Saturday, October 11, 2008

Grandslam 2 finally over! 1 whole week of torture and suffering. Route march, river crossing, heliborne, urban operations and even digging. All the physically demanding and mentally demanding work finally over.

A near confinement when we, the rope section make mistake in doing the ropes for river crossing. But you can't really blame us. We have walked through the whole night for about 4 hours before we reach our river crossing side. With a field pack of about 30kg, whatever energy we have has already depleted. I have to carry 3 over the river because of someone's carelessness who have forgotten to take 1 of it. After crossing, I am so tired that I can't even stand properly. But We still have to carry on walking.

When we reach our second site, after a helicopter ride and a river crossing, I am totally gone. But it doesn't stop there. We have to attack up a hill which took the remaining energy out of me. Smoke evaporates from my body when we took a break after the attack and prepare to start digging. Basically, we have to dig a shellscrap and a fire trench. In simple, imagine yourself digging a hole long enough to cover you height, width, and deep enough to cover you when you lie down flat on the group. Next is a fire trench which is a hole deep enough to cover till your chest level when you stand and long enough to fit 2 person . It is about 4 riffle by 1 riffle size. It is just like digging a grave for yourself.

Then it was urban operations which involve patrol and search party. We start off with an attach on a buildup area, which in simple, an estate. I was the enemy for that operation so I had to set up all the cornwire the night before and plant myself in one of the rooms and prepare to snipe whoever comes my way. It was fun and exciting. For that moment I forget about my own tiredness. For the whole of the last day I was the enemy. It was the most relaxing job ever throughout the 4 days of torture.

Anyway, it has all ended. Enough of all the shit. Next up, urban operation fieldcamp on monday and tuesday. After which, it will be ROC for me...