The Journey To Officership: Week 4 | Sweat through discipline

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Finally, it is almost a month into OCS.

We had a 5km endurance run and the timing was required to be under 26:10. I was praying so hard to myself that I have to do it under 26:10 because I wanted no more RT on Saturdays. Somehow, the constant reminder to myself about wanting no more RT fueled me to run non-stop! In the end, I made it with a timing of 24:51. I was also surprised how I managed to complete it with that timing. 

This week was also the learning of signals! I have learnt so much about the signal kits as well as on how to use it. It's damn heavy, I swear! Outfield is going to be a challenge to each and everyone's resilience and a test to our team spirit. 

This week was more chill than the others, as I was one of the selected few to rehearse for the change of command (COC) parade for the incoming and outgoing commander of OCS. Practicising under the hot sun for 15 hours is no easy feet. Furthermore, we were wearing ILBV and holding rifles all the time. Fortunately, we made it and we did a good one for the parade! Our peers whom were watching us also praised that we did well! I guess our efforts did paid off after all! 

We also had our lecture on M203 for next week's live firing and technical handling test! 

- Can be considered the rest week before the hell starts. 

The Journey To Officership: Week 3 | Weapons and NAVEX

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First week in Bravo Wing. 

It was entirely a culture and regimentation shock for me when I stepped into Bravo wing. Indeed, I did felt a drastic change in the environment and the way things are conducted.

As part of an official start to service term, we had a change of command (COC) parade to officially welcome the cadet appointment holders. Basically, they are the ones whom will lead and run the show for the next 3 weeks. 

There comes my IPPT test 2 in bravo wing. I did a total of 48 push-ups, 50 sit ups and a timing of 10:39 for my 2.4 km run. The outcome was rather disappointing. I was faulted a few times for my push-ups. In the end, I have gotten silver for my IPPT. Here comes my remedial training (RT) on Saturday. I wonder how physically exerting will the RT get. It seems like I'm still not fit enough to get away!

Remember that I mentioned about how much love I have for navigation? Yes! I'm finally entering the forests to do my solo navigation for the day and night! I would say that one must be careful of the terrain as it isn't a flat ground. It's full of fallen dead leaves and branches as well as big roots with elevated ground at some portions. I fell quite a few times due to carelessness. I did fairly well for the day! The night was the more challenging one as the visibility was constrained and you tend to take smaller steps to avoid falling down. In short, navigation is awesome la! Haha.

Yeah, I'm officially learning my first weapon: Section Assault Weapon (SAW), aside from SAR 21, It was an interesting one and is far more complex than SAR 21. You can go full burst with the weapon unlike SAR 21.  At the same time, many people have warned how SAW is prone to negligent discharge (ND) if not handled carefully. Technical Handling Test (THT) and theory test were conducted before we went for our live firing the next day!

Yup! The live firing was an awesome experience la! You really got to try the power and speed that SAW has to offer you. I had a great time although I missed all my bullets on the target. HAHA. I guess the bobo legacy still stays in me.

- Adventurous weeks ahead

The Journey To Officership: Week 2 | The Initiation

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Second week of confinement over in OCS and I'm already missing my loved ones, but at least my time is considered better to the three weeks confinement in the past.

We had 4km endurance run and the timing must be kept under 22 minutes. Through that run, I guess my fitness wasn’t there yet as I failed to meet the timing. Over in OCS, majority of the people can really run, and I mean for real. Their 2.4 km running timings were really fast, not forgetting to mention their endurance run as well. Gym orientation was also conducted for us. I must say that the gym facilities in OCS had so many more varieties for people to choose and work on their muscles.

Next up! It's time for my leadership field camp. Throughout the leadership camp, it was quite a pleasant experience! We played games which required team effort to accomplish it. As we did meet the timings and so we were granted the privilege to wash up before insertion into the woods for our solo night camping.

And once again, we had lessons and tests on Military law and navigation. I must say that the favourite part of the CLM term was navigation. Although the technical part of it was dry, but navigation is fun and a useful skill to acquire, I swear!  Very soon, I’ll be inserted into the forest for day and night solo navigation! :D

Yup, as the title speaks for itself! It's the moment where we had our initiation ceremony to receive our two white bars! Welcome to service term! Yup, more responsibilities would naturally come with the rank and seniority vested on our uniform. I'm looking forward to it! At this point of time, I'm already transferred to Bravo Wing. So, I'm a Bravo warrior now. :P

YES! The day where every cadet dreaded for after a good 15 days of confinement! Family day! :D We, cadets, were the tour guide for our loved ones on that day! I toured around with my loved ones and you know what's next? I'm out of the camp! Hahaha back to civilian life for 2 days!

- Happy week !

The Journey To Officership: Week 1 | The Introduction

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Hello people! It’s been awhile since I updated everyone what I’m up to! So right after the posting, I got into Officer Cadet School (OCS) and I felt that it will be worth penning down the memories along this journey of mine. Bear with me as I share all the NS related stuff. Hopefully, this can be a countdown timer to my commission! 

Got into Charlie Wing for my CLM term! Supposed to have an orientation run around SAFTI led by seniors from Delta Wing, however it was raining so we did not get to do so. We ended up learning more about the culture and history of OCS. On a lighter note, I miss my bed! As part of the orientation phase, we also had many lectures on safety, the do-s and don't-s in OCS, the appropriate haircut and so on. I really had difficulties trying not to fall asleep. :P

Subsequently, I also had my first IPPT in OCS that week. My results were 57 push-ups, 48 sit-ups and a timing of 11:06 for my 2.4 km run - it's rather bad. Oh well, that just meant that if I don't improve in my second IPPT, I'll face remedial training (RT) on Saturday. I have heard that it isn't a pleasant experience, they will really push you out of your physical limits.

We were also taught on chemical defence during wartimes. Yup, wearing those masks were part of the learning plan. I swear the mask was so so so uncomfortable for me, because if you can imagine now you're breathing through a confined hole provided by the mask..

Finally, it was time for us to do our 5M confidence jump followed by 265 steps stairway tower climb. I thought 5M confidence jump will be an easy one for myself because it didn't look so high to me. This is where shit gets real. As I arrived at the 5M platform jump, I was "WHATTTT". I swear it was damn high! I was like okay if I don't do it, I'll be screwed. So I just shouted what was required, "To lead, To excel, To overcome" and I took the leap of faith and leap off while closing my eyes. I swear the hanging time before you get in contact with the pool was awful. LOL. Somehow I felt that it was better not to close your eyes the next time round. Not to forget, the view from the tower was breathtaking! You can even see lights of changi airport if you're there in the early morning hours! 

- Not a too shag week

Beginning of a new phase | National service

“Just like every young man serving the country, like it or not, it is still a compulsory two years that we have to go through. Two years is definitely not a short time, whether will it be filled with either tears of joy or sorrow is for ourselves to decide. I believe each and every phase of our lives has something important for us to take away with, which in turn, will turn us into better people, so cherish every of our moments with our hearts.”

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Like every other Singaporean young man out there, I was a little apprehensive about my time in national service. How was I going to best prepare myself mentally with the fact that my freedom was going to be compromised in weeks to come? Let’s just admit, it was only through those times that you started realizing how important every second was and you fought for whatever time remained to pursue the things you love to do.

Fast forwarding time ... 

The time for enlistment was finally here, 15^th July 2015. I woke up to a heavy heart not knowing what was expected of me inside the army, but only one thing for sure was that I will miss my beloved ones. I swear my soul was not with the army despite being there physically on that day. Many thoughts were running through my mind.  I was introduced to the sergeants and officers in-charge of our company and my platoon respectively. That day was considered the best day of my recruit life as the sergeants and officers were friendly and nice to us, contrary to what many described as to be. However, there’s always a saying, “The only easy day was yesterday”. It was true enough.

The next morning after our enlistment day was a major culture shock. We were required to fall in at ridiculously early timings as well as abiding to seemingly impossible fall in timings. It was certainly not easy at the start. The adjustment period, known as the confinement week, had definitely helped most of us to get used to the culture. Adjusting to life in army was no easy-feet. Seeking permissions for every single thing wasn’t a habit initially. Then, of course, many of us learnt our lessons through the tough way. We were punished as long as our discipline expectations were not met with what was minimally set. 

Second to discipline which many of us, including myself, dreaded the most were physical trainings. One of the commonly dreaded PT would be AGR, which stands for Ability Group Running. We had to run continuously for a required duration and every session only saw increased duration which explained why many of us were not looking forward to it. Despite the negative feedback, as a recruit who has gone through AGR, I have got to admit that my stamina has improved! 

As weeks passed by ...

We were punished almost every single day for every other mistake that someone has made. Despite the harsh punishments, we have bonded better as one in the process. Nothing else also mattered when you witnessed your fellow friends carrying out the similar punishments as you. Over time, we were still punished over the same old mistake which led me pondering for the reason: Was it carelessness, selfishness or laziness that resulted in us committing the same mistake? Or it could be just a choice that we have chosen? I was pretty aware that everyone knew what was right and wrong. And so, I concluded, choice really mattered, as your next course of outcome was based on it.

Trainings would only get tougher over time, just like what SAF has always told to the parents: progressive trainings. The toughest time was during outfield. How was I going to survive among hard soil, trees and with limited access to clean water? The combat ration was already a bad enough experience for me. Every inch of the outfield was pushing me out of my comfort zone. To make things worse was the digging of what seemed forever to take shape shell scrape. I have tried my best to make my first attempt a good one, yet circumstances were not in my favor. Honestly, I hated the times in outfield but when one asked me of my experience in BMT, outfield was the first thing that surfaced upon my mind. 

Nearing the end of BMT ...

Around this timing, recruits would have completed 90% of the required key activities before they could POP. The spirits in every recruit was high as they could finally celebrate all the hardships they had gone through, what’s even best were being witnessed by their loved ones. I was no exception. I wanted everything to end it immediately but before that there was a 24km route march. It was a major hurdle for me. I had many reservations whether I could complete it as I was carrying a heavier load and marching a much longer distance this time. I knew I was not the only one worried about the 24km route march. Many of my peers were feeling the same as well. However, we cheered and told each other that we will complete it and make it to the stadium to toss our jockey caps. That mental support built much positivity in me. 

Graduation Parade!!

I was so proud of myself for completing the 24km route march as I had many reservations about my physical level. We made it to the stadium at around 1:21am after a long 6 hours of marching where we slept inside for only about 2 hours before waking up to give our final best shot in BMT. This parade was also the time where many recruits have waited for! As it signifies the end of our recruit lives! Haha.

What's up next?

Two months indeed passed by within the blink of an eye. It was a short yet hectic one for us to go through. I'm rather looking forward to my next posting! I don't know what will I be expecting again! And I'll have to go through the same old shit (cycle) again. Before that, I shall enjoy the short hiatus from army! See ya guys when I have time to write up about my life again!