Saturday, August 30, 2008

Last Monday was the start of ASLC. It is definitely not the place I want to be but I don't have a choice. The first 2 days was compacted with a lot of stuff which I have forgotten. But one thing for sure, we go through GPMG lesson. We did our practical and theory test for that big and clumsy weapon.

After that, we went through demolition lesson. Explosive, detonator and all the big explosive like claymore and even bangaloor torpedo. To me, all this is very boring. Spend the whole day learning and settle up but within 17 second or so, the whole circuit will blow up and smashed to pieces. The same thing like GPMG, we have to go through practical and theory test and pass it so that we are qualified to do the real thing.

Last Friday, we walked all the way to the place where we shoot our GPMG. It is on top of a very steep hill. Those that have been there would have heard about this "E-shaped noir". In the day, it was so hot and we have to sit out in the open and wait for our shoot. When we reached there, we got to fire only 100 live rounds. The only thing that made it all worth while was that my team shot down 1 target 500m away. We are the only group that did it. The night shoot was even better. It is just like starwars with our luminous rounds flying around.

We walked back after that around 1 plus in the morning. We slept about 3 hours and had to wake up to prepare for our demolition live range on the next day. Which is last Saturday. It rained the whole day but we still have to go through with the explosive. So most of the time we were sleeping in the shed waiting for the rain to stop. Therefore, the whole thing drag until very late. We went home 7 plus 8. The next day we had to book in early because we have another shoot on Monday.

Monday did section quick attack. Which involve running and a lot of shooting. Live rounds was in play so it became more complicated, technical and even dangerous. It was fun, dirty, dangerous, thrilling and also tiring. Our playground was a steep slope again. So climbing up and down was super tiring. It lasted 3/4 of the day because we did not do the night shoot. So we walked back again to end the day.

The next 2 days we were preparing for watermanship. In simple, river crossing. We have to send people to swim over to another side of the river and tie a rope for the rest to cross. I was part of the rope team and it was really tiring. We make sure our things doesn't get wet by putting them in zip lock bags and waterproof them. It was a troublesome process. Everything got wet when we enter into the water. Our platoon did it 1 time more than others because we were too fast and had to wait for night fall for a better experience. Sun tanning everything the next day was a tirning process.

This is about it for the past 2 weeks. So many things to do and so little time to rest. I really hope I got more time on hand with rest and even my friends. It has been very long since I hang out with my friends and relaxing myself. Hope I have a chance this weekend. After this is a whole lot of activities lined up again.



Sunday, August 24, 2008

No time to blog this week. I just wanna blog just to let you all know that I am still alive. Too many things happening this week.

I shall blog again next week when I have more time. I think.

Just to recall briefly what happen this week. General purpose machine gun(GPMG) firing. Explosive live firing. Watermanship. Don't know what else. I forget already.

I strongly urge you people who know me to message me to chat to keep me company. I am too stress and tired from army already. So many things going on for that 3 line. For those who don't have my number, it is easy to find. 94309881. Tell me who you are and where you are from. I will reply immediately. But if you know I won't know you, please don't try to message. Campers are welcome as well.



Friday, August 15, 2008

Today marks the day of the end of my BSLC, also known as basic section leader course. It is suppose to be a prestigious place where not many people get to go there. They also call the place command school where they train leaders.

Yesterday night, we prepared for the graduation by doing a 28km route march. I didn't know what to expect or what to bring. Everything was like so random where we can do whatever we want. I wanted to bring isotonic drinks but I rather not make my packs heavier. So I choose plain water instead. We took a bus to kranji memorial and started our march there.

As expected, the march started off faster than we expected. It was somewhat a fast march. The initial part was tough as we are not physically conditioned. Also, the Z-monster is attacking us. I nearly fall asleep a few times along the march. Upon reaching the 12km rest point, my whole body was like gone. I can't even feel my legs. It was so painful that I just sit down and do nothing during all the check points. Our speed was so fast that we caught up with the first wave which started like half an hour before us. The entire journey was full of up-slopes and uneven terrains. At that moment, I would do anything just to finish the march. The thought of falling out is just so tempting. I am sure we walked more than the meer 28km that was stated. Or that we were suppose to walk.

At the end of the march, a sign of relieve just fills my mind. The thought of being able to sit down and sleep makes me so happy. But it did not go as I wished. Not long after I closed my eyes, our Company Sergent Major(CSM) want us to polish our dirt-filled boots and get ready for the parade. Reluctantly, I took out my kiwi and start polishing my boots. After that we got in line to get ready for the parade. We had to carry our field packs with us which I don't understand why. The load on me weighs about 20kg. What's more, a tired and worn out body who needs to stand still for about an hour and not moving. I can feel my knees giving way.

What shocked me most was my posting. I was posted to Advance Section Leader Course(ASLC). The more advance wing for commanders and a even more prestigious place to be in. But I don't agree so. The course is more tougher than any others and we have to go over to the Republic of China or popularly known as taipei for a 3 week field exercise. I don't know if I am ready for it. Right now, I just feel like signing on and get the 1 time bonus. Which is a lot of money.

On my way to get my 3 strips...13 weeks of torture....



Saturday, August 09, 2008

Is there such a thing as everlasting? Will there be eternity in life? If there is ever such a thing as forever, then there won't be such a word call expiry. Ever thing and ever course has it end point. There is always a period when it is durable, after which it will become obsolete.

Have you ever tried eating expired food? It taste horrible and sometimes it gives you a stomachache. It can also appear disgusting and displeasing in sight. Have you seen worms growing in your fruits? Or mold growing out of your bread? What is your first reaction? To keep it and hope that it will return to its original state? Or do you throw it away immediately? Logic tell us that we can't eat the food anymore and it should be discarded.

Do you think friendship can last? I really don't know. How many of your primary school friends is currently still your best friend? Or even to have contact with. For me, I still have contact with my primary school friends and they are still my good friends even until today. But wherever we go, we will meet new friends. Whatever we do, our emotions will bound to react in a certain way. So it is relatively impossible to ask human not to feel. In physics, we learn that there is always a counter force in relation to a force. In life it is the same. When there is forging, there will be breaking. When a friendship is forge, there is a point in time where it will break. "Nothing is forever, neither friends nor foes". This is one of my favourite verse from the movie <15>.

In relationships, it is the same. It is never easy to have a smooth sailing relationship. How many breakups do we encounter before we can find someone that is truly the Mr or Mrs right? We do feel pain, dishearten or even disappointed. But it is only part of the process of life. Even when two person get married, there is also conflicts and divorce. Researchers also found out that divorce rates are on the rise year after year. It is not easy to conclude in relations being forever and everlasting.

I really don't know whether everlasting is a myth or it is actually possible to happen. To those reading this post, please share your opinion with me.



Saturday, August 02, 2008

Grandslam is over!!!!

4 days of torture is over! On Monday, we headed over to Tekong. Yes, our army birth place. The first day was exercise Wanderer. We have to navigate ourselves to the different checkpoints in Tekong. We were really wondering in the jungles of the remote island. During the day, we never met any other teams along the way other than the first part of the day when we started off the exercise. We walked so much until I lost track of how much I walked. All I can remember is recording a lot of 1km.

End of the day, a tired and worn out me still have to do a lot of admin work. That was not the end of the whole exercise, but the starting. The next day, we had to carry our field pack which i think was about 15kg with all the unnecessary things that we have to bring which I still don't know why. We had to walk about a few km to our harbouring area, which means our home for the next 3 days. It was super tiring.

We have to go out for mission and act as if it was real and we are really in a war situation. We are not even giving water resupply when we walk pass checkpoints. It was really tiring and tormenting. The good thing is we get to have a lot of sleep. But the bad thing is all the rest we have is being disturbed. All the stand-to and alert. With our army focused conducting officer, it is the worse field camp ever.

End of it, on Thursday, when we thought everything is over. We had to march all the way to the ferry terminal. Which was like 16km or more from our location. What makes things worse is that we had to carry a stretcher with a fake injured person. About 12 of us took turn carrying it and walking at a very fast speed. Every time 6 man had to carry it. It was about 20kg or more on our shoulder over the whole walk. It was really tiring when we ended the march. I can hardly stand straight or move my upper body after it. Until now, my shoulder is still aching.

Now, it is all over. I get to enjoy the short break. Then when Monday comes, I will have to go for urban operations. Another field camp. I really feel like having a good break. I haven gone out with my friends for a long time. Especially Meng hui and Luke.