My Defining Moment in BMT
•
Sunday, September 25, 2011
• 3:35 PM
It has been more than 55 days since I enlisted into the Army and started to train as a soldier.
It was an experience that I had never gone through in my life. Back then, for the past 20 years or so, I live a carefree life, taking for granted what I have every day, and thinking that all these will not be taken away. I slept at whatever time I please and I come home and leave my house whenever I want to, and even though my Mum cooks occasionally, I would always prefer eating out and skipping dinner at home.
Fast forward to 55 days ago, I landed on an unfamiliar ground in an offshore island called Tekong alongside many unknown faces, many whom I was unaware will become close brothers whom would encourage me along the many adversities we would face in the coming months. The first week of BMT started off as a really dull and gloomy week for me, we were living in groups of 16 in a bunk and many of us started the week missing home, living with whatever bare provisions the Army have to offer. It was a relatively new experience and we were forced to adapt fast to the fact that we have started to train as soldiers and are no longer the civilians we used to be.
Finally my defining moment came when I was having my SOC and during my field camp. Unlike many of my peers who are agile and nimble when it comes to the SOC, I was very much the opposite, I was acrophobic since I was young and I have an unfounded fear of heights. And as expected, I failed to get across the APEX ladder and balancing beam despite countless attempts to do so. Each time I went to the top of the APEX ladder, my legs shiver uncontrollably from the fear of falling and it reached till a point I felt like giving up. It was only during one such failed attempt that Captain Evwin happened to supervise our training on the top of the APEX ladder that I managed to cross over it with his help. With that successful completion of crossing over the APEX ladder that time, I was made more confident of heights and crossed over more easily the next time around.
Another defining moment came when we were having our field camp, the 4 days 3 nights of being outfield was a mentally torturing experience, being made to bathe with powder every day and being caked in the face with camo cream all day, it came to a part that I question myself if I am able to endure the next few days missing my family and not having the luxuries of communicating to the outside world. On the third day, I received a letter from my girlfriend of 2 years; at the end of the letter it wrote “Remember! Do not be despaired, lift your chin, smile and think positively.” It was just a very simple sentence, but it was one that brought tears to my eyes because it was something that I have forgotten in all the negativity that have overcame me.
It was then that I realised I myself had been the adversity that I have to overcome in BMT, it wasn’t the trainings that were tough and that I have failed to overcome the APEX ladder because I was afraid, because I was certain I can’t overcome my fear of heights. It became apparent to me that if I steel myself mentally to overcome all hardships that were to follow, I will be able to make it through all of them.
BMT have made me a stronger person as a result, and it had been an elevating experience to know more about myself that I have ever known in the past 20 years of my life.
It's been more than a month since I've last log in in to my account and wrote an entry here. And there is only just 2 more weeks before I POP from BMTC. As much as I would love to get out of Tekong, I will also reminisce the memories all of us had together in the past 2 months.
AGR, BCCT, SOC, ST, IPPT, HG, and the many more acronyms that we started out being unfamiliar with, that now every mention will bring a sigh or two from us. We have started out as boys who were untrained and unfamiliar with the path we are venturing into, and came out as trained soldiers a mere 2 months later. BMT journey has indeed been a short one as my friends have said, and a meaningful one as well. We went through an accelerated learning process, learning how to differentiate different characters that we work with daily, going through the same regimentation so rountinely that everything now is just all in a day's work for us.
This week had been a really fast week for me, went through the COMPASS test for the Air Force Vocations that I have expressed interest in, (I didn't sign any contracts) had a tour of the Army Museum at Discovery Centre on Friday and booked out right after that, yesterday at around 5pm. The days before these two events were pretty uneventful and pretty much the rountine stuff like rehearsing for our POP on the 8th as well as going through the BCCT rifle combat drills. Friday was SOC test and well, I failed it as expected.
2 MORE WEEKS TO POP AND WE ARE SO HAPPY AH, WE ARE FROM, WE ARE FROM, PEGASUS COMPANY AH!
Good evening my readers who have been avidly reading my blog, be it juniors, relatives or just some random friends whom I haven't met or talked to in quite awhile. Just to update you guys, I have been doing fine in Tekong, the food is still pretty much alright and I have gotten used to the life inside over the 18 days of confinement. At the start it felt dreadfully long, but the friendship that had been made over the past few weeks kept all of us inside going on, even though most of us missed the outside world and crave for food that we have not yet tasted for quite some time.
I had one of my best holidays after graduation for at least a couple of months, the colleagues whom I got acquainted with in Robinsons, past trainings with SAFRA Dragonboat, the trip to Taiwan(which I have regretfully not uploaded all the photos, the 1000s of them) where I first rode a bike on the busy streets of a foreign country and the wonderful memories created with my lovely girlfriend. Monday will be the day when I will finally enlist in the Army at 12.45. I don't really know what awaits me at the other side of sunny Tekong Island, but I hope that these 9 weeks in BMT would be one that would create memories I would not forget in my entire life as my friends have said.
It has been more than 55 days since I enlisted into the Army and started to train as a soldier.
It was an experience that I had never gone through in my life. Back then, for the past 20 years or so, I live a carefree life, taking for granted what I have every day, and thinking that all these will not be taken away. I slept at whatever time I please and I come home and leave my house whenever I want to, and even though my Mum cooks occasionally, I would always prefer eating out and skipping dinner at home.
Fast forward to 55 days ago, I landed on an unfamiliar ground in an offshore island called Tekong alongside many unknown faces, many whom I was unaware will become close brothers whom would encourage me along the many adversities we would face in the coming months. The first week of BMT started off as a really dull and gloomy week for me, we were living in groups of 16 in a bunk and many of us started the week missing home, living with whatever bare provisions the Army have to offer. It was a relatively new experience and we were forced to adapt fast to the fact that we have started to train as soldiers and are no longer the civilians we used to be.
Finally my defining moment came when I was having my SOC and during my field camp. Unlike many of my peers who are agile and nimble when it comes to the SOC, I was very much the opposite, I was acrophobic since I was young and I have an unfounded fear of heights. And as expected, I failed to get across the APEX ladder and balancing beam despite countless attempts to do so. Each time I went to the top of the APEX ladder, my legs shiver uncontrollably from the fear of falling and it reached till a point I felt like giving up. It was only during one such failed attempt that Captain Evwin happened to supervise our training on the top of the APEX ladder that I managed to cross over it with his help. With that successful completion of crossing over the APEX ladder that time, I was made more confident of heights and crossed over more easily the next time around.
Another defining moment came when we were having our field camp, the 4 days 3 nights of being outfield was a mentally torturing experience, being made to bathe with powder every day and being caked in the face with camo cream all day, it came to a part that I question myself if I am able to endure the next few days missing my family and not having the luxuries of communicating to the outside world. On the third day, I received a letter from my girlfriend of 2 years; at the end of the letter it wrote “Remember! Do not be despaired, lift your chin, smile and think positively.” It was just a very simple sentence, but it was one that brought tears to my eyes because it was something that I have forgotten in all the negativity that have overcame me.
It was then that I realised I myself had been the adversity that I have to overcome in BMT, it wasn’t the trainings that were tough and that I have failed to overcome the APEX ladder because I was afraid, because I was certain I can’t overcome my fear of heights. It became apparent to me that if I steel myself mentally to overcome all hardships that were to follow, I will be able to make it through all of them.
BMT have made me a stronger person as a result, and it had been an elevating experience to know more about myself that I have ever known in the past 20 years of my life.
Labels: army, bmt, chong yan, chongyan, defining, essay, moment, national service, ns, recruit, saf
2 weeks more to POP. • Saturday, September 24, 2011 • 9:42 PMIt's been more than a month since I've last log in in to my account and wrote an entry here. And there is only just 2 more weeks before I POP from BMTC. As much as I would love to get out of Tekong, I will also reminisce the memories all of us had together in the past 2 months.
AGR, BCCT, SOC, ST, IPPT, HG, and the many more acronyms that we started out being unfamiliar with, that now every mention will bring a sigh or two from us. We have started out as boys who were untrained and unfamiliar with the path we are venturing into, and came out as trained soldiers a mere 2 months later. BMT journey has indeed been a short one as my friends have said, and a meaningful one as well. We went through an accelerated learning process, learning how to differentiate different characters that we work with daily, going through the same regimentation so rountinely that everything now is just all in a day's work for us.
This week had been a really fast week for me, went through the COMPASS test for the Air Force Vocations that I have expressed interest in, (I didn't sign any contracts) had a tour of the Army Museum at Discovery Centre on Friday and booked out right after that, yesterday at around 5pm. The days before these two events were pretty uneventful and pretty much the rountine stuff like rehearsing for our POP on the 8th as well as going through the BCCT rifle combat drills. Friday was SOC test and well, I failed it as expected.
2 MORE WEEKS TO POP AND WE ARE SO HAPPY AH, WE ARE FROM, WE ARE FROM, PEGASUS COMPANY AH!
Labels: army, chong yan, chongyan, graduation, recruit, singapore, training
18 days on an island. • Sunday, August 21, 2011 • 12:00 AM
The funny thing about life on Tekong is that while all the materialistic wants were devoid of during the past weeks(we didn't want to buy any ipad, iphones), we crave for simple things like chocolates, ice-creams and sweets during our days there. Such desires were fulfilled during our one and only canteen break during National Day where many of us purchased simple things like biscuits, soft drinks and other snacks that you will simply walk past without a second glance in the super-mart. Life inside is also very regimental and very routine, simple things like drinking water, going up a pull-up bar follows a very procedural way of asking for permission or reciting the core values of SAF. Such routines had also carved out a place inside of us, and didn't take much time to get used to. But in any way, I am adapting very well still and I will be booking in again tomorrow at 1749hrs. Will be back in a week's time.
Till then.
Labels: army, bmt, camp, chong yan, chongyan, life, military, recruit, singapore, tekong, training
Enlistment. • Wednesday, July 27, 2011 • 10:54 PMI had one of my best holidays after graduation for at least a couple of months, the colleagues whom I got acquainted with in Robinsons, past trainings with SAFRA Dragonboat, the trip to Taiwan(which I have regretfully not uploaded all the photos, the 1000s of them) where I first rode a bike on the busy streets of a foreign country and the wonderful memories created with my lovely girlfriend. Monday will be the day when I will finally enlist in the Army at 12.45. I don't really know what awaits me at the other side of sunny Tekong Island, but I hope that these 9 weeks in BMT would be one that would create memories I would not forget in my entire life as my friends have said.
Made the necessary purchasing of items today, left with just a couple of items such as an alarm clock, a pair of new goggles and a couple of clothes hanger to bring over to my new living space. As much as I dread the coming of Monday, I had a couple of reasons to rejoice, my dragonboat teammate, Jin Hwee will be enlisting the same time and date with me; whereas a few of my friends are currently serving in Tekong as sergeants or officers. This probably would be my last entry here before my first bookout 2 weeks later, so for those of you who are carrying your life as usual in the mainland, do take care of yourself. Especially Crystal and the rest of my family.
See you guys again in another few weeks time, I will be safe!
Labels: army, chong yan, chongyan, enlistment, singapore
