POP loh! (part 2)

ok,我气消了, i will now briefly talk about my 3 months in BMTC in Tekong since i can't really talk much about my training here for security reasons. I was enlisted on 15th sept 2008 and POP on 10th dec 2008, so i have spent 3 months in Tekong. during the 1st 4 weeks in tekong, it was my PTP (physical traing phase) period,since i have failed my NAPFA tests in SP last yr so have to come in earlier to train mi for the upcoming IPPT (individual physical proficiency test). Wah, let mi tell u, the 1st 2 weeks in tekong was really siong as i'm not used to the environment here and secondly my muscles was very painful during these period as all the CPT1 and CPT2 exercises made us so shag as i'm not really trained previously. We have quite a lot of physical exercises everyday during the 1st 2 weeks adjustment period (or rather say confinement period,since we can't book out on 1st weekend)..haha...

then later on, we moved on to BMT phase where all the real combat training will commence. we realise that our physical training program have reduced quite a lot and we focused mainly on combat skills such as Technical handling of SAR21 weapon , 6 days field camp, hand grenade (HG) throwing, live firing range, BCCT, SOC and lastly the 3 days Sitest where all the recruits will be tested on their potential to be future commanders in SAF. Our BMT is ended with a finale 24km route march in P. Tekong.

Well, during the 3 months in Tekong, life is definitely not as easy as before we are enlisted when we are living in comfort of sheltered homes. there's certainly regimentation and discipline when u serve NS,be it in SAF, police, or SCDF. Certain things like shaving our head to "botak" (skinhead), wake up (reveille) early in the morning, 'kiwi' army boots, fold smart-4 uniforms, water parade, 5BX in the morning, marching from place to place,sing army songs,watever..etc. has became part of our army life. i must say say that i really cant get used to the life there during the 1st 2 weeks there as to mi, it is really a big transition from a civilian to a soldier ( pink NRIC ----> green 11B)...haiz....=(

So on my first day in Tekong, i realised that i get into Zulu Company, located in 3km from BMTC HQ...sian,must take tonner to go there...then i get to know our Company sergeant major (CSM), SSG Bruce Lee SM. Our OC (officer commanding) is CPT Lim Zhifeng ( a very nice officer i have ever seen). Then my platoon sergeant (PS) is 2SG Clifford Au Yong (who ORD on 11th nov 2008),cnow replaced by 3SG Sahlan. My section commander is 3SG Fauzi. The other section commanders are 3SG Qai and 3SG Yin Chi,my fav commanders among 4 of them. lastly i got to know my platoon commander (PC), 2LT Hatta who later on promoted to Coy 2IC, so the Platoon 4 PC is replaced by 2LT Greg Tan,the most garung pc i have ever seen....

Of all the commanders i have mentioned, my OC, CPT Lim, has gave mi the deepest impression. Not because of his rank, but because of his pleasant personality. In my impression of the officers, they are supposed to be very fierce and domineering and love to exercise their authority. but CPT Lim was different. the first time i talked to him was when we were having 3km route march. I was holding on to the coy flag for some time then it was that time CPT Lim bagan to know and recognise mi. i also remembered how he encouraged mi to overcome my fear of clearing the Jacob's ladder,one of the SOC obstacles. Anyway, Sir Lim was really a nice person as he really cared for our personal well-being and he has tried his best to make sure our days in bmtc will be memorable. Thank u, sir!

still, i thanked all commanders who have put in their 100% effort in training me to be a soldier. they are :

3SG Fauzi (my sec com) - thank u for 'fucking' mi until i learnt how to handle SAR21. and thank u for sharing so many things abt mi with ur good friend,3SG Fazly,haha..

3SG Qai- thank u for training mi to be more fit by "knocking me down" on the last day of field camp

3SG Sahlan - thank u for being understanding,being my counsellor and waking mi up to my sense when i did something wrong or am still very "blur". i have really learnt a lot from u, platoon sergeant!

3SG Yin Chi- thank u for walking the 16km re-route march with mi and George, and also singing with us the oldies songs during the re-route march. u are the best sergeant i have ever seen b4!

2LT Hatta- thank u for being so concerned about my leg injuries during Sitest. u are such a good safety officer. thank u so much for ur words of encouragement when u are still my pc!

2LT Greg Tan- thank u for scolding mi so harshly during field camp and charging mi with one weekend confinement that i really woke up to my sense and began to learnt my lessons with sincerity.

Thank u, all commanders in Zulu Platoon 4! i will not forget u guys for teaching mi a lot of valuable things that i cannot learn outside army. I am lucky and proud to be in Zulu Coy! Zulu Rox!