Pass Out loh!

I am a Specialist of the Singapore Armed Forces.
With pride I lead
I excel in my field
ensure the discipline of my men and their mission readiness.
I will overcome adversity with my fighting spirit.
I will defend Singapore
WITH MY LIFE.

This Has been the creed that we have been practicing day after day , weeks after weeks, Months after Months. Finally, we have reached the day where we can proudly and firmly shout out loud in front of our love ones.

I Was enlisted to Specialist Cadet School(SCS) on April 19. Not knowing what to expect, we were like lost souls looking for familiar faces. SCS is considered Command school where the better soldiers would go. However most of us were having mixed feelings as our commanders in our BMT told us that command school was tough and very physical demanding. I was Posted to Hotel Coy, Platoon 1 Section 3.
There, i begin my Specialist Cadet training with my wonderful friends.

Most of the people in my section Came from Leopard Coy in Bmt. They knew each other since their BMT days, However they were really nice and i integrated into their group really quickly . Days in SCS pass very quickly. We had learn how to use signal equipments, had a first hand experience on how chemical defense suit felt like( DAMN HOT!) . Then came Field camp. It was merely a 2d1N field camp yet, it has been the MOST, i emphasize again , the MOST mentally challenging field camp till date. The place was muddy, my boots and shirt was soaked with mud, insects in my shirt and pant and i was sweaty and hot. It was like a mental torture! At the end of the field camp, we had to march 6 km back to our company! i almost fainted! Looking back, it really hasnt been the easiest 8 weeks. But with friends like them, life was a lot easier.

On the Last day of our BSLC term, we recieved our posting. We were separated into Engineer,Armour, infantry , one went to medic and my lucky buddy went to Military Police.

The regimentation in Armour was really a culture shock to us. It was so much higher then SCS and it really took us quite a while before we really got use to it. In the 13 weeks, we learn how to drive a bionx( armour vehicle) and operate the guns on the vehicles. it was really an eye opener. guns no longer weight 5 kg like those that infantry soldiers use. Our weapon are around 30 + kgs. Cleaning them was also another challenge. These 13 weeks definitely wasnt smooth sailing but we got through nevertheless.

Combined Arms Term was finally here. We were all looking forward to this as we were be able to see our BSLC friends. The moment when i step out of the bus when i reach Pasir laba camp, a strong gush emotions send of hit me. The sweet, bitter memories of my BSLC days flows through my head.

Its Day 5 and today is the day where we will be practising for our passing out parade. Controlling and coordinating 800+ people really wasnt an easy task. Our institute Sergeant Major put in a real deal of effort in correcting our drills and positioning.

The BIG day arrived. we trained a little while in the morning and went back to clean up and pack our stuff. 4.20pm , the grand stand was getting crowded and it was time to fall in. Just as we were about to get into our position, rain started pouring. All the looks on our faces were the same.
Disappointed.
We trained day and night for days just for this parade yet the weather spoils it all.
Luckily , God was nice to us. The rained stopped around 30 mins later and we continued with the parade, i think it was a resounding success! drill were good and there wasnt really any major cock ups.



Introducing to you our new COMMANDERS!



















Marching in Review order



March pass (i am 5th from the back, first row!)


Re-Entry into the Parade Square.



Specialist Creed!



Specialist Roar!!

For More check out
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=210623&id=659502780&l=3680f39bc7

platoon 3 song.

This song was create by ethan i think. We sang this on our OC night. They change the lyrics of the song viva la vida by cold play

I used to rule the world
Caught a movie whenever i could
Stay up and use the com
And hangout with friends all day long.

One minute i knew i was free
Next minute i was on the ferry
On my way back to camp
And that how another long week began

I hear my platoon sergeant shouting
You have one minute left to fall in
Why the heck are you moving so slowly
Nevermind, fall in in your FBO

For Some reason i can't explain
When we have training it never rains
Only on HG day
Wah lao eh we si bei suay

Whole day doing SOC
AGR and IPPT
The only thing that i live for
Is the sergeant saying 5 counts of 4

Time was never a problem for me.
And now i hold on so dearly
Admin time is godsend
And booking out is my only friend

I see the ladang camp site nearing
Our 24 km road march is ending
Say byebye to the scorpion ladies
All we have left are our bedside buddies

For some reason i can't explain
This overwhelming joy with my veins
Parents sitting at the grandstand
Watching we boys turn into men.

The return of the Botaks.

Army

Week 1

So there i go in the early morning with my large red Lion bag taking MRT with my parents all the way to Pasir Ris in the god damn early morning. When i reached there, the parents and i were separated while they were being taken on a tour on a nice and air coned bus, the rest of the18-19 year old boys were anxiously waiting at this corner outside the lecture room. We surrendered our Pink IC in replacement for a light green on which they call it the 11B. No idea why too. Then we had a practice on our pledge taking before we went into the auditorium to take our pledge as witness by our parents.

I was posted to Orion company, Platoon 3 section 2. Opposite me is Ninja company( if u know what i mean). Those enlisted that day were either posted to Leopard, Orion and Ninja so i was having 1/3 chance of getting into Ninja and poor nicolas and chin hou and inside. ( Dude, all the best man. Really.) After a little ice breaker, we went to a place where the real army experience truly start. The shaving of hair. We were all looking around trying to pick out the barber who cut was the most gentle and cut the nicest. Soon, the day ended .

The first week was Orientation / confinement week but as there was a CNY in between, we were allowed to be release. So in a sense we benefited as we do not need to be confine for 14 days but that also meant that out orientation week is being cut short. (orientation week is where they will not scold u badly and make u do pumping) .Being someone who has never near zero knowledge of drills, the drills came as a very tough challenge for me. It really took me a while to get use to all the drills. turning left and right.

Not long later , we were being issued with laptops. There were suppose to be 4 company that is using this laptop system thing but seems like every other company has it too. Basically its like any other school portal but inside this portal, they teach about guns, rifle and many other things.
As we are the trial batch, there were a lot of technical difficulties but we REALLY do not mind as we are in our bunk under the fan!! The temperature in tekong is slighter higher then Singapore weather. That how hot it is. Basically everyday , i could mount up to to a litre of sweat.

We also learned the technical handling of the SAR 21. How to assembly and strip a SAR, loading drills and what to do during an stoppage. It was really something new. Not something that u can get to do everyday, holding a REAL gun. It is quite heavy in fact, especially if u have to hold for long durations.We also had a ippt cat test. my 2.4 timing was 11.40. Which is considered seriously fast for someone who has not run for 8 months? that because everyone is running like mad and if i were to stop it would be seriously embarrassing.

Week 2
This is the start of the REAL army, we starting being pump for doing wrong things doing things slow and we get all kind of punishment when we do something wrong. No, is SomeONE do something wrong and everyone gets its.

Each platoon has 4 sections and i am glad to be in seciton 2 where most of them are pretty decent. Most of them are fun loving and nice to talk to :)

We were also being brought to the indoor computer shooting center where we had our first hand experience in learning how to shoot SAR. It is really easy to use but the techniques are really not easy. We were aslo give first hand experiences to combat physical training and the different types of physical trainings .

Week 3

This week focus was on the physical aspect and SOC training. In the morning we would have running training then follow by fighting training then afternoon would be SOC training and sometimes at night there is gym training. This week is seriously F.ing tiring. I am quite proud of myself for having not fall out for any of these tough training!:D The first running session was to run for 15 mins non stop for about 3 km the next one is 20 mins no stop for about 3.5 km and i did it!
It really has to do with the mental mindset of a person. How much determination and fighting spirit.

The Soc was also quite easy ... Till u wear ur helmet, vest and rifle. The moment these things are on. I only manage to do halve of the stations! there were 10 and all the stations that i completed were all the stations that has to do with jumping. We merely just did the stations without having to run down the first 100m and under and timing. once we finish the course all of us were like KO.

The road march was also another very tiring training. We needed to crarry a load of 10 kg plus our helmet and rifle and vest which total adds up to about 15 -16 kg. We went for a march for 6km. I was on the verge of dying! 16 kg is like 30-40% of my weight! Holy shit. the real march is 24 km. i can't imagine man.

So far army has been a good experiences it really made me rethink about a lot of things and appreciate all the things that parents did for us and how much freedom being a normal citizen! There a line in one of the army songs that goes " children having fun... while we are holding gun. " so people out there enjoying, learn to appreciate !