Its the 31st of Dec 2012 and everyone's busy writing and reminicsing about the year that just passed. I am an extra year back. I hadnt had the time to take stock of 2011 and practically dived head on into 2012.
The past 2 years have been scary and life changing. I really thank God for putting courage and inspiration into my heart, and for bringing me to where I now am :)
I am going to try to document and archive the remnant bits of the past 2 years. I would also admit that I am bored and not willing to step out and brave the cold to do anything outside right now.. So i will start writing and restoring memories of army days.
After my first year in NUS, I decided to trade my pretty dresses and heels for pixellised uniform and combat boots. I was damn scared, and worried that I was making a huge mistake.. But it turned out that God was faithful, and was always there to bail me out when I needed him to.
October 2011
That was the passing out parade (POP) for Basic Military Training (BMT) The parade was held at Marina Bay Floating Platform (Singapore) The previous night, we did an overnight march of 24km, in full battle order (FBO) and to answer everyone's favourite question, no the girls do not carry any less than the guys.
Yay POP lohh!!
After BMT ended, I went on to cadet life in Officer Cadet School (OCS)
OCS is a military institution in Singapore, and it is 9 months long.
Cadets go through:
2 weeks of Common Leadership Term (CLM)
12 weeks of Service Term - Army, Navy, Airforce each conduct individual service terms in the respective wings
21 weeks of Professional Term- Cadets are streamed into different vocations, for example, Infantry, Signals, Armour, Artillery etc
3 weeks of Joint Term- Consisting of Parade rehearsals, dialogues and bonding time
It was a crazy journey, and i'm so glad i made it out alive. I remembered being so so scared even before going into BMT, how i had no confidence to do Live Firing, and now, its one year on and I've happily commissioned, living life to the fullest ... awww, really miss those days.
So, when I first went to OCS, I was in Hotel Wing :D
Platoon 4 girls with our Wing Commander.
It was amazing, being in Hotel Wing. I learnt so so much from LTC Fred and the rest of the instructors (and they became my colleagues after I commissioned!!)
Okay I think I will do a seperate detailed post on how each segment of army training went.. For now, I shall just skim through the past two years and make myself feel young and garang all over again :D
After CLM, We infantry girls moved on to Alpha Wing! The journey was.. Unique. It really did toughen me up and I surprised myself by realising that i was stronger than i thought i was. Both service term and pro term was held in Alpha.
A picture outfield with Alpha Wing Service Term PLATOON 3
It was fun, tough, crazy and just awesome. I wouldnt have traded the experience for anything less.. Service Term usually ends with Exercise Scorpion King, and finally Social Night! When the cadets are told to do No. 2 dress fitting and measuring, it means that Service term has come to an end :}
Platoon 3 in No. 2 dress, looking all handsome and dashing
After that night, we were all roaring for Pro term to come and go as fast as Service term had fleeted by. But we were so wrong, it came and stayed, but we took it like a man, conquered and finished strong!! The next 6 months was just pure endurance and perseverance. You have no idea how glad i am to be walking slowly, eating slowly and just taking my time doing my things.
So.. Alpha Wing Professional Term 85/11
Ex Lancer, Brunei 2012 Lakiun Camp
It was one of the most defining moments of my life.. I experienced real brotherhood, camaraderie. I saw how soldiers would give and sacrifice for their friends, how they would put the team first and think on behalf of others before even considering their very own needs. I am not exaggerating. These are 20 year old boys and they have learnt so much here than they would have outside. Nothing really prepares you for Army. You go in, get challenged, be changed. And i realise, you take away so much more than what you've prepared yourself for. If you were to sit down and think, and collect the memories of cohesion, fraternity, you'd be blown.
Sure, its not a perfect system, there are lots of room for improvement, but what's important arent the nitty gritty gripes about its shortcomings, its about going through tough times together, rising above challenges and walking out of adversity with the knowledge that you are never alone. There is always a bigger picture to everything, and you need to see it. Its not healthy getting caught up in our myopia, take a step back and see less of yourself, you'd be aware of those around, supporting you, and walking with you.
And so, after Lancer (which comprised of JCC- Jungle Confidence Course and an Infantry Package) we had Ex Crescendo, a few more local exercises, and before we knew it, Ex Panther! It is the summary exercise, the last mission before we hung our helmets and fieldpacks to prepare for the Commissioning Parade :}
I make it sound so quick and easy.. haha, well time flies! I could almost (literally) hear the chorus of "Joint Term Lohhh"
And here: The heart drop moment (I quote my fellow cadet now officer Tjhai)
COMMISSION LOHHHHH!!
15 JULY 2012 THE 2nd CRAZIEST DAY OF MY LIFE, apart from the craziest when I made the decision to sign on :} The end of Cadet life.
And after that.. I got posted back to OCS Hotel Wing as an Instructor! Imagine my exhilaration..
Cadets and Instructors HWG 86/12
It was only a short stint, cus I was flying off for University. But it was enriching, and yep I did learn alot.. I began to see things differently, and understand why things were what they were. It put alot of issues into perspective for me, and I enjoyed it!
So now.. I'm writing this with a cuppa hot tea and M&S milk choc digestives on the table.. Yums.
Some things dont change :}
