Papers don't rust. They only decay, Ken."So what if i got more certs, trophy of appreciation than other ppl, its still biodegradable afterall. One day it will still
rust and termites will eat them."
I was going through Ken's blog when I spotted this interesting little point. haha.
But coming back to the real deal, I noticed this little section somewhere talking about the discrimination of the fat people in the Singaporean society.
I beg to differ.
As a firm believer of the line "Your fate is in your own hands", I have always fought for my own rights and has never subjected myself to any forms of discrimnation and neither do I further victimise myself by saying "Yes, what they say is true. I really cannot do it. I won't try anymore from now on. Let's give up."
I don't know why Ken is saying this, but I would like to recall one of the incidents where Kenneth and I were going to buy a shirt for his first clubbing experience.
We almost went around the whole Singapore to look for a freaking shirt for him, because there's no shirt size. At that point in time, I can finally understand how he feels.
"You will really feel the pain, when you're on the receiving side of the cane." was what he wrote there in his blog. How true.
But let me tell you one thing.
In the army, the people from the Dragon and Eagles company, (by the way, people in these two companies are obese people), cannot run, they can only walk or march, jumping, maybe yes, maybe no. From their company to the cookhouse, they have to march all the way in. By the time they reach the cookhouse, their shirts are normally wet with sweat.
However, people still respect them. Despite their size, knowing that they would never win when it comes to physical activities, they can still do what they are best at. They sing loudly when they are marching, they try to do things as quickly as possible, they don't walk on the parade square. (Even when they are allowed to) They always win in the BMTC games day. They are united. They look out for one another. They encourage one another.
These might seem to be the simplest task that can be easily done, but you don't normally see it happening in the other companies. I don't know why, but maybe it's because they suffer the same discrimination, so they understand each other better. They will always try to see things from another person's point of view.
My sergeants always use them as a point of reference to push us by saying, "Are you all sure you want to lose to these fat fucks?! Are you sure you want to humiliate yourself? Those fat fucks can sing louder than you all! Look at them! Even though they cannot do pull-ups, they still try! What about you?! Are you sure you want to give up?!"
From the way I see it, these so-called "Fat fucks" are mentally stronger than anyone of us here. Because they never give up in fighting the society's discrimination against them.
Time of our lives - Field Camp
Day 1 - 8 km Route March cum Basha Tent build up. Powder Bathe (Sleep in Basha)
Battalion on alert!
So pack your bags and go!
Oh! What a way to start the day ahead!
Hey ya!
Here we go~o~o~o!
Hey!
Here we go~o~o~o!
Hey!
Day and Night while you're sleeping, Whiskey warriors come and creeping round and round.
Hey! Round! Hey! Round! Hey Ya!
Yes, the 8 "click" route march is the entry pass to the field camp, those who cannot make it will have to be excused throughout the field camp. "Weakass! Fuckers! Those fuckers who cannot do the march will help us dig the shit holes!" yes. That's what my sergeant said. I don't know why, the 8 click route march seems to be heavier than before. Probably because of the way we pack our stuffs and the extra rations that we have in there. It's crazy.
The whole business, i think, weighs about 25kg, that's not including the LBV and the helmet, plus the rifle. I think in total, plus my body weight, it's about a 100kg walking for 8km.
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Make sure the groundsheets are tightened properly to the comscord. Then pull the tent pins to make it taut. Do the same for the other side diagonal to it. Insert the Basha sticks by the sides and erect the Basha sticks. Once you're done, loop the comscord from the top of the Basha sticks and pin it down to the ground. When you're done, dig a drainage system around the tent to anticipate the rain.
What you've just gone through, is the procedure to build a Basha tent. It's crazy, I tell you. It's nothing like pitching a tent back in Secondary School, but what I did back in KSJ was definitely a good preparation. At least I know the concept and how it works.
Our Platoon Sergeant was damn pissed off with us on the first day of the Field Camp and it was definitely a bad start. But anyway, I've already prepared to be Tekan by our Sergeants already.
I think there are some people who just cannot show a sense of urgency when it comes to doing this. Like walking while the platoon has already fall in. So naturally, our sergeants were pissed off. So we had to tear down our tents and frantically try to stuff everything back into our field pack. Damn sian. Everybody has done their stuffs and we're still dismantling and pitching. Hai~
So that was about it. Everything's tekan tekan and more tekan for the first day.
Day 2 - Lessons on IFC, Day Movement and Night Movement (Sleep in Basha)
Day movement - We basically re-capped the stuffs we learnt before the field camp, basically is movement of a group in the day, how to take cover, learn a bit of the field signals. haha.
There's one particular signal which is very funny, it's the "double up" signal. That's when you clench your fist in front of you and swing it up and down with your elbow as the pivoting point. Everyone laughed when the officer demonstrated it. Then the officer noticed it and shouted, "HEY! It's not PCC la!" haha.
Day 3 - Dismantle tents and area cleaning, 6 km Route March to reclaimed land (Sleep on Ground Sheet)
We dismantled our tents and we supposed to do a defence at the defence site, which is 6 km away. So we kept every single thing and did a mass area cleaning, to make sure we don't leave anything behind for the enemy to spot, before we marched off in the afternoon. The sun was up. The temperatures are rising. The bag seemed to be twice as heavy than it was when we originally came. But we still marched on.
Even as the camou on our face came dripping down with our sweat, as our ammo pouches are all covered with green and black sweat mixture, we pressed on. The country's depending on us and we cannot fall. We must go on.
It was already close to night time when we reached our defence site. OC sir said we'll rest for a night before we dig our shell scrape tomorrow. So we took out our ground sheets and slept.
Day 4 - Dig Shell Scrape & Rest (Sleep in "Grave")
The sand is flying into our shirts and is rubbing against our skin, but I carried on digging my shell scrape. It's basically a hole in the ground, which is large enough for us to put our field packs and for us to lie down inside. The idea is to have a hole deep enough that when we lie down, the enemies cannot see us from a distance away.
After 2 and a half hours of digging, my shell scrape is finally done. I sat by the side of the shell scrape and drank my last bit of water. The water in the fully-filled water bag has already gone dry. Whatever's left in my bottle is supposed to last me for another hour or so, before the supplies come again.
I helped my friends to dig their shell scrape. Time is running out. The enemies are approaching. There could be artillery bombing at any time.
By this time, the blisters on the hands have already bursted long ago and my engineering gloves have already been soaked in blood and sweat. The pain is immense. But I remember a saying I saw on CK's Blog. "
Tough times don't last, Only Tough men do"
I was thinking to myself. How true. However tough it is, I'm going to be tougher than the challenge in front of me.
Day 5 - Tests. "Kill" enemies (Sleep in "Grave") Woke up with thunder bang. (Group Battle Course) 2 km route, run for the last 500 m. like the last scene in Black Hawk Down.
I opened my eyes and saw a spark circling round, before it finally landed in front of my shell scrape. I heard a "ssssssss~~~~" sound before it blew up. If it were a real bomb, I would have died. Everyone scuffled for their helmets and rifles, before proning down to take cover.
So my morning was jump-started with a bombing from the enemies.
Reccee Troopers have been found doing their rounds near our defence site. OC Sir has given the orders for us to do patrol and engage enemies if we need to. So we did a 2km patrol around the site. Along the way, we were contacted by enemies twice. But they were not our match.
Easy take down. However, towards the last part we were ambushed by artillery fire. Once the arty was lifted, we started running back to our defence site. It was quite a long run and I was bogged down with my rifle, Helmet and LBV. When I turned back, I saw one of my friend who was about to collapse.
I had no choice. I dragged him by his LBV and started pulling him along. "Don't give up! We're almost there!"
"RUN~!" I shouted. Though all of us very totally shacked by the end of this, we managed to survive and conquered this together.
Day 6 - Thunder bang. Cover Shell Scrape, Load Field Pack onto Tonner, Walk to BIC Ground
We were once again bombed in the morning. The defence is falling. Everyone's morale is low.
The enemies are rolling in in large numbers. We have to abandon our defence site.
10 mins to cover up our shell scrape and run.
Load your field packs up the tonner. Get ready to march 2 km to the next enemy site. We're going to bring down those bastards today! Fight! If we must die, we'll die in glory.
after the 2 km route march to the enemy site, we were briefed of what we were supposed to do. The idea was to survive a steel rain of live rounds firing above your head, while you do a leopard crawl and back crawl under obstacles and on sand.
Even as the sand gets into our shirts and pants, once again rubbing against our skin, tearing it mercilessly and the blood goes like free-flow drinks at a buffet, we've pushed on. Once we reached our finishing points, we charged at the final enemy target in front and struck it.
The target goes down, marking the end of field camp.
Enemy is killed.
Mission is completed.
Everything's finally over.
Whiskey is not a drink, it’s a snow wolf.
It’s the Company that I’m in.
Whiskey, Platoon 2, Section 3, Bed 9. W2309 is my 4D No. haha.
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Before I begin, I would like to apologise for all the vulgarities I use in this post. Army people, recruits especially, will use alot of vulgarities.
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Day 1
Enlistment…
The first thing I did on the day of enlistment was that I woke up at about 5.30 in the morning, then bathed, Ken had called me a day before to check if he can join me for the enlistment exercise or not.
I said, “Sure, no problem.” So we went together, with my parents.
When I reached Pasir Ris, it was about 7.30, so I went to Macdonald’s to eat breakfast and saw Dennis, my secondary school mate, and also Pei Jue, the “Officer” that my brother hated the most during his SJAB life in Swiss.
Anyway, coming back to the point, I went to take the bus to the SAF Ferry Terminal. I thought it was going to be some kok kok Ferry lo. Haha. But in the end, still not quite bad la. Got Air-con, quite spacious. Haha.
I think it’s spacious because we sat in the front row seats, which was meant for officers and warrant officers. Then Ken was joking that I’m RSM, so can seat there. Haha. Rubbish.
Nevertheless, already experienced the SAF power on the first day of enlistment. Mum went to the toilet upon reaching Tekong, so we waited for her lo. Then until I looked around and realized that everyone’s gone already. Haha. Then I hurried to the staircase and ran forward. Then very tired and walked a bit. Then I hear one officer shouting, “Hey, hurry up! You are late!”
Then I took out my pink IC and handed it over to the officer. Then from there onwards, I didn’t see my Pink IC anymore le. Haha.
Then they make me sit down in the auditorium and the stupid CSM came to talk to us and make us practice the pledge (See below)
“I, (NRIC No), (Name), having entered the service of the Republic of Singapore under the Enlistment Act, do solemnly and sincerely swear that: I will always bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Singapore, I will be ready, at the order of the Government, to rise up to the defence of the Republic of Singapore, I will obey the laws of the Republic of Singapore and the order of my commanders, I will carry out my duties with integrity, courage and commitment at all times, and I will preserve and protect the honour and independence of the Republic of Singapore, WITH MY LIFE!”
Then after that, all the recuits will line up in 2 lines, outside and wait for their parents to come and “fetch” them to lunch. It’s really like shit lo. Wait for the queue so long, then the food is like the only nice food that they have. Haha. (The food after the parents are gone, that is really cannot make it one).
After the parents have gone home…
Intro to vulgarities.
“Anyone cannot take vulgarities one, raise up your hand now!”
I didn’t raise my hand, but some of my platoon mates did. “Fuck you!” together with a middle finger is shot towards those who raise up their hands.
“Didn’t die right? So is still can take a bit of vulgarities la. Good.”
That’s what my Platoon Commander (PC) did to us on the first day. What the fuck. I think it’s just something that they do to emphasise on the seriousness of the matter. I think it works somehow.
Compare the following 2 sentences and see which one works better.
1. “Seat down.”
2. “Fucking CB! You dunno how to fucking seat down is it!”
Day 2
Our Officer Commanding (OC), also talked to us on the second day. During the talk, he asked us, what we heard about Whiskey before we enlisted. Some of us said, “My friend say Whiskey is very slack, got a lot of admin time!”
Then my OC said, “You know why we have so much admin time or not?”
Of course we said no la.
“Because we are fucking efficient! That’s why while those idiots are still doing ‘left, right, left, right’ after RO, you are already playing games with your girlfriend in dreamland already!”
OC Sir also talked to us about his expectations of us and asked us what we need in the bunk, like pillows, lockers, whatever.
“I need to give you the things you need to help you excel, before I can ask for the standards from you.”
“One more thing is, when I ask for something from you, I always like to use the ‘Carrot’ method; meaning, I would like to encourage you by giving rewards. But if the carrot method fails, I would have to the use the cane. Even if I hate to use the cane, I’ll use it when I have to.”
“And I would like to remind you, my cane is very long.”
At this point, he put his hand about half a meter in front of his “brother” and shake his hips. Then the whole lecture theater laughed like siao. Haha.
Day 3
The intro to Combat PT 1.
The floor was… I think about 50 degrees or something. Then there was two exercises where we had to lie on the ground, flat. They are; Crunches and prone rower.
Crunches is not too bad la. It’s like sit-up like that, just raise your legs and do sit ups la. Damn siong. Back is damn pain and hot. I think half the meat is cooked already.
I think the PTI is sick. He think he’s cooking meat. Tell us to lie down on the back, then after that, lie down on the front for the prone rower exercise. Do 5 counts of 4. siao. Damn hot after that.
Day 4
Combat PT 2
It’s another set of exercises again, somemore with chin up and whatever other exercises. Can’t remember la. Haha
Then we do the dumbbell drills. Wa Lao. Kena fucked. Haha. The dumb bell drill is another sick exercise. We were grouped according to our weight. Then the heavier ones of course have to take heavier dumb bells.
There’s one where we have to hold the dumb bell at shoulder level, with our elbows bent. Then we’ll get into half squat position and lower the dumb bell by the side. If you think it’s easy, try it for yourself, by doing 5 counts of 4, do it slowly, each count lasting about 5 seconds. I tell you, you’ll die.
Then there’s one more exercise where we have to raise the dumb bell up by the side and hold it there.
This is also where we were fucked big time.
“Hey, gu niang! Don’t lower your dumb bell la, Chee Bye!” our PC really fucked us up that time. Real bad., foul language was used throughout three-quarter of the whole session. Like siao like that. Haha. Keep spouting the foul language.
We are were like shouting to distract ourselves and also to express our pain. “Aaaaaahhhhhh…….!!!!!!!!”
Then the PC was like “Hey! Stop moaning la! You all are not fucking, now. Stop having orgasm la, you fuckers!”
Damn shack but in the end was quite happy, cos I didn’t give up throughout the whole session. Some weak ass already fall out during the first few days, or halfway thru’ the exercise. Encouragement from friends was really what kept me going. BMT is going to be at least 10 times tougher without my army buddies.
IPPT Categorisation Test
Immediately after all the exercises, we took a rest and had our IPPT Cat Test.
I think it’s because of all the exercises that we had done for the first few days after enlistment that caused us to be very tired, so our IPPT results were not that good. Pull-up only did 4. lousy like fuck. Haha. Damn sian.
Then the IPPT was terminated due to the rain.
Day 5
Then we had two injections, one on the right arm and one on the left arm. Then we also had polio medicine. The polio medicine was dripped under the tongue. It tasted like melted plastic. Haha. Taste very bad.
After that, had slight fever for a few days, due to the stupid medicine that they gave us. It’s like shit like that. Injection already, then the medic tell us, “You might have slight fever due to the injection, so if you feel warm, just drink up”
Then I’m like er…. Injection will cause fever, now then you tell me, what the fuck. Isn’t there a way to prevent the fever from occurring?! The injection caused me to be feverish for so many days lo. WTF.
Then at night, I met my wife for this BMT period for the first time. My PC rehearsed a few times with my platoon and then it was ok. Then my sergeant also said, “Even if you screw up, never mind one, because the place you take your rifle is very dark. No one can see that you corked up one.” (Totally different from what we see on the video on our first day of enlistment) There is totally no light at all at the place we received the rifle.
Oh, yes. If you don’t know, there’s a statue of the flag and a soldier near the entrance at the jetty.
Then last minute before we take our wives
Day 6
IPPT Re-run
In the morning, we had IPPT 2.4km re-run, because the IPPT was cancelled due to the rain the day before. All I remembered is, I ran like fuck, sweat like fuck and panted like fuck. Then the timing was 11.53. So lousy lo. I thought it would have been a lot better. Haha.
Road March (4km)
Then in the afternoon, Wei Chen’s (my buddy) field pack broke during the 4 km road march today. So he was carrying his field pack one-sided thru’ out the whole road march. WTF.
It’s my first road march today! Haha. 4km with my helmet, Field Pack, LBV (Full water bag) and rifle. The whole business I think weighed only about 15 kg or at most is 20. But I don’t think got so heavy. But it was definitely very bulky.
Somemore we were only wearing vest slack attire, meaning it’s something like full uniform like that, just that we don’t wear the shirt, we wore admin shirt instead.
Some of my friends got blister, but I didn’t! haha. Because I double socked and then put a lot of the powder. Haha. Lucky listened to Choon Siong and Choon Kiat. Otherwise would have died. Haha.
Strip!
After that in the evening, still have a bit of lessons, learnt how to strip a rifle. First time stripping a rifle.
Quote from OC “Do you know why we call ur rifle your wife?”
Once again, we said No.
“First, when you have a wife, you must learn how to strip her down to the last piece right, that’s exactly what you have to learn here.”
“Second, you must learn how to clean it properly. Like how you bathe your real wife. You don’t want to sleep with a stinky wife right?!”
“Thirdly, if your wife perform well, you will be a happy man, right? You know what I mean la, ah!”
“Lastly, you know why the pistol grip has a hole at the bottom right? So next time you see people bringing their wife into the cubicle, you know what they want to do la!”
Then the whole company laughed like siao. Haha
Mickey pays a visit!
At night, while I was bathing, I heard someone shouting and laughing as they entered the toilet, “Section 3 got rats! Everybody were like taking a pail and the broom and running around in the bunk and shifting beds and cupboards, trying to locate the rat.” Then I also laughed somemore. Then I realized, “Ey! Fuck! It’s my bunk!” Then I quickly wear my underwear and chiong out of the toilet to help catch the rat already. Haha!”
Then I saw the rat run out of the bunk and then through the spacing in between the railings and “Flew down”. I think it died, cos the next morning, the CSM said he saw a rat fly down from the third floor. He thought we caught it and threw it down. Haha. Like fuck. Why would we do such a sadist thing! Siao.
Day 7
In the afternoon… “I’m getting you here because I feel that Sir Stanley’s (Our PC) volcano is going to explode already.”
That’s what Sergeant Royston said to the platoon.
Our platoon’s performance is really a very sucky one every since our first day. It’s been a week since we enlisted and the performance that we have shown, has no improvement at all.
Then at night, we talk cock with Sir Stanley after RO (RO is Routine Order, by the way. It’s like a schedule for the next day kinda thing.) Then he told us, Whiskey Platoon 2 has always been a very special platoon and the best platoon of the company. If we want to send a platoon to represent Whiskey, Platoon 2 will be the one.
So there’s this legacy which was left behind by our seniors. So we have to keep it up.
Then Sir Stanley also told us a bit about our Sergeants.
Section 1: SGT Ming Kun (very stern, but likes to play DOTA. If you talk to him about it, he’ll talk non-stop about DOTA.)
Section 2: SGT Willy (Loves to sleep)
Section 3: SGT Royston (Loves to Sing)
Section 4: SGT Sufiyan (Love to say “Fu….ck you la! **You must drag the Fu….ck you la! Haha.)
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WTF. Type so long, still only until Day 7. haha. Update tml la. I damn tired.
That's my dear girl and me! haha. 
I don't know why... She likes to make funny faces. haha. 
Now, that's better...
What! You mean you didn't know Ong likes you?!
Let me see... Hmm... What's inside...?
Huh... I dunno what's inside the box. haha. 
Fresh meat?!
