Days in camp

Year 2005
Very long time had not blog, abit lazy.

So fast already after 4 months at Tekong doing my BMT, its already 2005. Countdown to ORD haha not countdown to POP.

Tsunami
Towards the end of 2004, something catastrophic happened, the Tsunami. The Tsunami came without any warning and caught many people unprepared thus costing many lives and damages. Well we could not do anything but pray for the safe return of those lost and injured. I also did my minor part by donating to the relief groups, not a large amount but a thought. We could see the kindness and unity of various people from different countries and background helping hit areas for a single cause.

Reading from the papers, pictures of bodies submerged in water for days or weeks, partial village, or resort suffering washed away by the speeding waves. By looking at these heart-wrenching pictures, one could pray that we are lucky that we are still alive. Everyday on TV, newspapers, radio, streets we could see the plea for donations to rebuild these places. The money not only to rebuilt but to compensate damages and buy supplies like food, water and medical.

Wealthy artistes, celebrities, sportsmen, businessmen, politicians also donated generously for the cause, donating quite a large sum of their income. We could see their generousity and demostrates a role model for everyone to follow.

Take care
2005, also meant a new year with new resolutions and wishes. The first week of 2005, my best friend since poly, Kai had flew to Australia 2 months for training. It was a great opportunity for him as his career is secured with a good life. I always joked to him, your first pay could pay the instalment for an Evo. Rembering the times we were together through thick and thin. I wished him all the best and be back safe and sound soon. Too bad, he would be spending Lunar New Year at aussie. The celebration atmosphere there be different from us here. I guess he would be missing, his gf, family, friends and the food here.

Life in camp
0530 Wake Up
0545 5BX ( just stretching)
After 5BX is breakfast, after that go back and sleep for awhile
0800 Change smart 4 for lessons
1200 Lunch
0100 Lessons
1530 Dinner
After the last parade we are free to do our stuffs.

Physical emphasis is not that important here, as we are being trained to be intelligent and skilled soldiers. Lots of lessons taught by warrant officers, sergants and self-learning via computers. Sometimes before dinner, we would have IPPT training 5 static stations and a jog around the camp > 2.4km. After being posted here, my fitness very weak could not endure the run on the second round barely catching my breathe.

1 month passed and we had numerous tests and excerises. Tests in the form of practical operating and setting up of equipment or theory where we took our tests via the server. Most of the questions are very tricky, stimulates your mind by burning all your brain cells. One question could make your head grow bigger. Imagine 25 - 50 questions in a given time.

Excerises here are very fun. Since now we had 5 execrises some inside or outside camp. Some travelling on our own or via landrover. One excerise we travelled on foot outside the camp to various checkpoints. One ex was abit highly dangerous but safe if observed and follow safety instructions. The latest execrise on Thursday, our platoon are divided into various groups and loaded on different landrovers to various part of Singapore for monitoring.

Another month and 11 Feb would be posted out to unit, by that time, life would be another different story. My job based here would moslt be posted to bigger units

Advantages of my camp comparison to Tekong
1) My camp located near CCK Int. (Lot 1 Shopping centre our Nights off hangout)
2) My bunk is closest to the gate and cookhouse. (no need to march so far)
3) Bunk on 3rd floor only( Total 6 stories, 1st floor is storerooms, 6th floor currently is lecture and computer labs)
4) Toilet is much bigger and better facilities (10 showers, 10 cubicles
5) Beds better than Tekong
6) 2200 book in timing (Can stay at home longer for dinner)
7) Can visit canteen (Can buy food, magazines, newspapers)
8) Can bring in food (No restriction to what type of food)
7) Got snack vending machine
8) Cold water and boiling water provided near bunks
9) Less physically taxing ( 1 or 2 ippt trainings per week)
10) Instructors more welfare but demanding during EX (normally they do not control us much, but during EX they pressurized us alot for us to work fast to be within the timing)
11) Less HLTD X 20 (Sign extras guard duties)
12)*** Nights off *** (Get to leave camp after dinner to relax outside and slack)
13) Able to charge HP
14) Standy area neat can already
15) Washing machines (So far haben seen people using)
16) Simpler drawing arms procedure and once a week for parades or EX.
17) Maybe a free driving license class 3 or Militray license as got 2 months driving after my course.

Disadvantages of my camp over Tekong
1) Longer travelling time (Around 1 hr on MRT)
2) Smart 4 from 8-5pm instead of just lunch and parades (Tekong most of the time in admin attire)
3) Lousier food IMHO (i think tekong food better)
4) Smaller portion and variety
5) Troublesome ration system (Have to collect chips and drop in the box)
6) Water parade min 10X a day and have to be recorded signed and view by commander.( Crazy)
7) High frequency of non-regimental guard duties (Suck thumb)
8) *** Guard duties on weekdays no guard rest, have to attend lessons the next day. *** (Suck thumb)
9) *** Mentally taxing 13 thick books to study( classes, tests) ***
10) Weekends prepare and study for tests
11) March very far for labs (Makeshift labs, building under renovations)
12) Camp built on a hill got up n down slopes tiring during runs.
13) Fucked up attitude of platoon mates. ("a world of their own", ignoring SG's and IC's commands).
13 Alot of equipments to draw
14) Less rest during "office hours".

Conclusion in unit more freedom, but freedom comes heavy responsibility. During EX have to draw so many stores, if lost hong gan sign extra maybe guard duties or 1206. Nights off good lor, at least you can leave camp for awhile for breather. I still think that life in Tekong is more fun compared to unit.

We also gave our platoon mates, instructors many codenames like boy boy, whiskey, pocky, bravo foxtrot, Ah nei, CID, Cai Yi Ling and Uncle Tor.

Yesterday after our EX, we had a Commander Evening. We had buffet and steamboat dinner at the Hall. When we reached there, most of the staff were already there. An opening speech by Commander followed by dinner. On each table was a roasted meat platter consists of Roasted duck, chicken, pork and char siew. 2 tray consisting of vegetables and seafood and the steamboat with stock. At the corridors were tables laid with food. Our table consisted of Hwee teck, Daniel, Gerry, Lai, Boy Boy, Anthony, Gerrad, Benson and me. We had prawns, cockles, mussels, fried rice, chicken drum sticks, spring roll, wedges, soft drinks and ice cream.

The funny thing that happened was ice-cream was not place there at first. The cater brought boxes of ice-cream to the table. Gerry saw everyone rushing for the ice-cream and we went to get our share. Within 1 min all the ice-cream were gone LOL. We laughed at everyone who were looking for the ice-cream, it became exclusive to us. There was the same usual performances by SAF Music and Drama Company. After the performance was National Anthem and we left for office for briefing by our commander regarding our today's EX.