M y 1st Batch of Recruits

3 Months, 2nd Home, 1

Being posted to Quebec Coy may have had not been the wrong choice. I was designated to be a section commander. An open heart and mind was all I needed to learn as much as I could. Eventually, I did learn many more other things and became even more enthusiastic about everything that I do.

My luck with the recruits under my charge was rather low. In fact, they were at the bottom of the pit. It was really difficult to come up with a solution to help them up, or at least be on par with the rest. I spent the first 2 weeks getting them adjusted to army life and gave them opportunity to voice their opinion about being enlisted in the army. Their questions and answers were expected, and I had to share with them the positive light of things in army. Why make yourself unhappy about things you can't change? Live it then... Well, not most people can do that.

Most of my recruits rather be a men then to be a leader. We were told to convince and encourage them to be leaders. What I feel and believe is, its still up to them to decide. No doubt I would be their influence, but ultimately, why force someone to lead when they can't. Eventually, they'll turn out drastic and only make things worst. Just like the blind leading the blind.

In my tour of duty, I believe in developing character more than just physical training. These people are from Polytechnics and poly drop-outs, for the past 3 years not having to exercise or keeping fit, its really difficult to get them to reach Gold or even silver. The lack of confidence is one main issue, and the lack of discipline is another. No matter how well the training is crafted and other side tips in improving, if there's no discipline, there's no way to go farther.

Although I am new to the job, but I am familiar in managing certain things. Its almost exactly the same as in Boys' Brigade. The fact that these people are much older and supposedly to be "sensible". It was an irony that they behaved in a manner much less. Sometimes I ponder if its my job to put in that extra mile to help them grow in character or just do what is minimal. However, I always put in the 100% effort to train people. I began to draw further away from BB now.

I brought in the pipes to rekindle the spirit within myself and to act as a reminder that out there, BB still should be my passion. I took it out to play during my own free time. People are fascinated, some are irritated by the sound of it. Hah! I think if I were to carry on like this, I might as well set some goals in competing in next year's Pipes' n Drums Competition. Hopefully, *Fingers' Crossed* I get a better score than the previous.

AWOL'ing from home

An irony which I noticed about myself. There are people that AWOL from camp, but as for me, I find myself AWOL'ing from home. Funny as it seems, I think its rather absurd lifestyle I have inhabited over the past 2 months.

How is this so?

I think I have been able to adapt to my new life style so comfortably, that I feel that its like a second home. I have my bed, pillow, cabinet, and best of all - my own office! There's also internet and computer to go with after working hours.

I have done 2 weekend Company Orderly Sergeant (COS) duty over the past 2 weeks with recruits being confined for their offences committed previously. I carried out my CSM's order in cleaning the areas mentioned. I ensure it is done to the highest standard possible. Now that the company line is so much cleaner than usual, I am even beginning to feel more intimate with my "new home".

This new life of mine is getting a bit out of hand sometimes when I lack the discipline to control myself. I can stay up late in the night just to find myself knocked out infront of the computer screen. Most of the time I spent my last ounce of energy talking to a friend on msn before I am squeezed dry.

I get to play my bagpipes still, maybe because no one has yet to come up to stop me.

Hmmm...I wonder how long will all these last me.

Thanksgiving Dinner and Saturday Parade

On both occasions, I actually woke up late. Fortunately, I was able to be there on time. On Friday, I booked out earlier than expected. My duty was taken over by Jie Sheng for the SDC (Singapore Discovery Centre) visit with the platoon. I went home on "Xiao Bai's" AKA Y.H. (I don't know how to spell his name yet) car when he offered me a ride back to Woodlands. He is my new colleague as his appointment will be PC of Platoon 1.

When I arrived at home, I decided to take a short break and lie on my bed. Next thing I knew, 4 hours passed and it was 6pm. I was left with 30 minutes to get there. I quickly got dressed and dashed out of the house. I made it in the nick of time at 6:40pm. Oliver was the first person I met. Wey Shi and Ian Hwee was already at the table. Then came Mr. Lee, Mathew Kwan and his wife. Sam Tay, his wife and child came later after the first dish was served. The kid was adorable.

Now that I realised, I forgot to take her picture. Hmm... I will be more aware the next time.




After the dinner, Sam Tay offered me a lift back to woodlands.

The time I got home, it was 10:30pm. I switched on the computer and somehow found myself asleep in an awkward position in my chair. I woke up to recall that I was waiting for the stupid website to load. In the end, I was too tired to do anything, I switched off the computer and went to bed.


The next morning came, it was 7am. I went back to sleep as though nothing was on. Then I woke up at 7:30am to check with myself something was to happen today, but I just can't remember. 7:40am, again I was abrupt from my sleep to think. Ah! I am the Officer In Charge for today's parade. LoL!

I thought to myself, I should be on time since I need to be there at 9:30am. I went back to sleep for a while more after setting timer on my phone. It was then, 8:15am when I finally got up. I forgot how long it took to get from Woodlands to ACS. I took a shower and changed to my uniform and rushed out of the house. I took 3 buses to get to ACS on time.

However, when I arrived at ACS, the Boys were still not ready. I looked at my watch - 9:25am. I thought they would be ready by then. Hence, I didn't bother to rush them. I have not been around lately since I got posted to my new unit, plus they were having exams. I was feeling rather alien to the whole thing when I was there.

I checked my watch the second time, it was 9:36am, and the Boys were still lingering around and receiving no instructions or whatsoever. I caught hold of the CSM and began to ask him some question. The morning began sloppily with no command and control shown by the CSM and no initiative from the Seniors.

I gave the CSM a chance to improve on the current situation and did not want to lecture early in the morning. We then made our way to the transport bay and was on our journey to ACS I for the Founders' Day Lunch.

Once again, after alighting from the bus, there was no control over the Boys. I was beginning to wonder if this was the culture adapted since my absence in the BB. We witness the 12th I Boys practicing on drills, while 12thBR Boys were all over the shop. I caught hold of the CSM again, and asked him to gather everyone at one spot to wait for the next instruction.

The programme was to start at 11am, however, we were early as we came at 10:15am. I decided to let the boys to have a short drill session. Soon, 11 o'clock came, and we're on our way to where the event was held.

Here are some of the photos taken during the event itself.















Yes, and there was a little "cam-whoring" going on, because we can't seem to get the "right" picture with the 4 of us (Brandon, Me, Nicklaus, Wey Shi) all in the photo.

After the event came to an end, we were on our way back to ACS BR again. There, I decided to make a message brought across to the company. The CSM, to enforce more command and control over the company.

Next, I was at a spot in the admin room soundly asleep again. Geez! How many times do I have to sleep??

LoL. Rather frustrated that I was tired when I book out. Maybe I overworked myself. Heh...

Weekend Dash

Yesterday evening, I was suppose to meet up with some of my colleagues from the same Company I am in. In the end, I arrived later than the stipulated time. I was waiting for the car which my sister was using. I also needed to pick up the birthday present for a friend which turns out to be in the other car.

Once I got into the car, it was not the end of my nightmare. I was so close yet so far from my destination. I found myself going round in circles as I was not familiar with the place I was going. Driving around for close to an hour was pure boredom!

Frustrated, I was in no mood for anything. My head was spinning. It was unexpected for me to make such err on the road. I was at Republic Ave but the next moment, I found myself on a one-way road back onto the expressway.


All in all, I met my friends at Suntec and there, I was following directions which didn't make much sense. I came to realised they had their dinner, and I made an order of a subway sandwich. Next, we went to Illuma at bugis and had a game of Left4Dead. It was awesomely gruesome. The game was alien to me. I did not know the weapons and had been trying it out. Tossing things around, in the end, hurting my own fellow team mates.

After an hour, we were on our way towards Pasir Ris. There, I visit a friend's birthday party. I thought I could make it by midnight. Unfortunately, I was late. Hmm, the whole evening, I feel that I was never on time for anything. Then, I got rather fed-up. I think I'm better off when I have less things on my head.

I even forgot to bring my friend's practice piece which just came by mail from England.

This morning, I was suppose to attend church so that I could pass the package to my friend. I got up and changed, after calling my friend who was on his way in the cab. I hop into my car and tried starting the car. The car battery was dead. Everything was just crashing down. Hence, I decided to stay at home.

Now I'm just waiting for my sis to come jump-start the car. (Which I have no idea how it is like)

Well, at least there's always an experience for something new!

Duty over Weekend

I'm tired. I think I'm about to be over exhausted from my work. Although I don't have to give in all 100%, my attitude keeps me going.

Its a Saturday. I'm doing my COS duty. I booked out with my recruits on Friday evening. I went out gallivanting at Tampines mall with Ashraf. A Corporal(Clerk) in my company. I only had $10.00. I could not buy anything much. In the end, I only bought 2 VCDs, Almond Jelly Desert and a softener.

I booked in on that very same night. I stayed up at the annex room and used the internet till about 1am. My friend from Y Coy needed to use the loo. I was still chatting with a friend on MSN asking about how to use the softener. I told him to go ahead first and I'll lock up the room. Not long after he had walked out of the room, there was a clicking sound coming from the air-condition itself. Instantly, the back of my hair rose and I had a sheer uneasiness. I ignored it. The room was empty, except me and the computer. The sound echoed in the room.

At first I thought I was scaring myself. Few seconds later, another click, and another and another. I was scared out of my wits. I quickly stood up and brisked towards the door to opened it. At least I had somewhere to escape then being trapped in the room. The MSN was still on. I did not know what to do, the corridor was dark and the staircase was pitch black. The only light that was available was coming from the room itself. The air condition continue to click and it got faster. I took a closer look at it and thought something was trying to come out from it.

I quickly called my friend about it. He came out of the toilet and stood at his company line. From there, he told me to close it quick. He wasn't really of much help. I went back to the computer and end off my conversation. Off the lights and closed the door, lock.

I hurriedly rushed downstairs. That's when I got to know from that friend that there were "things". Err...

My bunk was in the opposite block. I went to my bunk and plugged in my iPod to a speaker. There, I went off to take a shower, brr..rr.. it was cold. It was almost 2am, by then I was fast asleep on my bed. Next morning, I woke up at 6:45am and went for breakfast. I saw the recruits who stayed behind for RT (Remedial trainings).

The whole day, I stayed in the company office and watched TV, read newspaper, answering calls and checking on the guards.


Hmm, the rest of the day was pretty much boring. Though, I got to experiment with the washing machine. Unfortunately, the softener did not seem to have any effect. Or was it that I do wrongly? Damn!

MY clothes aren't the same product what my mom or sister could do. GRrr.

Employed in Q' Company

An eventful week had passed. Indeed it was full of events. I could not imagined what had happened over the week would befall on my first week of duty.

I booked in on Sunday night, looking forward to the week of my 1st batch of recruits. On my first day of moving into a "second" home, I was greeted with many familiar faces whom used to be my commanders while I was a recruit. I felt a little uneasy talking to them at first, but gradually we were able to communicate with one another. I had a lot to learn from them thus it was important for me to establish good relationship.

I was given a bed which belongs to a former clerk in the company whom have gone AWOL. Now he's arrested and sitting in detention barrack. I replaced the bed sheets and pillow case from the bed with a new set. Except for my stuff, I was unable to put it into the locker given to me. It was filled with items by the former. My stuff are now kept in my kit bag. Worst, my office table, is full of rubbish and items from the previous owner whom had moved to another platoon office. I was wondering if he was trying to test me or being a punk. He refused to remove his items and expected me to leave his items there. So be it, I didn't take it with a serious note.

On Monday morning, the recruits came. I did not have breakfast, as we had to wake up early in the morning at 0630 to catch the troop lift to Ladang. At about 10am, the parents and the enlistees were given a short period to taste the food at the cook house. I was tasked to escort the parents there and be like a "guide" walking up and down the isle while they were happily chomping away their meal. I was hungry and unhappy. At one time, I was staring blankly into space while someone was actually getting my attention. How embarrassing.

After the whole eventful morning passed, I was back into Rocky Hill again. I had to help the recruits in receiving their equipments and kit. Then, there were the item checking routine to conduct, followed by fitting their sizes in the bunk. Again, lunch time passed. It was already 4pm. I was just hoping for dinner. Luckily, my colleague came around to my aid by passing me a bar of rice cracker to hold out for a while. It was really kind of him. I appreciated it very much.

My office table still didn't felt like mine.

The next day, I had only 4 hours of sleep. The night before, I stayed in the office to do up the admin work. I was also prowling in the night to ensure that Recruits sleep by the time given. True enough, they were caught by me. Some walking around, some still using their hand phones and some giving lame excuses. Recruits being recruits...

We had a morning run of 1km. One of my recruit actually fell out and fainted. I came to realise it was because he did not had any meals since enlistment. He told me he felt nauseated whenever he looked at food. I was in disbelief. His physique looked like a malnutrition Jew prisoner during WWII. I managed to convince or persuade him into having a slice of bread for breakfast. They were serving western style that morning. Scramble eggs, sausages and soft white bread.

He refused me and tried his best not to eat. However, it was heartening when he finally succumb into my incessant persuasion. I even ate my breakfast with him. Out of good intention of accompanying him as well as supervising him to having his bite. I learnt from the parent the same. (Confidential)

Later, I was told off. I was not suppose to seat with the recruits as a commander. At that moment, then I realised why it was to be this way.

Well, throughout the week, I had mutiple "funny" cases to handle. Things which a recruit do is really unbelievable. I think it is not right to share it here on the blog and make a mockery. Hence, I can only be this vague.

However, just the past 2 days. I was put on 2 medical evacuation. One which my recruit fainted, and I had to escort him to the medical centre. We put him on the stretcher and the rover came to send us down to the medical centre. I felt very anxious about my recruit when he fell. Back then, whenever anyone fell out or fainted on the parade square, I didn't bother, but just treat it lightly as they are weak. Now that I am a commander, I felt the responsibility over my shoulder. I took good care of him and watched over him. Luckily, the doctor whom we rolled into the emergency room told me his condition was stable and his vital signs were okay. I rebuked the report and almost became aggressive. I wanted a reconfirmation as his condition was really difficult to continue training. The medical officer told me it was normal. So be it then. I will only have to be watchful over him for now.

Next was the following day on book out. I was put to sent out a recruit from my platoon to Changi General Hospital. There I spent the whole morning and early afternoon waiting for his report. I escorted him out from Tekong and to CGH. Awkwardly, I was out without my wallet. I booked in thinking I had lost my wallet. It was only when my sister told me I left it in her house. Scared the wits out of me. I borrowed my Platoon Sergeant's EZ Link and escorted the recruit to CGH.

From there, I left the hospital and went to ACS Barker to check on the B.B. Boys. Thanks to the help from my sisters who came to take me from there.

A Sergeant in BMTC

Aha! I finally graduated from CPC (Commander's Preparation Course). Now, I'm somewhat certified to command a section of recruits under my charge.

I'm excited to see what the future holds. I'm also nervous as I'm in the front line of the army's recruitment programme. Recruits that comes from the civilian world into the military life will begin here with me.

I was showed around by the company clerk when I reported in on Thursday evening during my free time. The company I was posted to was in Q. Rocky Hill. Away from all the other companies in Ladang. I had to take transport in to my workplace from now on. Although it may be inconvenient, I think its rather peaceful there. It could be spooky too. lol!
I was the only Specialist that was posted to Q coy. Its about 4km away from the main camp.

My buddy, David, got what he wanted at E coy. Lucky fellow! I was showed to my Platoon Office and my desk. :) Darn happy I got a desk and office. I guess that's all I can say for now, a new batch of recruits will be coming in on Monday.

Hmm... rather disgusted at being confined this coming weekend with the recruits.