BEHIND THAT FACADE
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With SCS coming to an end, I feel both relief and uncertainty at the same time; relieved because it's the end of my 9 months of torture and uncertain because I have no idea what my life will be like once I pass out as a 3rd Sergeant.
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A disaster start to March ended with the cut of Exercise Moonlight Marshall. The 2d1n outfield exercise was enough to exhaust me both mentally and physically. Nevertheless, it was a sweet and memorable experience for me and my 25 comrades.
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THE JOURNEY
Sunday 25 March 2012
It has been 9 months of gruelling affair but we made it through. I wanna dedicate this short post to my Viking Coy and 10/11 Military Police (MP) Command.
Viking Coy
The "battle" began on 8th June 2011 when all of us enlisted. Being in the Physical Training Phase (PTP) batch, we knew that the first 8 weeks was physically challenging but with teamwork and determination, we were proud to say that we actually matched the physical standards of the enhanced batch. The bonds that we created in that first 8 weeks were put to the test during our Basic Military Training (BMT) phase or the combat phase. With emotions running high, we all showed our true colours, especially during the infamous field camp. When just sitting down is considered "heaven", we all know the hell we've been through in what we deemed as the longest 5d4n ever. They say that the army is where we see the worst in individuals but then again, it is also where we see the best. Squabbles and fights never lasted coz we were mature enough to handle the situations. Then came the time we had all been waiting for.. the 24km route march. We kept our morales high and though we completed only 18.5km due to the rain, we completed it with pride. And pride was what family and friends saw on the Marina Bay floating platform on the 8th of October 2011.
Most of us were then posted to Specialist Cadet School (SCS). We were lucky to be in one of, if not the most lenient company there. Again, it was teamwork that brought us all the way through til the completion of the Basic Section Leader Course (BSLC). All of us cleared our Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) and the majority passed the Standard Obstacle Course (SOC). Before passing out, we marched the seemingly endless 28km route march where the end marked the last of our honourable "battle" together as we all were posted to the different vocations.
MP Command
It began with not the most pleasant of introduction to the course when the first PT session landed us almost 300 push ups. There weren't many highlights in our life in Military Police Training School (MPTS). One of the most memorable moment was almost winning the sports day at SAFTI. With such confidence, we ripped other teams apart. Alas, we fell short at the track and field event which caused us our top spot. Then there is one moment to forget; the Black Friday. We were treated worse than dogs and our morales were at an all time low. Where we fell, we picked ourselves back up again and we never looked back. The course ran almost flawlessly after that incident with only few hiccups here and there. The massive PT sessions made us fitter and we achieved 10% gold, only 70% short of our aim of "80% gold". Still, the rest at the very least, managed a silver and we were still proud of our achievement nonetheless. The 2d1n outfield training was a test of our endurance which we passed with flying colours. And when we marched out together on Leaders Square in front of family and friends, we knew that everything was worth it.
3SG is ours! Congratulations to those who won the awards. For those who didn't, do not be disappointed. Awards are only physical. The most important is winning the hearts of the people around you coz that will last forever. AND NEVER STOP BELIEVING!
I'm looking forward to Combined Arms Term at Pasir Laba camp where I'll be meeting almost all my friends whom I left when I was posted to the SAF MP Command after foundation term.
Before I end this post, though barely anyone reads my blog these days, I would like to wish Cliff Chua a Happy 21st Birthday and all the best to him for the remainder of his OCS journey.
2 things to look forward to this month are payday on the 10th and graduation parade on the 23rd. Graduation parade will mark the beginning of a new chapter in my NS life. I will embark on this journey as a 3rd Sergeant, effectively ending my life as a trainee.