Sunday, April 25, 2004

back from 2+ weeks of confinement at ocs.. highlights? gotta be e leadership field camp.. 3 days, 2 nights of hell on earth.. during this period, we did lots of walking.. and i mean lots, in our full battle order.. navigation excercises by day and night.. got turned out on our second night, twice.. once at 1230am, another at 415am.. made to leopard crawl for over 100m in full battle order and made to pump countless times.. then, made us quick march to our next harbouring point, all the while screaming at us.. thunderflash exploded aroung us, bright lights shining at us to disorientate us.. ain't gonna work on me.. was quite proud that i managed to keep in total control of my actions and thoughts.. had to casevac dilane back to wing line from e foot of peng kang hill.. 6 of us to do the job.. 2 to carry dilane's rifle, webbing, helmet and field pack, the other 4 to carry him on the stretcher.. the pain was agonising for us.. over 5km of walking and lugging.. i could understand the emotions running through us all, even dilane.. at times, i really felt like giving up but as i looked over to my side and saw my buddies suffering, i decided to walk on and not let anyone down.. eventually, 2 of my sectionmates fell out nearing the end point, leaving 4 men to accomplish the mission.. we were forced to stop by wing comd.. we had to merge with another section who was lagging behind.. end point.. the feeling was fantastic.. almost cried as i crossed that end point.. hugs were exchanged, hi-5s, cheers, simple handshakes.. soldiers say so much without words.. the greatest physical test of my life and i survived it.. happy birthday to me.. (i celebrated it at field camp).. chill.
chiyu

Friday, April 09, 2004

going back to camp soon so i'll keep this short.. really ain't looking forward for 2 straight weeks in camp.. ain't booking out till the 24th of april.. sigh.. well.. my birthday's coming up.. maybe can celebrate it on my own in my little bunk after lights off.. WOW!!! that's like so gonna be the BEST birthday ever!!.. how enthusiastic i am.. darn it. my little penny on officer training.. indeed, training has got to be tough, considering an officer's role in times of crisis.. when a situation really occurs, he will be the one to lead his men into battle.. this includes the specialists and those under them.. if the officer is not strong enough, how can the platoon be effective in bringing a swift victory.. planning in the execution of the mission also falls on the shoulders of an officer.. heavy responsibilities.. which is why only the best should be selected for the officer cadet course.. indeed, some people in ocs do not deserve their place here but who ever said the system is perfect.. many desire the chance to be in ocs but were disappointed by the posting results.. i sympathise with them but seriously, if one ends up in sispec or unit, they too should make the best of their nsf and not moan and complain about how the system screwed up or how screwed the system is.. i do respect those who aren't "sour-graping" the system of posting and genuinely give their best for training..

Thursday, April 08, 2004

i'm back.. 4 days in ocs.. going back in again tml night.. sigh.. training's much much tougher than in bmt.. we are to have 3km runs every morning.. and within this 4 days in ocs, my pull ups improved by 2.. imagine. the instructors are very much stricter too.. all the instructors are full lieutenants and above.. each platoon commander is at least a captain and the wing commander (something like an oc) is a lieutenant colonel.. every corner we turn, we'd bump into high ranking officers.. (crabs) sigh.. a couple of our instructors are rather humourous but their jokes are rare and always cracked with a straight face.. this morning, we woke up at about 4.. went for our tower run at 515am... that's a sprint up 265 steps onto the top of the safti tower.. the view was great but the run was painful.. i could barely stand when i reached the top.. right after the run, we jogged to the pool to do our cold dip.. that's a wade across the swimming pool in our long 4.. rather cold i must add.. right after that, we climbed up the 3 storey platform to jump into the pool, also in our long 4.. we were done by about 645am.. we headed back for shower and breakfast, then, off to tuas naval base and paya lebar airbase for a visit.. we were only back at wing line at about 1830hrs.. we prepared to book out after that.. a day in ocs is seriously draining and exhausting.. that includes hours spent in the lecture room, listening to long long lectures.. bleah.. sometimes i wonder if i can make it through and be commissioned as an officer next january but i know, i would at least give my best.. so many people ha been through it.. i can too.

Sunday, April 04, 2004

tomorrow.. tomorrow and i will know.. whether i am going to suffer big time at ocs.. its like a brick wall.. u'll never know what to expect until u've gotten to the top of that wall.. green pastures or miles and miles of burning inferno.. tomorrow.. i shall see.. argh.. i don't even know what to pack man.. new environment, new faces to meet.. so many uncertainties.. in fact, i don't even know anyone other than tt handful from my platoon tt's going to ocs as well.. three weeks of confinement starts tomorrow.. help.. the suspense is killing me.. i've totally wasted my block leave away.. and i ain't too happy about it.. but what the heck.. i'm in no mood to ponder over how i should have spent my block leave.. i'm too worried about tomorrow.. man.. guess i won't be updating this for the next three weeks.. till then.. chill.
chiyu

Saturday, April 03, 2004

slept like mad today.. woke up at like 10, washed up.. and went back to sleep again.. haha.. all the way till almost 2.. didn't know why i was so darn tired.. well.. just got back from westmall.. went to this little shop that sells some army stuff.. bought myself a mess mug, a green plastic cup and some flannelite (is that how u spell that?).. for almost 10 bucks! what the heck man.. felt so robbed.. i bet i can get all those at beach road for a much much cheaper price.. darn it.. but i can only blame myself for being too lazy to make a trip down to beach road.. went to have my photo taken as well.. i'll be needing passport sized images of myself when i report ot safti on monday.. sigh.. i feel all weird about going to ocs.. happy that i qualified, a little scared coz i have absolutely no idea what to expect when i arrive over there.. sigh.. just hope that all goes well for me and that my instructors are nice people.. bleah.. something similar to those that i have back in ninja company would be nice.. 2 more days to go before i enter a new phase of my nsf like..
chiyu

Friday, April 02, 2004

hello.. just got back from my platoon chalet at sentosa.. not too bad.. was a little bored yesterday but this morning, some of us went down to the beach for beach volleyball and kayaking.. man.. i'm totally roasted.. this tan that i have is rediculous.. i'm like several thousand shades darker already.. anyways.. got my posting results today.. POSTED TO: SAFTI MI VOCATION: OFFICER CADET (CBT) man.. i dunno how to react.. on one hand, happy coz i made it to the prestigous ocs.. on the other hand, apprehensive as i am not sure if i can handle the tough training.. all i can do is to keep my fingers crossed and put in my best effort.. some of my peers aren't all that happy with their posting results.. its pretty obvious.. indeed, i feel a little sad for them as well because i do know of some people who totally deserve something better than what they have been offered.. needless to say, some people ended up in places they aren't fit for.. but hey.. who am i to say.. well.. i'm definitly not looking forward to the 3-4weeks of confinement in ocs.. a whole month not going home??!! what the heck.. and e best part is, my birthday falls within this period! argh... gosh.. think i'll end off here.. got some stuffs to prepared before i book in to ocs on monday.. how time flies..
chiyu