Exactly 9 more days until my POP, and i must admit that BMT has gone by surprisingly fast. I mean, it seems like only 1 week ago that i was a blur recruit who couldn't tell the difference between a sergeant and a lieutenant. Now here i am, hanging out with my friends whom i've come to know as my buddies as we laugh at the strange things our commanders do.

 

Not much to really tell, since BMT is coming to an end. The only thing left on the schedule is our SOC (Standard Obstacle Course) and rehearsal for our POP, which i heard that it would be on a frequent basis. So much so that we would be sick of rehearsing. But what scares me is the fact that one of the things we have to do is stand under the very hot sun for about 3 hours while barely moving a muscle. *gulp*

 

Anyways, pushing that scary thought aside, there was something memorable to share. People who want to be commanders were to report to the Medical Centre for a check-up. So a few of us left and made our way over. After a few hours, Timothy Tay and I had just returned from a medical check-up and had our lunch with a few others. When we finished, we made our way back and realised that the rest of our platoon mates were in the gym working out (by order of our sergeant), and we were to do likewise. But having just ate, Tay and I subtlely decided to sneak out of the gym and we silently went up to our bunks and slept!!! Of course, we were afraid that the sergeant might come up to find us on our beds, so we decided to sleep under our beds so as to be safe from detection! All in all, we had a nice 2 hour nap before we again subtlely joined up with our platoon. Although my friends knew that we were gone, only the sergeant had no idea what had just happened!

Muahahaha! I've learnt how to fight with my M16 rifle in close combat. And to finish my basic close combat training, i was taught how to kill (or badly injure) someone with my rifle. The details i would keep to myself to remain more mysterious. XD

 

Other than that, my company had just completed our 16km route march. My platoon left with 39 recruits (the rest couldn't join due to sickness) and came back with 39 recruits! When we came back, we were told that we also broke the record for speed; coming back to camp earlier than expected! Talk about fight spirit!

 

On a serious note, my friend asked me "If singapore was attacked when you are in australia, would you come back to fight?". His questioned made me think a lot. I answered "depends..." but i really have no idea what i would do... Would i come back to fight? for what? my family? They'd be in australia. And i reckon most of my relatives would run... If i say yes, i will come back to defend, then for what reason?

 

......

 

anyways, that's just a little peek into my mind.

I'll end my short blog entry with some male rules that girls should know!

 

Here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules!


Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Men ARE not mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports.
It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport.
And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are PERFECTLY Acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem ONLY if you want help solving it.
That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a PROBLEM.
See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, DON'T Expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the OTHER ONE.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.
Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color! Pumpkin is also a fruit.
We have NO idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it WILL be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear Is fine... REALLY.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape.
ROUND IS a shape!

Coz that would mean my birthday is near!

 

.....

 

ok, just ignore that part...

 

 

Hello, wait wait wait! lemme guess, you are gonna ask me "how's army life"?

It seems that everyone i chat to is asking me that, so i might as well answer it on my blog. Army is outstanding, although i'm starting to get feelings of homesickness and feelings of why-am-i-here-when-i-should-be-in-melbourne-studying-in-uni-and-picking-up-that-cute-girl-in-my-class.

But hey, i shouldn't be complaining since i've made quite a lot of good friends here and experienced a lot of things which i would never have experienced if i was in melbourne, like chasing the green-red centipede of out my tent before it could bite me.

 

I will graduate from BMT on the 6th of June, after that, i'll probably have about 1 week off before i get posted to somewhere else. [Hopefully to OCS (Officer Command School) where i will be trained to be a lieutenant.] I wish that i can fly back to melbourne and visit all you guys during that 1 week off... *sighs deeply and looks off into space*

 

Anyways, my SIT test was quite interesting and fun in a way. It started on Sunday where my company had a 12km route march. After i had marched 8km, i'd needed a lot of help and will power from God to complete the 4km left. I almost fell out of it, but thanks to the encouragement and support of my friends, i completed it.

During the SIT test, we were assigned into random groups and we were all assigned roles for the test such as navigator, mine detector, light anti-tank gunner, medic, signaller, claymore and demolition team. I was assigned to be a medic with another guy, so we both took turns carrying a stretcher around (which was quite annoying if you ask me). You might think that it is a good role; that medics can't be shot due to the Genova Convention and other crap like that. But here in singapore, medics also carry guns and so are valid targets for the enemy. (please, as if other medics are immune to artillery strikes and such...)

 

The next day (Monday) is the start of the missions. I was in November Detail with 13 other people. The missions were like this:

 

There are two platforms, and we are on one already. Using a few wooden poles given to us and the ropes that we have, we were to construct a "bridge" and get everyone across without falling down between the platforms.

 

This is an example of a typical mission. However, there were a few interesting missions that varied from the rest. Like my first one which was to plant "explosives" (wooden blocks) underneath an enemy-occupied bridge within the given time limit. Another mission that i remember quite well was the crossing of cliffs (two platforms about 2 stories high). The catch was that we had to "climb" onto the two-story cliff using only the poles and ropes that we have. My detail wanted to create an A shaped ladder (because we only had 3 long poles

 in this mission) with ropes as ladder steps, but i thought it was quite dangerous seeing that the ropes weren't tied very tightly. With only 15 minutes left and the ladder not nearing completion, i suggested a very daring and slightly dangerous way to get up onto the "cliff".

"Form a human pyramid and throw me up." I said.

Ok, i was wrong. It was very dangerous. But it worked!!!

 

On Wednesday, i threw a live grenade. My first and only grenade that i would get to throw in my whole national service. It was cool in a way, especially when the air around me shook when it went off. What was cooler was a C4 going off! One person's grenade didn't go off because he didn't throw it high enough (you need to do that for the fuse to go off, don't ask me how) so they had to call in a demolition expert to use a C4 explosive to destroy it. Oh man! The walls around me shook and the protective roof above my head rumbled when it exploded! Anyways, back to the grenade, did you see those movies where the buff army dude pulls the grenade pin out with his teeth and then throws it? That is a truckload of crap. When i twisted and pulled the pin out, my finger lost its blood circulation and felt numb for 10 minutes because it was so tight. But i was happy with the end result when my grenade landed within the target circle after i yelled "GRENADE!!!" and threw it.

 

On a small note, i learnt how to deal with a knife robber in my close combat training and a few grappling holds now. Bryan, you'd better watch out...

haha, well, as you guys already know, i'm back. But i don't have time today to post up what's new. I'll do it tomorrow, i promise.

 

Right now, i just want to post up this funny quiz that i did recently.

 

 

You've got what it takes, you're smart 'n' sexy!

So another week goes by, and i just realised that  i have exactly one more month until my P.O.P. (Passing Out Parade) where i will be promoted from a stupid recruit to a lowly private.

 

So what's new in my life? Well, i've learnt how to salute in a formal fashion with my rifle (Usually used to honour the president or some big shots) and i'm beginning to understand the malay commands better now. So much so that i can even say them! whao!

 

well, i just booked out yesterday night and was told to book in tonight at 8:25pm. So overall, i only get 24 hours to rest after the torture my company had to endure by the sergeants. The reason being is my SIT test (situation test) on this coming sunday, monday and tuesday, where we will be going into the jungle again. Only this time, i will be tested on my ability to lead and how good am i as a leader. So they are purposely stressing us out by training us with little rest time and then send us out to the field. If you can endure all these crap and still have the mindset, discipline and sanity to lead a group properly, then you are a pretty good leader. From what i am told, i wasn't actually supposed to book out today, but because today is Polling Day (elections), we were allowed to book out for this happy 24 hours.

 

So this whole week has been pretty much just physical training and other then a few interesting things that happened, the rest aren't worth mentioning.

 

One cool thing that happened was on wednesday. After enduring tuesday's tough training, my legs were pretty sore and my joints were in pain everytime i bent down. So, wednesday was our SOC training, where i had to climb a rope using my legs, swing over a "gate", climb Jacob's ladder (go and google it) and jump off a high platform! I was very worried about hurting my legs more, especially if i sprain my ankles. If that happens, then i wouldn't be able to participate in my SIT test and i have to redo it with another company! So i do what i always do, I prayed hard! And praise the Lord, when i went through it all, i felt no pain! It was only when it was all finished and i bent over to pick up my bag that it came to me again! lol...

 

Another thing interesting to blog about is that we were trained in close combat fighting on thursday and friday. I've learnt a few knee jabs, elbow strikes, kicks and kicking combos. My next lesson would be about punching combos, but that would be blogged about later. ;)

 

Oh yeah, i've received and watched the dvd that you youths sent to me. Thanks a lot, it was very touching and nice to watch. And as you can see, i've accepted Bryan's challenge. Hope to hear from you guys so more.

 

Have fun whilst i'm pumping.