues confronted me as i took command. Thankfully, i had an "upper-study". Also, i entered a 1st-year battalion. That means, these young men have just enlisted into the military as conscripts. They are new to the whole concept of conscription and what comes along with it. On the other hand, i was entering into my 2nd year as a conscript. I had a slight upper hand. Or so i thought.

The rest of the posts written by Jeffrey can be found here in his blog.

Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

Taking command and responsibility

Previously, in Army memoirs: Pilot, i said,

Such issues confronted me as i took command. Thankfully, i had an “upper-study”. Also, i entered a 1st-year battalion. That means, these young men have just enlisted into the military as conscripts. They are new to the whole concept of conscription and what comes along with it. On the other hand, i was entering into my 2nd year as a conscript. I had a slight upper hand. Or so i thought.

Taking command is not an easy feat. As recruits going through Basic Military Training (BMT), we think we know what is command. Those who have the basic educational requirements to go for officer training at OCS think that their experiences at Junior Colleges (JCs) or Polytechnics have already shaped them in some way to be a leader. Most of them are right. But not all the time.

You see, organising a class chalet or outing is starkly different from conducting a 5km run for the entire battalion at East Coast Park. Neither is organising a 1-week camp for your School's Sports team comparable to conducting a 3-day-long live firing exercise. They are different things, requiring different sets of skills, aids, and competencies.

Today, I will attempt to talk a little more about my command experiences as a platoon commander in the military. However, i will not relate it chronologically; it will get too boring. Besides, many of such experiences are common, like field camp, exercises, etc. i blogged about them previously (FTX, BPT, ATP)

i will highlight the more personally relevant and important ones.

~ ~ ~

I have avoided discussing this incident with many people. So why this change to broadcast it on the WWW? Because, i think its about time i take stock, share the experience, learn and move on.

I was the Battalion Duty Officer (BDO) that Friday. On Saturday i normally have driving lessons and my instructor could only make it at an early time of 8 a.m., coincidentally the handover-takeover time. I sent a message to Saturday's BDO, R., to come earlier. Of course he could not. Everyone is entitled to their Friday night. And coming slightly earlier for a coursemate with whom i spent 23 weeks suffering together is not possible for R. What could i say?

I did the unspeakable. I did what even a private would know is wrong. I left my position of duty at 7.30 a.m., that i might reach the driving instructor's pick up place at 8 a.m., that i might not lose 30minutes of driving time or good money paid for the lesson. Obviously my priorities are wrong. What is money compared to 30 more minutes in the camp, where i was entrusted with the responsibility to oversee the security and safety of the camp?

I was punished for my deed. Severely. I was charged and have a military record, forever to my name. I was denied promotion to a 2-bar full lieutenant when every of my coursemates and colleagues in my camp dawned the 2-bars. I was advised i should never sign on for the army (i actually intended to sign on as a medical officer when i graduate) Should i feel the shame? Yes i think i was meant to. But it was not that simple.

R. and the deputy operations officer (DyS3), T., are the main people who helped me learn my lesson. R. was lamenting to fellow officers (same ranks) during lunch on Monday on my deed, what i did. He was of course, just lamenting. He messaged me on Monday morning, wanting to "just let me know that 2 sergeants in his company did something similar and the Officer-Commanding charged them." I was still in slumber, i thought, "What are you trying to tell me? I did it already. What's your problem now?" I ignored his message, did not repent of my wrongdoing, and went about my daily duties as a tank PC.

During his lamenting, T. was one of the listeners. He called me in the afternoon to confirm if what R. alleged was true. I admitted, and was tempted to tell him, "Hey don't tell S3 yea?" But somehow i did not, i thought he wouldn't, and it turned out to be a wrong move on my part.

T. was a fellow armour officer. We too went through the 02/04 Armour Officer Cadet Course, though he was an Armour Infantry officer, and i was a Tank Officer. Our training was separate and surely the bond is not there. So that's that. Our only other interaction was during application to medical school. He was an aspiring doctor too. He was deciding between Monash and Melbourne, and my quick reply was "Monash!! It's only 5-years!"

The turn of events next was inevitable. Self-righteous* T. told my unforgivable deed to S3. I was summoned, reprimanded, and promised to be given the worst punishment i can ever get as an officer, less the de-commissioning (which requires the President of Singapore's approval).

* i mean this in a good way. a sense of righteousness that the right has be ensured and wrong should be punished. no compromise.

So i dealt with the punishment. I was to be charged. Thankfully, i had already signed up for Special Operations Force (SOF) selection. That was to be in the next 3 weeks. It provided an escape. I had one week left in camp, my meet with the Brigade Commander will be delayed, because they can't get things done so quickly in the SAF. Procedures have to be followed. During this one week, i told no one, not even my own family members or girlfriend. I only told close colleagues. And one i bitched to the most was Junren. He was both a running companion and a listening ear. Till now I cherish our friendship.

The 3-week SOF selection provided an escape from my camp, the people and reality. Here, i focused on surviving. I focused on staying mentally strong. I focused on forging new friendships and encouraging one another. I focused on not giving in to the taunts and mental games the SOF instructors played with us and me. I focused on staying afloat as long as possible, with this mentality in mind, "If i don't give up, they have no reason to kick me out."

Day by day the number of candidates decreased from over 50 to only 7. (Read here and here) Did i think about my punishment to come when i head back to my home camp? Hell yea. And each time we went through each of the designed-to-torture "evolutions", i treated them as a punishment. A punishment for what i did wrong. After all, I deserved it.

~ ~ ~

I headed back to camp at the end of 3 weeks, proud that i did not give up. However, soon after, the manpower officer carried on with the military law dealings and had me brought to the Brigade Officer to be charged.

I actually wanted to ask him this, but did not.

"Sir, what would you think of a fellow course-mate who 'pau tow' (tip you off so you get a punishment or scolding as a result) you?"

I really wonder. I struggled to think what i would think of T. On one hand, he did what was right in the duties of a fellow officer, in not condoning negligent attitudes. If T. did not realise it, it was also a timely reminder for the rest of my medical career of the importance of responsibility. On the other hand, many before me had done similar things, and fellow BDOs just keep silent and "cover up" for one another. In fact, we had a similar "T." who had a higher profile than many. He is the Prime Minister's son. He did something similar, on a larger scale.

~ ~ MEDICAL BLOGGERS COMMENT HERE~

On this note, i ask the medical bloggers (if any of you have been reading my boring account). Have you ever 'covered up' for a colleague's acts of ill responsibility or acts of negligence?

The textbook answer is out there. I know it. We all owe a duty of care to the patient. And in my military context, I owed a duty of care and responsibility to the soldiers of the camp. I have breached this duty of care. But legally speaking, it did not directly cause a calamity or incident to occur. Hence, it will be insufficient to charge me of negligence, because the conditions of breach duty of care and the negative outcome is directly caused by this breach are absent. I might have a case then?

Doctors, and nurses, we are taught that if a colleague is suspected of drug or alcohol abuse, and turns up for work, we are to report it to a superior. This is in the health professional's best interests and mainly, the patients' best interests because once again we owe them a duty of care. By not reporting such a case, and if an unfavourable outcome for a patient (e.g. wrong treatment plan) occurs because of that particular physician's poor decision making due to the influence of alcohol or drugs, will one be liable for negligence?

~ ~ ~

It had not been easy to come to terms, especially for a generally rank-conscious soldier like me. I walk around in camp as a 2nd lieutenant, although i know i had a year or so of experience as a platoon commander and officer. (2nd lieutenants in the SAF normally get promoted to full lieutenants after a year of acceptable service)

~ ~ ~
The tank sergeants came to talk to me when i came back from SOF selection. They know i had just been charged. They all asked if i was OK. I was extremely appreciative. Their concern helped heal the wounds. They told me the sergeants in R.'s company don't like him at all. They tried to make me feel better.

~ ~ ~

When i was coerced to take the Advanced Close Combat Training (ACCT) course when i was about to finish my 2-year National Service, we had to wear our army uniforms (no.4) which bore our rank. Everyone of my fellow PCs had their shiny new amulets with 2bars. I stood there as a 1-bar, in front of ALL the men, ALL the sergeants. I bit my lips, and went through those days of ACCT lessons and evaluation.

Then, as we were taking a break, one of my company's sergeants came to me, and we chatted about University, this ACCT we had to go just before ORD, the future, and plans ahead. Then he said it,

"Sir, even though you are only 1-bar, i still respect you more than the other officers with 2-bars."

That made my day, and my entire NS experience.

The rest of the posts written by Jeffrey can be found here in his blog.

Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

A 2nd hand account of the Taiwan training tragedy

Mi brother was cleaning his riffle when he n his platoon (around 20ppl) looked up into e sky n saw tis plane in e sky flying towards them. Their whole company were in the shed and just rite mi bro's platoon was seated at e corner of e shed so only they saw the plane coming. They were amazed at how grand e plane was when they suddenly realised e plane flippin over (its pilots are flyin inverted now) n flying closer n closer towards them. In fact, it was coming at them!! Sensing something really wrong, tis group of platoon mate ran screaming into the middle of e shed to take cover. Before they knew it, e plane crashed into e small stockroom behind e shed. There was a massive explosion with e stockroom bursting into a wild big inferno.

Link



Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

The unwilling draftee 5

"Bottles up!", "Caps off!", "Drink!" The 200 robots regimentally followed the order given by the seargent who was already in his 'smart 4' (green fatigues with sleeves neatly folded up to bicep level). I couldn't believe what I was made to go through. Replenishing the body with water has got to be the most natural action any dehydrated animal does. Here, it was choreographed to the last detail. Nobody was allowed to drink before the final command was given. Everyone had to hold up the bottle at chest level. The bottle had to be filled to the brim. Dripping--even the tiniest drop was punishable.

Read more here.



Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

Pick it up lah!

What reservists don't look like

It rained all of yesterday, pissing down on all of us while we were at the combat shoot range near Pasir Laba Camp (or Pasir Labia Camp, as we called it, which is built around Bukit Vagina, as we giggled some more like secondary school boys, but you know, it's a bit tiring to talk about how vulgar our conversations are when we're in reservist.)

Strangely, we weren't as miserable as we ought to have been - being in wet clothes for what, twenty hours or so and being stung by mosquitoes hardy enough to withstand our saturation spraying of much Off as well as our liberal application of many citronella patches all over ourselves.

As a platoon mate, who shall not be named because these days, if you get named on this blog, everyone in your office gets to know about your exploits in camp, and I really don't want that to happen to you. Unless you want it to. If so, leave a comment and I'll insert your names...

As I was saying, this platoon mate says to a bunch of grumbling fellow troopers who've started a conversation with, "Wah lao, this kind of rain won't stop one leh!", that we should "think about it. How often do you get to walk in the rain?"

I think he meant for us to try to enjoy our day out, and the conversation veered to how some people pay good money to enjoy getting stung by mosquitoes and other sundry insects while getting drenched on eco-tours.

You'd understand by now that despite being in uniform and bearing the latest in automatic rifles and Army gear, we weren't thinking about how proficient we were going to be as soldiers - something which, in this 9th year of reservist (I have to keep calling it that though I know the official name is National Service) training, is getting increasingly laughable given our creeping ages.

The upshot is that for most of us, safety was always going to be the foremost consideration, as an exchange at the combat range between the control point officer and a safety specialist, over loundhailers, in the dark, would testify:

SS: "Hold it! Wait! Wait! Wait!"

CP: "Yes, what?"

SS: "Live round (bullet)! Live round!"

CP: "Where is it? Is it stuck in the chamber (of the rifle)? Is it double chambering?"

SS: "No!"

CP: "Then where?"

SS: "On the ground!"

CP: "Wah lau! Then pick it up lah! Idiot!"

Much laughter ensued. And so, yes, W, you missed out on a good one.

Technorati Tags: army, MINDEF, Mr Miyagi, nationalservice, Singapore

Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

A charmed (NSF) Life: After BMT

Many of my platoon mates suspected I am a white horse because of how well my superiors treated me, but they don’t really understand I don’t get punished because I simply fall in on time and follow instructions. Soon even my specs were spooked and believed the rumors that I am a white horse.

This persisted even after BMT was over and postings came. Ok, I admit, due to a relative, I had a choice of vocation after BMT:

1. Vehicle mechanic
2. Medical orderly
3. Driver
4. Signaler
5. Rifleman (which I was supposed to be…)

I chose driver. I wasn’t very surprised when postings came and I was to be a driver. Ok, please don’t be pissed with me!

My charmed life continued in STC (Supply Transport Centre, formerly known as STTS or Supply Transport Training School), when on the first day, we were given survey forms asking questions about computer skills. This was my field man! Little did I know, out of about 400 or 500 privates in that hall, me and another guy was short listed to help out in the CO’s office!

We were attached to the CO’s office, under the label ‘CO Project Team’. STTS just had a new CO at that time, and he was implementing sweeping changes to the loggies, like making drivers stay in even when on course, etc. He was a nice guy. The SSM (School Sergeant Major) was another story. He was an imposing person, but after several weeks of making his morning coffee (2 bags of coffee beans, no sugar!), he mellowed.

Being in the CO’s office had its perks. Sure, we had to stay in compared to some trainees who were attached to external units and stayed out, but some of my benefits were:

1. No morning parade. Immediately after reveille we disappeared into the CO’s office and CSMs couldn’t pick on us
2. We could have EVERY MEAL at the canteen! Meals were not indented for us and Sembawang’s canteen food was HEAVEN! PRATAA!!
3. Internet. The little room in the CO’s office had true, fast internet access, and the PCs were modern machines for us to design video presentations and programs.
4. Lots of offs. Whenever we completed a milestone in a project, or helped out at a function, we would usually be awarded off days. I once spent a week at a chalet, courtesy of the CO (due to a senior officer/WO retreat) and had 4 days off after that. Cannot beat that!
5. The COPA was virtually boss when CO and SSM wasn’t around. My off passes were sometimes signed by him :P
6. On the other hand, the SSM was nice enough to give me lots of off passes for doing stuff like photoshopping him into places he did not go but still wanting to wayang to others that he was there. Cool
7. Being authorized to bring in video cameras, digital cameras and other stuff into camp, since I had a LOA (Letter of Authorisation). Freedom!
8. The company of lots of friendly people. I made friends with lots of NSF officers, and since I am a computer technician, I often fixed their computers for free meals…
9. My ‘white horse background’ rumour persisted here. Even the CO thought I was a spy from Mindef sent to check up on him. Soon, NSF officers were jokingly saluting me and addressing me as ‘Sir’.
10. Tying up the COPA to a rolling chair and rolling him around the HQ block on his birthday, while videoing every moment.

After nearly 3 or 4 months of attachment at STTS, I finally went on my basic vehicle maintenance and driver’s courses.

Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

Talc the map now!

In a thread about slavery spelling/pronunciation, someone wondered what "telt" / "talc" (the clear plastic sheeting you cover maps and other things with) really was.

I pondered over this for a while, and then suddenly remembered that I'd hit upon the right answer years before in a brainwave - it's actually "tarp", short for "tarpaulin". Many are resistant to this idea, since they think tarpaulin must be opaque and thick, but I've dug up many graphic illustrations of clear plastic tarp:

DEKE - Cornell

Thoughts on Restoring a Morgan
Introduction to Media Blasting

Healthy Lawns—Site preparation: Soil solarization

57 Ways - 15. Solarize Soil

WAN in Lab: Facilities: Pictures and Schematics - gallery: \WIL\2004-12-09 Adjustable Shelves + Corning Fiber Spools + Plastic Tarp



Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

A charmed (NSF) Life: A new beginning

I enlisted on Boxing Day, 26^th December, 2003. Was quite a crushing Christmas the day before, knowing full well I’ll be leaving a barely month-old relationship into the army camps of Singapore, armed with the scary ghost stories and torture tales from my uncles.

Since I screwed up my secondary 4 education because I was emotionally unstable, I only have O levels, thus I was drafted in 4SIR’s mono intake. Man, Lim Chu Kang Camp 2 (or was it 1? Sheesh... I can’t remember) was to be my second home for the next 3 months.Most of the first day was a blur, a whirlwind of allegiance ceremonies, surrendering of our freedom (Pink ICs), and waving sad goodbyes to our families. My goodbye wasn’t too sad, thankfully, since I was abused in the family. Good riddance. I resolved to make it good in NS (though, thinking back, that’s impossible).

4SIR had a pretty traditional building layout, 4 L-shaped company buildings of coy A, B, C and SP, surrounding a rectangular parade square, with a road leading down to a long HQ block and curiously, an abandoned block called 622 SIR. That block was a nightmare to virgin patrol personnel.

Though the coy building looked pretty dilapidated on the outside, the inside was pretty new, relatively new windows, new bed frames, springy mattresses, and incredibly clean bed sheets. I later learnt that our specs had spent the last week ‘dolling up’ the camp for recruits. Ha!

I entered the army in PTP, serving an extra, what, 6 weeks? I can’t remember exactly, time passed fast. I collapsed after a run on the 3^rd day, scaring the shit out of my PC and Specs. I wasn’t trying to chao geng, but I guess trying to be gung ho when my body isn’t up to snuff was bad.

That started the long string of bloody stupid cock-ups that were to pepper my entire NS life.

You see, what happens after a recruit faints? Well, the spec shouts for the medic, who had been blissfully sitting on his stretcher 5 metres away enjoying the breeze, who had to huff and puff to my (now incoherent) body, pulling up my eyelids and shaking me repeatedly, mouthing ‘Recruit X!! Hey!! Hey!! Can you hear me?!’ heck, if I could I would have replied, just save me, damn it!

Next was the flurry of the 3 other medics who were activated from the nearby (barely 20 metres) medical centre, and they were panicking (as they told me later) on what happened to me.

“I think he had heat stroke”
“Maybe just dehydration”
“Fainted only la!”
“What the fuck! Just carry him to the MO!!” (My spec)

I was whisked away by 4 pairs of hands, while the stretcher lay untouched at the company line.

So, I was at the medical centre, lying mostly unconscious. What happened next?

“Where’s the MO?”
“He’s taking his morning run…”
“WHAT?? Then bring him here for fark?”
“Maybe smelling the medicine will help…”

Soon enough, the MO appeared in PT attire, and proceeded to prod me for signs of life. He then mouthed the life-changing words:

“Evac him to IMH”

The medics recoiled in horror. “Sir, sure or not? I think he only exhaustion, go NUH la sir” “Sure, no, send him to IMH, quickly”

Great, I was whisked to Woodbridge Hospital the 3^rd day after I was enlisted, man, my NS life is just going great.

I woke up at the mental institution to a curious looking doctor who told the medics “I think he’s suffering from physical exhaustion…why the hell did you guys send him here?”

Bad news was, since it was a Saturday, there was no resident specialist around, (whose signature is needed to send me back to camp), and thus the decision was to put me with the mental patients till Monday.

Alright, I don’t have to detail the life of a mental patient, basically, the nurses wouldn’t talk to me, there is barely anything to read, and me, an 18 year old was surrounded by doddering senior citizens, my only solace was another NSF from the navy, who was sent here because he tried to shoot his sergeant with his rifle while live firing. He insisted he was only acting and wanted to escape his Navy BMT on purpose, how could I distrust him?

I spent the weekend eating with baby food with plastic spoons and forks, and watching old folk shout, scream and bang their heads against the walls. I nearly joined them, but thankfully, the magazine rack helped. My dad visited me on Sunday too.

Finally, Monday came, and I was to see the head psychologist, which coincidently, was the head of the Army Psychiatry dept, a retired COL. He was pretty candid in his interview, asking where my unit was, what weapon was I trained in, stuff like that. Good thing he decided there’s nothing wrong with my and called for my unit to pick me up that afternoon.

I must say, I have NEVER been happier to see my PC and spec. I vowed that I would love the army from then on. It took nearly an hour to out-process me, and my 2 superiors spent the time sitting inside the ward, talking to me and observing the surroundings. Barely 15 minutes later, my PC whispered: “I think I’m going crazy if I stay here any longer…”

Soon, I was driven back to camp, to curious bunkmates who were told that I went crazy and am going to be interned at Woodbridge for the next 2 years. I guess they were disappointed. After came an interview with the OO (Orientation Officer), who pinpointed the source of my exhaustion: after a 3 km run, without doing cooling down, my CSM ordered everyone to change from PT to smart 4 and fall back in within 30 seconds. I promptly raised my hand then and collapsed.

It would be untrue to say I became a ‘marked man’ after that incident, but I felt really bad later when my CSM gave a company wide talk, saying “I was only trying to build you guys up to be men, but some of you went to stab me in the back.” How I wished I had the chance to tell him that I had no malicious intent, and was merely answering the truth to questions asked.

I was on Att B for a week after my return from the hospital, though I continued with my silly exploits like always falling in first (I was only trying to be on time), always gung-ho when sergeants asked for volunteers, and always seem to get injured during physical exercise. At first, even I was horrified that my body was trying to chao geng, but after the MO took a close examination of my feet, he proclaimed:

“You shouldn’t even be here. Your flat feet are the worst I have seen… and that’s what causing your injuries now. I’m taking you out. Don’t worry, you are a good soldier…but I am recommending downgrade for you, for your own good.”

I was pretty shocked, and so was the medic when he saw ‘6 weeks Att B, excuse all lower limb activities, pending downgrade’ on the prescription.

Thus I stopped being a combat soldier, and became the saigang warrior king in Alpha coy in 4SIR. My Att B status was renewed automatically by the MO when it ran out, ensuring that I was a permanent ‘bai ka peng’ throughout my BMT.

Why am I charmed? Probably because I feel that I got landed in probably the friendliest and fairest coy, no, camp in the entire SAF. My PC, a newly commissioned regular 2LT, was barely 3 years my senior and a very understanding person. He gave me personal pep talks when he knew I were to be downgraded, not that I love chiong sua, but I didn’t want to sweep leaves for the next 2 years (Leaf sweeping was my primary ‘bai ka’ activity). He even allowed me to walk with him, on occasion, to the cookhouse, when I was a chao recruit! I will forever be grateful to him.

My specs were a great lot too. Most of them were NSF roving specs, due to ORD in the next 3-5 months or so, with some being regulars. I found out most of them are the reasonable, friendly type. They had made known that their job was not to tekan us, but to train us and they will pat their butts and ORD. No bad karma.

Thus, the rest of my BMT went by with me being excused for most of the physical training. I loved gym sessions of course, and lectures were ok. I was the fastest at stripping and assembling my SAR21, along with loading rounds into magazines and scoring well for the electronic shooting, but alas, the decision was made not to let me do live firing. And oh, even though I had an accurate throw, I wasn’t allowed to go for grenade throwing either. I was even glossed over for field camp. I stayed in a near-empty camp for a week with 2 specs and several other Att B dudes. Life was good when the rest was in field camp, since after cleaning duties are done, time was basically free and we were allowed board games. We were told not to breathe a word to anyone else though :P

I never lost my reputation for being SBO (Si Bei On) though. My field pack was always neatly packed, webbing always primed, rifle always clean (since it has never been fired…), boots always polished, stuff like that. News spread. Soon everyone began borrowing my stuff. My PC, then my PS would borrow my field pack on route marches (which I was exempted), unless my OC snatched it first. They would borrow my rifle which was the cleanest, and my spec even ‘borrowed’ my mp3 player (I tried sneaking it to camp as a radio – was caught at the guardhouse by a sharp eyed sergeant, but thankfully my own spec was the guardcom. He said he would detain it till I booked out, but hey, he could use it). And oh, I fully prepared my outfield gear even though I was not supposed to go. My PS told me to sell my gear to a platoon mate who forgotten to prepare anything for outfield instead.

I think that’s enough ranting of my less-than-illustrious BMT life. Scenes I will not forget:

My CSM walking off in anger during rehearsal for the end of BMT drill competition, realizing that although the platoon was marching correctly and in time, my PC was not particularly strong at drill…

My regular spec sneaking into our bunks after lights out and whispering “Hey, wanna hear ghost stories or not?” then he would proceed to spook everyone who cared to listen around the table…

My CSM leaping off the low beam and landing in the barbed wire while doing his SOCMy 2 specs who failed their SOC because they had to turn around and pull out the CSM…

A smart aleck BOS (Battalion Orderly Sergeant) who decided to scare prowling recruits at the abandoned 622 Sir block by wearing his poncho over his head, and was promptly whacked by 2 spooked prowlers with their batons…

Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

when you are always at the other end of the island...

If anyone's camp is in the infamous West side of Singapore, you will notice there's a bunch of people who dont wear green, yet as shag as you guys do. Yes, the university people. Somehow to me, the army people and the Uni people have something in common.

1. We are all stuck in e west side. ( Go Orchard? Nah, go home n sleep liao la)

2. Enjoy a gd 1/2hr or more nap in the "cheerful" orange part of our friendly mrt train.
(well, not everyone lives in the west)

3.we need to take bus rides to the super ulu places of the west side. (e Uni people hafta pay for their own bus fare)

4. Get to enjoy the "music" produced by the live firing. (e diff is army guys r the ones firing. I got super shocked when i 1st heard live firing.. =_=" )

5. Slog n slog.......

6. Munching on equally unhealthy food.. (fried food at unbelievable low prices!)

7. Sometimes, really yucky food.
I understand, army guys have no choice.. I sympathise greatly. Wish I could do something for u guys. I did try e green packet. it is just edible. (Sometimes, we can see some ppl dressed in green no.4 in our canteens..) well for e Uni ppl, its all luck n experience that you get to eat tasty food. e safest: Macdonalds

8. Dozing and nodding off on the way back home.... ( thats e best thing!)



9. the haze. we were not exempted from anything when it became really unhealthy...



Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

My share of army experience

Hi, this is my 1st contribution! X )

They say mothers have a share in army experience.

Actually female kakis (pals) also have a share. I did not know much about army (perhaps a bit from my father and the history textbooks?) It was until 1 of the 2 best friends was going to serve NS in 2mths' time.

That was when the big words “Oh sh*t!” appeared in my mind. He happened to be my interest at that time. Damn. There goes the effort to build up rapport with him.

I started to worry for him. A lot. “Have you packed your stuff? Have you brought enough to last through the confinement? Don’t act stupid or act gung-ho there! Please stay in 1 piece. Would I get to see you again” and etc. I was more like his mother than his friend. (maybe even more naggy than his mother since I called up especially to check on him)

Finally, we reached the day before the enlistment. I called him because he was ill. I asked him, “ Have you bring your medicine? All packed?” After saying that, I was speechless, until he said he had other things to do. I was left alone to bang my head against the wall.

That was it. He left the Singapore Island for that mysterious island, leaving me missing him a lot. I tried to understand, but got frustrated for several occasions during his BMTC. He just would not tell me what he was doing in there!

This was what i did in one occasion. Probably, it was the haircut that did something to the brain after all. I yelled at him through the SMS: Cut hair le, so cannot think isit? (sound harsh? But after a thorough thought, I gave up on this. Friends and I had a good laugh over it. Cos we think he might have got immune to it if the Sirs hurl verbal abuse on daily basis)

Well, it is just my complaint of a NSF …



Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

stories about my RQ

My RQ was one of the slightly more annoying people I knew during my NS. Here's a encounter I had with her just before my ORD.

I was going to Alexandra Hospital for an appointment. She told me that if I finish before 5.30pm I would have to come back to camp. I had absolutely no intention of going back to camp as I was sweaty and so was my uniform.

I finished my appointment around 4 o'clock. So after that I just walked around the hospital for awhile. Then I went to the McDonalds in Queensway to get a drink. by the time I finished, it was 5 o'clock. So I called her office phone and told her that I've finished already. What she told me next was totally outrageous. She said since the time is 5pm, she'll let me go half an hour early. But tomorrow I have to make it up by staying in camp half an hour later.

That was really unfair. She should have told me this before I left not after. So on my way back home, I sent a message to my S4 telling him what happened. About 15 minute later, the RQ sent me a message saying 'you better call me now'.

So I called her and she started yapping at me, clearly annoyed that she had lost face. So she asked me 'do you think what I did is right, tell me now.' Being the blunt person that I am, I told her straight to her face: NO.

So the next morning during our usual morning briefing, I was a real hot topic with the RQ asking me all sorts of irrelevant questions about the previous day. Basically, she was trying to embarass me. Knowing the cynical person that she is, I just took it in my stride.

But I knew she took it personally though. She told all the other storemen not to sign my clearance until the very last day.

ORD For Dummies: Part 2

Part 2 of a continuing series.
One month has passed since your 5-month ORD plan started, eh? Did all the previously-mentioned tips? Here's what to do next:

a) Continue saving up! You think one month enough, meh?

b) Check up on the understudy. Manpower might have forgotten ;-)
Or, if he's already here, start training him up! More work for you, yes, but the faster he learns the faster you can start doing other stuff. As far as possible don't hand-hold him through - nobody took over their appointment by handholding. Let him make mistakes and learn from them, under your guidance. He'll thank you for it.

c) Got approval for punishment-clearing plan? Good. Try not to accumulate any more. Unless you really don't give a damn.

d) Got approval for your leave forecast? Good. Need more time? No problem - there's still 4 months.

e) Started clearing your work? Good. Put that to-do list to good use! And try not to add any more items under the already-existing ones. Try to push them to the understudy, whether he exists or not. Nobody likes to take over a work in progress, so let them be the ones to initiate it.

Not much at this point in time, try to get the above done because next month you're going to be working your ass off.



Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army

Oranje

With under 6 months left till what every national serviceman looks forward to - their ORD date, I would have thought I have so far gone through it without much of upsetting the rules and in particular haven't been knocked down. So of course to my amazement, last week I got knocked down my the one everybody absolutely LOVES at the moment - my CSM.

What for? Cos' a small bit of my orange cloth was sticking out of my cupboard during stand by area. In fairness, he did recover me when I was 2/3 way through the 30. But then again ... ! The army never ceases to amaze me.





Technorati tags:singapore, nationalservice, army