Army Daze

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) celebrates 40 years of National Service this year.

Being part of the community who have to fire a gun, sleep with other men in a bunk, and bashing through jungles with them upon the age of 18 and over, I shall do a little tribute here by sharing with you about my life during the NS years.

The journey starts in April 2, 2004, the day of my enlistment. I have been left behind in the island of Tekong while the parents took the fast-craft back to mainland, so fast that I couldn't even get to wave them goodbye. This is puzzling, because on subsequent trips when we get to book out, the craft seems to be taking ages to travel us back. And its speed amazingly returns on Sunday book-in nights. &#$%#$&*6%!

Anyway, on the first day itself, I learnt that I had been posted to a welfare company called S for Scorpion. Welfare because recruits there are placed under the care of Warrant Officers who are known to possess fatherly TLC. And later on I had my head shaven as well for two bucks.

The whole 10 weeks of basic millitary training is a mixture of fun, excitement, and tireness. Nothing but training everyday, like foot-drills, chin-up regimes, IPPT, SOC (Standard Obstacle Course), live-firing, grenade-throwing, field camps, and route marches. Recalling one time during a grenade-throwing practice in the field, I was scolded by my platoon commander just because I shouted "Neh-neh!" instead of "Grenade!" when throwing off a dummy grenade. -.-"

Tough it may be, what exactly make us forget all these hardship in camp is - the company of fellow close buddies. Knowing that you guys are in this suffering shit together, and if they can make it, so can you. And also, definitely - admin free time at night!

June 4, 2004 - the big day that me and my buddies have waited and endured for 10 weeks has arrived. It's - "POP* loh!"

(*Passing Out Parade. Literally, some recruits did passed out during the parade under the hot sun).


Once I was a chao recruit...


Hunks in my section. Hurhur... =p


Scorpion company platoon one of 2004!


More NS adventure coming up! Stay tuned. =D