16km Road March

Finally got home. More and more, I feel homesick whenever I am in camp. It had been a rather peaceful week. To be frank, the week had been rather fuzzy to me now. I believed I had reported to the MO about my ankle, and had RMJ for 2 days. It was good rest indeed. 

On friday was the 16km road march and after that the company got Pizza Hut's Pizza for us. We were happy and the final moment of booking out is finally here. There was also the photo taking. The sad thing was that only 3 out of the 8 people in my bunk was present in the photo. 

Coming back home saw a lot of things to be done. The sgts wanted a everyone to write 5 best and worse recruits. To write after such a while is indeed a little hard. Oh before I forgot, I was shotlisted for the MP selection as well. 

I got an email form school rushing me for a draft of my speech. I got down to some rather hazy ideas which i still dont think they flow very well. Well such things takes time to perfect. 

Tomorrow will be SOC. I wish that it would be the final test (as if so I will do it) if not i intent to fall out due to my ankle. The friday will be IPPT test. The final one, I have a guts feelings that we will have all the station re test for the next 2 weeks. Eitherhow, I am to some extend prepared for it. Well, I am after all, gonna fail eitherhow. 

Friday, oh friday. There are words that after the IPPT test will be SDC Visit and that will be the end of the week for us. I look forward for that. Even if its a SDC visit on saturday would not sound that bad. After all, there after will be the waiting of POP! 

Sit Test and Ah Yue Concert

It has been a pretty tough week. Sit test started on last Sunday and ended on Tuesday. The rest of the week was pretty tough with training as we are all pretty tired.

I guess what made things worse was the amount of people reporting sick. Half of the platoon is down with one kind of states of another. Hence, they made a new rule that statues are not allowed to return to bunk till 9.30 in the evening.

Then they up the game and gave them lots of cleaning and even a very hush field pack inspection. I guess the privileges of being on statues is over. They are coming down hard on this.

On that note, I personally felt affected. I am suffering from stomach flu since returning from the sit test. I so wanted to report sick, but I don’t want to go through what the statues are being put through. I heard that the Platoon Sgt said that I am not putting in enough effort. I have to agree, to some extent. I mean, I feel weak, sick and tired. I cannot go all that way as I did earlier during enlistment. I am having problem keeping up with my group during AGR. Though I am not the only one, I feel bad about it.

They are putting in a lot of late night training almost everyday now. There always something to do at 7pm till about 9. While other platoon is coming to a more enjoyable stay and treatment, my platoon is getting a real discipline shake up.

I am feeling tired now in camp. People are falling sick and the moral of the platoon is very low. For the past week, my main aim is just not to get confined. The whole time during tough times, I just think about the Ah Yue concert.

It was last night. Though traffic was horrible, due to chingay, I still think I had a very good time. I was very happy. Listening to Ah yue singing some of my favorite songs almost made me cried out.

Ahhh…. How I wish such good times can last for ever. Ivan was with me and he too (I believed) had a great time as well. We bought many things from the concert and that blow a whole in my pocket.

I had a little sprain during SOC back in camp. Though its very much okay now, I am still a little concerned. The stomach flu is a real issue right now. I saw the doctor this morning, and he assured me that I should be okay. I was thinking if its still very bad I will get my sister to drive me to the hospital and get some MC to rest at home. But as I said, I don’t want any statues.

The coming week will be more IPPT training and SOC. A 16km road march on Friday and more RT on Saturday. While most (the other companies) will bookout on Friday, we will bookout on Saturday. How I long for more nights at home.

For IPPT, I am really unsure if I can get the improvement I need till the 29th. Not to mention SOC. I have yet to try it with everything. I am pretty unsure about that. Eitherhow, I am already at this juncture, I just have to forge a head isn’t it?

The Chinese New Year

We booked in rather early on Sunday evening. Upon booking in, we prepared our stores for the Sit test. Monday was the IPPT Dio test. I pass my 2 stations and 2 other stations were a near pass. I must say that there is a lot of improvement. The next day is just the same AGR and 30:60 and what have you. The commanders were is pretty good moods and the harassment were pretty low. It was a pretty easy and peaceful two and the half days in camp.

Then, its new year’s eve and here I am. In about 5 hours, I will be booking in again. There will be sit test for 3 days and then it’s the usual stuff of Strength training and running. I have problem with the SOC and I really wish that I can make it.

Other than that, I pray that I don’t get guard duties of any confinement this weekend as I have a ah yue concert on Saturday evening.

Field Camp

This should had came last book out, but since it was just way too comfortable doing nothing, I ran out of time to blog about.

I’ve spent a total of 2 weeks in camp for the last time, since the field camp starts on Sunday and we had to be confined for that. The week before field camp is some simple lessons like putting on camo and urban warfare.

Field camp started with a 8km road march. I must say that the first 4 was okay, then the last 4 starts to get rather tiring. Eitherway, we made it to the camp site. To recall, the field camp was rather peaceful. It was good that we get to sleep early and wake up late.

We moved after 2 nights and went to rocky hill camp site, where we dig out own grave. I got a spot where there is soft wet mud. It’s fairly easy to sink in, but the mud keeps getting sticking on to the blade. It was also when my rifle got stunned. Sigh.

Everything went pretty well till BIC. There was no rain except for the first night, but the tent was not wet at all. Returning back to camp, things got a little difficult. Things were not done and the commanders were asking for a little more than what our tired bodies can offer. There were a lot of shouting and push ups.

Having got my rifle stolen, I was confined along with almost half of the company (who had one mistake or another) The rest of the people went off at about 9pm, while we went off the next day at about 8. It was not so bad since we got time to clean our helmet from the camo and wash the LPV. To slowly pack and to do a lot of stuff which would had to be done in a hurry.

Generally specking, the field camp went by pretty fast. Though most of us went through it kicking and screaming, but it is some experience we will carry over.

The last book out before field camp

Its had been a very long book in for me; or at least it felt that way. Booking in on last Sunday morning and then booking out on Saturday afternoon is more than 7 days worth of in camp.

A lot of xiong things happened, there were 2 strength training, road march, SOC and a IPPT test. Well, the strength training is still largely manageable, the road march is not so bad, and since it was planned together with the grenade throwing practices, it was something rather to look forward for. The IPPT test was the one with problems. I failed all the stations except 2.4km. The timing was rather good I must add. But coming on to very embarrassing scoring for the other stations had an effect on me.

SOC was rather encouraging. Though some stations were rather nerves racking, I manage to clear all of them. Some of those, which I though I would never be able was surprisingly manageable. It is only the first 5 obstacles and so far, we will be doing the remaining coming week.

The rest of the week after IPPT were a very tough. My legs were sore and tired after the 2.4 run and to make things worse, there were AGR and other very stressing lessons. Until now, my ankle, knee, thigh and ball of the feet hurts. I really wish I could have more rest. For all the muscles to recover.

So whats it gonna be? Well, due to the fact of my rather terrible IPPT, I had to complete 32 sit ups every day after RO. Or almost everyday. They have started on IPPT stations training and a pretty high target of IPPT passing rate was set. Everyone is feeling the heat.

I am not so much worried for SOC since I don’t need to pass it to pass out for BMT. That applies to IPPT as well, but then, they seems more interested for us to pass that. All the pull ups and what have you.

I will not be able to come out on the coming weekend. I am I feel rather taken because of that. This book out was supposed to be on Friday evening, however due to some reasons, it was postponed to Saturday afternoon. Hence only one night at home.

Due to field camp, we have to stay in for this weekend. There are a lot more things I would really like to write about, like the newly attached people to the company and so on. But I want to go on to my bed till dinner. I shell write about it then next time then.

Do pray for me good weather and luck for the field camp for the coming 2 weeks.

The early book out

Managed to bookout on Friday morning, as (I believe) they don’t wish to have us around during the enlistment of the other companies; or to reduce the strain on the cookhouse. Eitherway, its (to some extend) good news for us.

It had been a rather peaceful week. Booked in early on Sunday for the RT was a blessing, there was a change in the book in timing and we had to call everyone to book back in 2 hours earlier than what was told.

The rest of the week was just shooting training. The range was over, I believe I had passed, but not as a marksman. It was already a gone case for the day shoot. Other than the range, they made us cut our hair again and I had had my last 4km road march. The coming road march would be a 6km road march. I cannot really say that I am looking forward for it.

Booking in tomorrow (Sunday) at 0615hrs. It is ridiculously early if you ask me. However so, they said it was necessary since there will be another range for platoon 3.

So what’s it gonna be? Well, there will be SOC. I am more than a little apprehensive about it. Then on the 15th there will be a IPPT test. Once again, I am going to fail since I cannot pull nor jump. I believe I will be suffering under all the night training for this.

I’ll make this a short one since I have to turn in early. Till then, wish me luck.

The long weekend

It has been the longest 2 days of in camp. Perhaps its because of the long weekend hence in contrast the 2 days seems unbearable.

There is really nothing much, other than the usual 5BX with run, the FBO 4km road march the 2.4 km run and the 2 Strength Training, the days passes rather slowly with all the stand by bed and that sort of harassment.

On the night before booking out, there was good news and there were bad. The good news was that I passed my 2.4 run. On the dot, one second more and I would had failed. I was very happy. At the same time, they said that there would be remedial training (RT) on Sunday afternoon for those frequently absent. I was not one of them. Hence I volunteered for guard duty (together with my buddy), which is from Sunday morning till Monday morning. It would be good to do it now than later to be arrowed.

However, the next day they came out with a new list of people who are to report for RT. I was, one of them. Remember I fall out for the AGR run and the ST training because of the flu, well, for those who had skip 2 or more lessons are to attend RT. Fuck!

So I have to report back at 1315 while the others only report at 2100 today. I feel sad. Needless to say, it does not really make a hell lot of differences since I can say I am well rested and the flu is getting better.

The weekend was pretty good, though I spent much of the time at home, resting; I bought a PSP and caught a movie ‘I am Legend’. I don’t really like it.

The PSP was a pretty good deal. I was never in a hurry in getting it as I had promised myself I will only get it after being posted out of the island. Eitherhow, it’s a sooner or later thing, and since the whole bunk had a fever over it, I might as well.

So this is it, I’m going back later for a full week of fun and joy in the island. I am entering full swing into BMT and the harassment level is also increasing. It is scary to notices that it had been 4 weeks already. The PTP is over and it will be all over in say… 9 weeks or less.

The past 4 weeks passes with a lot of booking out which we look so much forward to. This book in would only be the usual weekends. I hope it will be good and a manageable week. The next long weekend would be the Chinese new year weekend.

Perhaps I should go back to bed and catch another half and hour of sleep or something. Eitherhow, see you next weekend.