BMT is over

POP lo!

Truly amazing. 3 months of BMT over just like that.

I’m getting a 1 week+ break now. Unfortunately I didn’t make it out of sg to travel, but heck, always another chance. Hence trying to catch up with virtually everything – sleep, good food, photography, driving, friends, etc.

But it’s not helping that I get up at 12 in the afternoon, instead of the routine 5am. Life in camp with regimentation, compared to outside with freedom really makes a mega difference.

Will know my unit posting through the NS web this friday. It sorta  feels like checking NPAL for exam results i guess. Lol. WHERE WILL I END UP?

Sidenote: Started  seriously thinking (and researching) about uni after NS. Overseas too ex, local hard to enter, private too risky, etc. It is giving me a farking headache. Anyone with experience, or is going through similar pains, do help

Recruit Lim

Long time sinced I touched this blog. Life has been rather stagnant ever since I enlisted into army. I simply don’t have the time to do the things that I want to. I guess that’s the sacrifice we guys have to make.

I am already halfway through BMT phase. Been through some major events like my live grenade throw, 6d5n field camp and SIT test. More  stuff to come, but I’m happy that I’m slowly inching towards my passing out.

Last week we were asked to write a short reflection on our ‘hell’ field camp for submission. Field camp is basically spending 6 days in the jungle training with the bare minimum- no showers, no brushing teeth, no shitting (for some), and trying not to get your rifle stolen. Shall post it here.

If anything, the past 6 days in field camp were a tough and vigorous experience like never before. It was both physically and mentally demanding, and quite naturally, threw me out of my comfort zone. The following are some points which I have learnt through this time. Some may be the conventionally correct learning points while others less so. Nevertheless, these are the things which have defined my first ever field camp experience.

Field camp is like a microcosm of life. People are brought close together and put under a stressful environment. From there, everyone responded differently and for many, their true colours surfaced. Some endured through, some flared up, some did not care. But in the end, I feel that these 6 days would culminate to one thing: people are either brought closer together as ‘brothers’ or they are ripped further apart as foes. I am glad I experienced the former.

Almost everyday, there were ‘tekan’ sessions. I guess these are inevitable since no batch that went through field camp were spared of them. One example is falling in after an árti’ drill was lifted in the shell scrapes. We were given around 30 seconds to do so. Within that short period, we had to keep the ET blades we had just been using before and arrange our field packs properly. We met the timing, but in the end received punishment for not helping friends who were not at site to keep theirs. However, if we were to have help, we would definitely not had been able to meet the timing. And alas, punishment as usual. Both ways would have resulted in the same outcome and I guess that is what many of my fellow platoon mates are frustrated about. Whatever it is, I guess that they are just meant to toughen us up and learn to accept orders in an unquestionable manner.

Ultimately, like everyone else, I am just relieved field camp is over. While it is not exactly gratifying, I am proud that I have persevered through.

Trying hard to Smile

How do you stay positive all the time huh?

I need someone to give me a lift.

Goodbye, again

About 8 months ago I had to bid farewell at Changi, fast forward to now I have to say bye going to Tekong.

2 years, will come and go really fast.

I will enjoy my time in captivity. See everyone during the weekends soon.

48 hours

2 more days before I enter the Tekong chalet.

Time is RUNNING OUT.

Credits to my impulsive streak, I have decided to embrace (one of my few remaining) tomorrow, and devote a fulfilling day to MYSELF.

I’m going to take my camera out, travel around the island, shoot whatever I please. (and maybe in the midst of it, gain a dash of enlightenment)

Come Wednesday I hope I’ll be able to spend my time with some close friends.

It’s not like I’m leaving indefinitely - though it sure feels like it.

But i say bring it on, NS!! 

 

Random P.S. – I don’t care about having the most number of friends. What I treasure, and I hope them too, are close confidants. I may not çonfide much, but sometimes I guess the presence alone is more than sufficient to me.