Unit Life

Since its the end of national day, the BPCC guys are all gonna be separated/posted to the different units. I'm off to Alpha coy, and since it's gonna be operational, I have shitloads of work to do; i.e. fieldcamps, exercises and of course their CEC and BPC.

The thing I'll miss most is the friends that I'd made over the whole course. We shared laughter and tears and finally made it to this stage. Its almost a shame that we'll be parting ways so soon, and not spend the remainder of our NS life together, riding out the toughest waves.

Of course, there's the matter of not adapting to camp life, after all those stay-outs!

ah well, we'll see how it goes.

Commanders-to-be no more. Now it's just commanders.

24th June marks the day where I finally become a sergeant. =)

It's actually kinda hard to think of myself as one. Maybe I'm still not prepared?
I think if you throw people into situations they may be able to react and adapt to situations quicker than expected?

evolution has a strange way of dealing with things.


Now the only thing to look forward to is ORD. 15 months to go.

How you make of the future, is what you think of the present.

Bridging mayhem

seriously, everyone thought that life would be even better after Nee Soon Camp. Guess what?

Army's never been this tiring before. Not even the store cleaning could compare to Maintaining those boats, and of course, the M3Gs.

The next month is going to be the fiercest weeks ever. Even though I'm beginning to cope with the load, I really don't know how to cope if all I get to sleep for only 3 hours before going for training. damn.

Beginning to realise the importance of keeping finances too. Not much time to read up, but am saving for investing and the like. Better save up lest you regret it. T_T

Even so, I'm beginning to regret how much the army has taken the ordinary life I always wanted from us. I won't go so far to say that it's a waste of time, but sometimes people have their limits.

I will survive in the end, though. Live by the week. Only 4 days next week.

Last week of Foundation.

Looking back, it all seemed so soon.

8 weeks are but a shut eye in a lifetime.

It was always so much fun, so much troubles, so much of everything else.

At the start, I felt I wasn't worthy enough to be a sergeant. How the computer chose me was a mystery.

To say that it doesn't bother me is a lie. Up to now I'm still pondering, wondering how would it be if I were not there. Would I be better off or worse off?

To paint a perfectly good picture of the time I had would be impossible. As it is with everything, in order for you to know that something tastes sweet, you had to taste the bitterness first.

Sometimes the training were bad, sometimes commanders don't give us enough rest, sometimes it was with the instructors and sometimes it was between bunkmates, sections or the platoons.

But with every encounters and situations, the only result is that you get more experience.

With experience you learn not to repeat mistakes.
With experience you learn to read people.
With experience you learn to deal with people.

With experience you learn.

Happy 2011

It's been freaking long since I'd updated, but what to do? I'm a pretty busy person ;)

erhem.

so I've been accepted into SCS. Whether I deserve it or not, I think that my performance while training will clinch it. Since this IS the new year, it's no use mulling over past stuffs, just look forward and make a fresh start, where applicable.

Lima Coy's pretty slack as compared to life at Raven, but I hate it, not the lifestyle but sometimes the attitude and general behaviour of us raven recruits as a whole. Ever saw people wake up with 5 minutes to prepare for first parade? If not for the "self-directed" leadership style, we'll be facing the ground and kissing it everyday. ah well, Monday's fieldcamp, so if the attitude is gonna be like this, be prepared to eat dirt everyday. T_T

I'm not a saint, but I'm not gonna be the one to drag everybody down.

With that said, I hope I can get GOLD for IPPT the following week. 10+ seconds and it's done. Wish me god speed, and good luck.

too tired to think anymore. zzz...

Thursday book out

This is the first thursday book out ever. lol.

anyways, this is to give us time to prepare ourselves mentally for the fierce week ahead, which is SIT Test.

Well, at least it's not gonna be as tough as fieldcamp. Hellstrike was tough as hell, and if there's gonna be leopard crawling in vest slack again, -...

and now, the book-in timing is getting later and later, which may or may not be a good thing, but one thing for sure, it's that the carrot's getting bigger and bigger. I hope to retain that though. haha, hope I'll pass my IPPT which is about 2 days after SIT test. T_T

Standing Board Jump's gonna be the last obstacle for me. haiz.

Other than SIT test and the coming last IPPT in 2 week's time, and add in the 16km route march, it's gonna be a simpler ride than what I went through like 2 months before.

Life's gonna be good, and we're all gonna see the light at the end of the tunnel. yay!

Surprise Surprise

It's official. Fieldcamp's over.

It was a tough ride, but it was worth it. I definitely did mature as a person, and I got to know myself better through the ride. It was short, but it definitely made me see how people truly are.

Highlights

1st day - marched to Yankee 34 campsite, where we stopped. got weird feeling that it's not quite 8km yet, and it's true. kena tekaned for a while before being called up to march for another 2km before finally stopping. Basha building.

2nd day - was the first platoon to get up for RO. Got fucked for accounting of strength during 5bx. Fire movement, FCO drill. got turned out at night because things happened. High kneel at the assembly area for 20minutes before going to sleep. Guess it was around this time that I felt that highkneeling was getting easier and easier for me. lol.

3rd day - Got fucked for people not filling water to the brim. Again for accounting of strength. Digging of shellscrape straight after Hellstrike. Hellstrike was not that bad actually, but yeah we still got fucked badly. Leopard crawling on rocky ground is not a joke. Got parent's letters, cried, wrote a return letter. Rained very heavily during night where there was no basha. COLD.

4th day - Got fucked for accounting of strength again. Leopard crawled on rocky ground again, only this time in vest slack, and it's not funny anymore. lol. Group battle course. Stand to in shellscrape, filled up shellscrape and went for mandatory powder bath before sending fieldpacks back to coyline first. oh yeah, took photos for graduation parade. finally can cluster fuck and sleep together. Sergeants bought a bottle of lemon tea for us to share. Thank you sergeants!

5th day - marched back in morning, tcss with sergeant while cleaning rifle, store items. Platoon 3 got fucked up in the end when they have no time to do area cleaning while needing to bath, change and pack up for book out. Sergeant's patience ran thin.

That's why platoon 3 is the best platoon in Raven Coy, but I just hope that we can prove to the sergeants that we are not taking them for granted. It's gonna be hard, but platoon 3 can do it.

ah. family matters.

Twin brothers got PSLE results, Nicholas got 228 while Aloysius got 254. damn. I was shocked, but what to do, my family is this good. heheh. Good work brothers! =)

Thanks mum for cleaning my tons of clothes, didn't managed to help much, but I really appreciate it. Thanks dad for the moral support. Thanks brothers for uh, being an ass? LOL.

Now enjoy your chalet while I book in to Tekong Chalet later.

Hand Grenade training! SIT test and all's cleared! I'm finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. lol.

Fieldcamp!

It's that time of the week again, where I use my remaining time to write posts on how life in army for me was. lol.

Last week was short, due to the Hari Raya Holiday, but the 6km route march was testing the limit of the platoon. Movement was okay, but there were not much songs and no encouragements given.
For these reasons the platoon were punished by our commanders.

Of course I'm displeased by how things turned out. It's not fun to have only 6 or 7 out of 60+ people who lead songs throughout the whole route march. What's going to happen to them when the 16km route march comes? wtf.

anyways, fieldcamp's on tuesday, and we'll be having preparations on monday. I wonder how it's going to be like, but I guess it's gonna be punishments and more punishments if platoon 3 doesn't get their act together. =x

It's gonna be tough, but it's gonna be worth it. Fieldcamp's a place to learn about you own self too, since you don't know how you're gonna react to new situations. man I can't wait to do that. haha.

At least my birthday's not during fieldcamp. hehe

Selamat Hari Raya

Today's book-in day. Why are we booking in so early? because there's IPPT tomorrow. it's not that I don't like it, but it's more of a confidence issue. Having no counts when I can easily jump pass the 216 mark scares me. that's why.

I'm booking in at 1737 by the way. The whole island are booking in today. Havoc sia. lol.

Friday's my birthday! and we're doing urban ops. wish me luck and hope my rifle won't get stunned again. lol. 6 click march comes tomorrow afternoon, and blisters ahoy!

I wonder why my blisters keep on coming even after I'd worn my shoes for like, 2 months already.

Last time I had so much time to spend, but now I'm always short on time, time, time..

BMT week 1

Last week was slack. haha.

But one bad thing happened. During Range, my rifle was stunned, again. lol. this time there's punishment and that explains why I have to do weekend guard duty. I'll just treat it as an experience and hope that it does not happen during FieldCamp or Urban Ops, or else it'll be the end for me, I think.

This week's IPPT week. I'm still not confident about my jumping skills, as I always end up sliding across the mat even though I passed the mark. It's no count, and there cannot be another miracle to save me. I hope to improve on that.

Fieldcamp's next week, so wish me luck! lol.

Went to AFA today too!

Everything's so so nice. damn it's good, even though it was a bit lonely going there by myself, but I still managed to enjoy! hehe.

another photo to commemorate my being there. and I did not come back empty handed too. Got a Kamen Rider Figuart to display. lol. it's all well, since I used my interest money. lolol.

Life's good.

BMT Phase finally starting!

woots! finally started BMT phase.. with Range!

it's a good thing, but considering the close shave I'd had with my IPPT. Let's try not to be too happy.

at least now's not all about PT and PT. its more about SOC and fieldcamp and finally, POP!

This week's gonna be tough, with range and imt and all. If i can get company best shot.. hmm.. :D

Talking about..

I suppose I might as well blog since I have nothing to do anyways.

Tuesday's the day where I'm taking my IPPT again. Please let me pass my SBJ! I'm gonna do visualization. It helps, seriously.

Ravens the last week was not cool, not cool at all. We got tekan-ed for not being fast enough, people not doing heads out since they are too lousy to, but most of all, being the last company to book out and the first company to book in.

It's not that bad really, but it kinda gets onto you when you see other companies getting to book out. Pegasus, or faggasus as I call them, gets to book out on a Thursday night. That's like 2 days in advance. Anybody tell me what's the occasion here?

At least next Thursday night will be book out day. And when I pass IPPT, it'll be a sweet Sunday night book in. Consider it when recruits who fail IPPT may get to book in on a Saturday night or a Sunday morning to do RT.

Another tidbit. Raven company is the only company to carry on remedial training during PTP phase. Other companies may carry it out ONLY after fieldcamp. yay.

However, I know for certain that the streamers upon our Raven Company flag is not fake, and it is the pride and glory that I am and will be fighting for. When BMT is finished, and we find out that we are games day champion, drills competition champion and have the highest percentage of IPPT passers, I know it will all be worth it.

10 more weeks, Brothers!

241010

yeah, I have roughly 7 more minutes to go update my blog and then go eat, before going to book in at 1900 Raven time. yay.

last week was more havoc, with lots and lots of PT. can't deny that it didn't help but it did make the whole lot tired and upset. games was 'beep test', which was frankly not a test at all. I got all the way till level 7.

this week would have 2 4km route marches, and it's still the marching on the spot that kills us. lol. and the warm ups, cool downs too. always kena tekan only. lol.

cough's alot better, about cured. 1 month of coughing is bad. real bad.

Nov 2 is the next ippt, and if i don't want an early book-in, better pass it. T_T would there be another miracle for standing broad jump? Pray please let me score a silver!

ah. that's about it. oh. K Pop Night. how I regretted not going, sucks to be me, but suck it up. There should always be another chance la. lol.

Saw Sergeant Naufal at PS yesterday. lol. He's a fun guy. hahaha.

It's been too long..

that I had no time to blog. or rather, too lazy to write. eheheh.

anyways, in this two weeks there were quite a few interesting things going on.

For one, the week before last I got my ass handed to me when my laziness got my 'wife' "stolen". let's not talk about that. lol.
I'm quite glad that my platoon commander is quite a nice guy. He bought gatorade powder for us!

ah well. the past two weeks were more PT, PT and PT. worked till there were aches everywhere everyday. as always, Wednesdays were the toughest to endure due to it being in the middle of nowhere. Mondays were not as bad.

however, Mondays are always laden with trainings that can make me shiver. please la. morning there's 2 pt sessions, afternoon speed training, and I guess there'd be OTOT training at night for sure. where got admin time? T_T

with all that said, PTP for now is still rather enjoyable thanks to the fun section mates I'm with. lol.

ah, I passed IPPT! so there'd be no more RT for me for the next 2 weeks! ^_^

I'm hoping for a silver next time around. 4 more cms in SBJ nia. haha.

Raven Warriors never let you down

I gotta admit, life in BMT is tough, but always never too tough to bowl you over.

First few days were the worst, where even the warm ups get you doubting that it is just a warm up at all, since you sweat like shit, especially during the cpt trainings.

Ability group run was ok, and we have completed 3 out of the 12 alocated for us in the ptp phase. what was bad about the agr was that immediately after the run, you have to do sbj and shuttle run before you get to do cool downs and rest. strength training and what not are as bad, but it do make you feel alive. haha.

I got fever, flu, cough and sore throat in Tekong too. yeah. and my cough's not cured yet. T_T

one thing my batch missed out was the rifle presentation ceremony. traditionally it was supposed to be done in the middle of the night where sergeants would shout for you to fall in in 5 mins, and then march out to the stretch of reclaimed land where they would present you the rifles, and you get to see the sunrise along the way. my batch had to do this in the evening, so no sunrise nor sunsets to see. boooo.

thankfully, my section mates were fun and really can do things, so I don't see any problems that can arise with them. thankfully.

tidbit - even though I said that I want to eat fried food in the days of book out, up till now my only fast food was burger king, where we first ate when we booked out at white sands. lol.

The start of National Service

Woo! Tomorrow's the start of my army life!

It's not without it's up and downs though, currently I have an ulcer, and I'm beginning to suspect that my aching legs are not all it seems. lol. I have one more day to rest, so I'm gonna rest up, and inspect it tomorrow. hehe.

Nothing's gonna stop me from going to OCS, except myself. I'm gonna push it, and aim for the top. heh.

The things I'm gonna miss will no doubt be my friends and family, but also my bed, my internet and also those episodes I'm gonna miss out on. I'm ready.

Army Slang

I just read through a forum on those army slang during NS, and it's damn funny.

kinda makes me wanna get in there faster and experience it for myself.. For better or worse.

Wake up your idea!
a common phrase telling slow people kept doing the wrong thing or with the wrong ideas to come to his sense and follow instructions.

CheeBye
a common phrase to get the retards to really start moving

how many extra you want to sign
any number less than 3 will command another 3

Oi! Specky!
A term normally used by company sergeant majors to address short-sighted recruits, normally followed by an order or punishment.

Gueh Bu
Wife of a rooster. Just a term used to scold people.

bo bo shooters
Soldiers who suck badly at shooting with their weapon.
Bo Bo
a mispronunciation of the word "Wo Wo" which refer to a person who's very bad at shooting.

Double Up!
Used to make recruits/cadets increase their pace to their next destination in double-quick time, used esp when they are idling.

smoke out
To disappear out of sight.
Sgt wants us to sweep the drain, let's smoke out

Wayang
verb: To pretend
noun: a show, commonly known as Exercise Wayang
Tomorrow the commanding officer is coming for ceremony, better put on a good wayang!

CMI
Also known as Cannot Make it. Used to describe soldiers who are not up to standard.
Run 1K you pant already, you really CMI

lan lan or suck thumb
Term to describe a situation of no choice.
Sgt ask us to do, lan lan lor!

do anything but don't get caught
to encourage someone to tuang during working hours

Wake up your blardy idea!
Phrase used in agitated tone. Usage applies effectively when the slow person is doing the wrong thing or not picking up things fast enough.

Ninja
-Used to denote a soldier who is good at disappearing whenever chores need to be done.Also known as a person who...(see below)

Throw Smoke Bomb
-Term used to describe an act of disappearing whenever chores/duties are to be done
E.g. "Where did Ah Seng go?CSM ask him to clear the smoking corner but don't tell me he throw smoke bomb again?KNN.Blardy ninja.."

You see the tree over there?
Once you hear this, be prepared to run. Fast.

What you looking at?
Prepare to drop after hearing that

Rooftop
referring to ranks with pointed rooftop like 2SG, 1SG or warrant officers'.

crabs
Referring to majors, lieutenant colonels, and colonels.

Diver
A sarcastic remark commonly used by PTIs to describe recruits who can't swim. cos they will sink into the water, like divers.
example: "today at 1500 got swimming lesson, all divers fall in."

Kotek
-Derogatory term used to scold blur recruits who fumble.
E.g " Eh!Kotek!Rifle also donch know how to carry issit?PC must carry for you huh?!"

cocanaden
used like "idiot".

Own Time Own Target / OTOT
do it at your own pace, no rush.
example: "you all later own time own target go water parade yourself."

YOU WALK!!!! Never mind gentlemen, walk some more, walk some more!
Example of psychological warfare training. Though the sergeant is telling the men to walk, he is in reality using reverse psychology to get them to run.

Sai Gang
Direct Translation: Sh*tty Jobs
Army Meaning:-
(No change in meaning)
Sh*tty jobs that you seldom or never see officers do.
Sh*tty jobs that you think that soldiers are not required to do but in the end still kana.
Jobs include: Pluck grass, wash company line drains, wash unit's koi pond, paint buildings, sweep roads, etc.

1206 aka Twelve-Oh-Sick
Involuntarily donation to the SAF Equipment Replacement Fund through deduction from your monthly allowance. Usually allocated to servicemen who misplace items or are being saboed by those who do...

Cock-up
Classic SAF lingo.
Meaning:-
Something that supposed to go the correct way but end up in the wrong way.
Because of our PC blunder to indent the tonner, he cock-up the whole training. The company haben move out since 0800hrs. He is going to kena jialat jialat from the OC for sure.

HORLAN
To get lost, normally used during NAVEX
CSM: OI PTE, WTF you go, how come so long then reach end point
PTE: Encik, we all walk until Horlan...

302
General Orders of MINDEF (GOM) classification of a guy being homosexually inclined.

Blanket Party
A bunch of guys toss blanket over another guy, and starts to "han tump" him
Normally happens to the birthday boy(birthday boy always kena bully one) ? Or an as*hole?

REVEILLE
Time given to wake up everyday. Usually 10 mins before falling in.

ATT B
Medical status given by MO (medical officer). Light duties will be given, soldier will be excused from MOST strenous activities. But cannot "switch off" yet.

ATT C
Also medical status. Usually given to cases of high fever. Soldier will be allowed to book out to rest at home. Now can really "switch off".

SWITCH OFF
To not give a damn. Similar meaning to "heck/fcuk care".

EYE POWER
To look on your fellow platoon mates doing tiring fatigue work but not offering to help at all.
Sergeant: "Oi recruit! You think you are Cyclops from X-Men huh?"
Recruit: "No sergeant!"
Sergeant: "Then stop using your bloody eye power optic blast and help your buddy dig his shellscrape!"

Zero fighters
People who can't do a single chin-up.

Rangers
People who failed their range.

Street fighters
Those who failed their Unarmed Combat grading test.

Lao Jiao
meaning Old Bird. referring to a person who have been in the army longer than you, a know-it-all type of person.

Cat 1
lingo for thunderstorm coming
usually means get to go back to rest early

block leave
we don't want you to have any ORD leave, so you better take as much as leave as you have now.

Chao Keng
Malingering
example: "Wa Lau, that bugger really know how to chao keng, 1 week go report sick don't know how many time."

welfare
your 3 meals a day, your $350 a month, your uniform, your bunk. that's welfare.

Maggots
Officers' favourite cadet phrase

Everything off-Everything on
may be used in succession at the instructor's discretion

COS,DOS,BOS
Company/Duty/Battalion Orderly Sergeant.

Semula
Oh yeah... the dreaded phrase in parades.

admin time
trainee's most treasured time - your personal time. usually happens before sleep, and is never long enuff.

admin attire
trainee's favourite attire! (should be huh, less those super garang ones ) - t shirt, shorts, shoes (sandals?)

smart 4
no. 4 with sleeves rolled up + shiny boots + properly seasoned and worn head-dress

smartest 4
should be pretty obvious huh?

f**k 4
no. 4 with sleeves rolled up halfway, dull boots and lousy head-dress optional - additional items for you to collect more points for your scoring towards extras and confinements.

long 4
no. 4 with sleeves rolled down - usually associated with (sian) physical activities and training

On The Ball
Attentive. Responsible. Responsive. Always out to do your best.
Good: You are the coy best soldier.
Bad: You are also the marked "Spoilt Market" person. The person most likely to be sabo or blanket-party upon.

On The Wrong Ball
Attentive. Responsible. Responsive. Always out to do your best.
BUT you are doing for the wrong person/platoon/coy.
Best: Nothing happen to you.
Worst: CONGRATS! You are in deep sh*t!

Carry balls
Trying to get into the good books of the higher authority. By doing stuff for that person.

Big Elephant
Lots of carbon in the rifle barrel
CPL to REC : You sure you have pulled through? I still see a big elephant inside.

Number Off
To count the number of people

Tekan
Meaning to punish

Standby Universe
Meaning an inspection by your superiors of absolutely anything. This usually results in some serious Tekan-ing

Alert Red
An exercise carried out to test the combat readiness of a unit/platoon. This usually involves gearing up in your FBO, camoflaging oneself, drawing your weapon, and assembling on the parade square. This exercise is usually timed and the combat readiness of each individual is thoroughly checked.

Cock hair
referring to the loose strings on your uniform.
example, sgt to man: "Wow! So many cock hairs, want me to pull for you is it!?"

1 2 Hia Hia
Used during Unarmed Combat Training. Shouted by soldiers when braking side brake fall. Often, failure to shout below certain decibels will result in more brake falling. Siong!

Die cock stand
1. To be caught with your pants down
2. To die a horrible death (To be in deep trouble)
eg. Wah you keep so much cheong cigarettes in your bunk, MP come we all die cock stand ah!

Take 5.
if you heard this in field and it was say to your group, thank god... ie 5min break.
but if you heard this in camp and from you PL SGT to you only, god blessed... most likely 5 weekend gone.

Garang
use to describe a person who is siao on, on the ball etc. will go the extra mile to ensure things get done correctly and will volunteer himself for things that normally other people don't wanna do.
example: GuardCom to Guard 2IC: "Die liao lah, heard today DO is very garang, difinately will give many turnout one tonight."

Right Marker
a person who act as a starting point for other to fall in, to his left.
for example, the green smiley is know as the right marker in a file.

Typical first week in BMTC

Z Monster
a common phase referring to a imaginary monster that will make the trainees fall alseep usually during lectures.
Example,
Instructor: "The Z Monster is here already is it? How come I see so many people sleeping!"

First Parade
a briefing given first thing by instructors in the morning regrading the events and training timetable for the day.

Last Parade
a briefing given at night by instructors summarising the events done today and give a preview of what to expect tomorrow. lights off (time to sleep) timing will also be given. instructors might chit chat with u all during the period.

Words most said to me when I'm in BMTC..

You think I thought who confirm? I confirm you confine is it?

lao jiao spec: How you spell RECORD??
new recruit: r-e-c-o-r-d..
lao jiao spec: that's right, REC that's you. ORD that's me

See the tree over there? Nevermind.. See the moving rover over there?

Whole lot knock it down.. start from negative 20..
(then until the very last push up..) Down and hold it there

CONTACTED
Used when you go for out field section movement.
Means enemy has contacted you which requires you to prone and move to cover, subsequently charging, flanking, leap & bound or retrogate.

yeah. I wanna go BMT le siaa. lol.

people must think I'm crazy. xD