A New Beginning

After our graduation parade, we were given a week off. Needless to say, I enjoyed it to the fullest of its potential. Spending time with friends, gaming and going for university admission interviews - you name it. Thursday morning brought new surprises.

Our posting order.

I logged online to retrieve my posting order. I was surprised to receive my unit allocation - the Singapore Armour Regiment, which also meant that I wasn't going to command school like much of my friends. I felt slightly disappointed being left out. But then I changed my mentality towards NS as more of a job instead. That made me view the army and NS in a different light.

I was posted to the Armour as an Armored Fighting Vehicle Operator. (sounds step right?)

After learning about Armour and being in the unit for a few weeks, let me answer a few questions regarding Armour and straighten some misconceptions.

1. What is Armour?
An Armour basically means any armored vehicle. This can include Battle Tanks, Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV), Armored Transports and Armored Amphibious Vehicles.

2. What kinds of vocations are there in Armour?
 Armour is split into 2 kinds of vocations. Main Battle Tanks as well as Armored Infantry

Main Battle Tanks consist of large heavily armored tanks with high firepower. These are tanks like the Leopard 2SG. A German tank modified for Singapore

Armored Infantry is in its most basic sense of the word is an infantry unit (ground troops). The only difference is that AI units are transported by IFVs instead of walking on foot. IFVs can include the Bionix (BX for short)

Hence, as an AFV/IFV operator, I'm the person driving the vehicle, transporting the infantry.

Next time: Getting a driving license for a tank!?

Writers note: the posts over from now into the future are going to be less frequent. That's because things are going to be much slower in unit. I'll still keep this blog active till I finish my service and maybe even update it during my reservist years

POP Loh!

We woke up at 6 in the morning, just four hours later. Rested but still aching all over, we were ready to give our all for our graduation paarade. At the sound of the horn, we marched together as a commpany for the last time . The atmosphere was indescribable. With the crowd cheering , and all of us standing together as one, we threw our caps into the air and celebrated the end of our BMT

My thoughts on BMT

BMT was an experience that really was, once in a lifetime. The adventures, antics and people that I met really shaped and defined my time during BMT into a memorable and enjoyable experience. The platoon, the commanders and even Tekong itself remains dear to me today. I do miss the faces in Tekong, especially the commanders. Seeing unfamiliar faces in the unit I am in now, instead of my commanders and friends, really made life seem empty. With the end of BMT, marks the start of unit training based on your allocation by HQ. That, will be talked about some other time.


But now, a summary of BMT over the 9 weeks

Week 1-3: Confinement/Adjustment week, Rifle presentation, Talks
Week 4: IFC
Week 5: Live Firing
Week 6: Field Camp
Week 7: Hand Grenade
Week 8: Urban Ops/BIC
Week 9: 24km Route March/ Graduation Parade

The order of events can/will change according to scheduling, it's not set in stone

Next post: A New Beginning

The Last Hurdle of the Start of a Long Journey (Last week of BMT pt 2)

With all of our high key events over, there was only 2 things left on our list. Firstly, to practice for our graduation parade, and secondly, the "legendary" 24km route march. This was the last and final week here on Tekong, and the days to POP started to slip through our fingers. But first, we had to practice for our graduation parade.

On the actual graduation parade, due Saturday, we will march in, onto the floating platform as a company. This meant coordinating 200 people to walk in step and turn at the right speed and moment. Moreover, 23 other companies were also graduating on that same day. Meaning that this was going to be a colossal event to organize. Many many hours had already been devoted to arms drills throughout the 9 weeks to familiarize ourselves with the commands used during the parade. What was left, were rehearsals.

Our days from Monday all the way till Wednesday started at around 5:30 in the morning. Breakfast, drawing our rifles and reporting to the parade square, all done by 8am. And from 8 till 5, rehearsals. With an hour for lunch and roughly 20 minutes between each rehearsal, we spent about 7 hours under the unbearably hot Tekong sun. Clouds seemed non-existent on this island, and when there were clouds, they never went anywhere near the sun. Through midday, the scorching sun was out there, roasting recruits, and many a number decided to fall out because of the heat. By just the end of the first day, many of us were red with sunburn. Two more hot and grueling days awaited us and all we did all day was sweat.

 And sweat, and sweat.

Ironically despite making us sit through the heat for 3 days in a row, we had a safety talk on the last day of our rehearsals, awarding personnel with safe practices. Ha ha, while many were falling out left, right and center during the rehearsal in the afternoon heat.

The Last Leg

The 10th of April marked the final day on Pulau Tekong, and also the day we would embark on our 24km route march. This was a symbol of initiation for a soldier as proof of completing his Basic Military Training. We packed our remaining belongings for our route march and cleared all our lockers, leaving the bunk just as it was when we went in for the first time. Taking one last look at our bunks, our home for the past 2 months, we closed the door behind us and walked toward the future ahead of us.

Our field packs were heavy, some much heavier than the standard weight. With all of our belongings on our backs, we departed from the island to make our way to the starting point of our route march at the ferry terminal. As we started the march, everyone was in high spirits. The weather was great and a light wind was blowing as we walked through the road illuminated by the rays of the setting sun. \

Long, narrow and straight walkways greeted us as the first 6km if the journey was along the runways of Changi Airport. Most of us engaged in conversation to keep our minds off the fatigue. As we cleared the runways, we approached the start of the East Coast Parkway coastal route. By then, the sky was starting to darken and what felt like an eternity seperated us from our third checkpoint. We walked continuously for more than 45 minutes, covering way more than 3 clicks at our walking speed, before reaching our 9km mark. Many of us started to feel the pinch; fatigue setting in. One of my friends looked like he could barely take it anymore,

And that was only at the 9km mark.

As we continued along our journey, we past people spending their Friday night at the beach. Some were shocked at the phenomenon they were witnessing. Others waved, smiled and encouraged us to push on. I remember at one point, kids lined the pathway on our journey. The kids, having a camp nearby. It was then that I actually felt proud as a soldier, to serve the country (something only you have to go through to describe)

Kilometers after kilometres rolled past like a blur as we continued our journey into the night. Our breaks grew incredibly short as we had.to keep up the pace to make timings. This, of course, had an impact on all of us, and our morale.

But finally, 21 km later, we reached the edge of the central business district. Walking down a pedestrian bridge, only 3 kilometres seperated us from our destination. We were all tired -- it was 1 in the morning. But at this last and final pit stop, our commanders gave us the last pep talk of our BMT. Downing our cansometimes of ice cold isotonic drinks, we crushed the cans underfoot in unison. With slightly renewed vigour,we continued the final leg of our march. As we crossed the marina Barrage,we saw a stunningly illuminated Singapore skyline.

This was what we were protecting. Why we were in the army.

Reaching the platform at a quarter to two, we put down our field packs for the last time. Many of us were at our limits. Trust me, I was too. We changed into a new set of uniforms and went to sleep on the.hard floor of the floating platform. 

We.didn't care. Our march was over.

And all that's left, was our graduation parade.