Farewell 2009 and unhappy start to 2010
With my conscription into the army early in the year on January 7, its suffice to say most of my experiences are in that area. But of course, in a renewed perspective. I have carefully checked this post to ensure no "operational details" are revealed. One Alex Tan was put into DB for 5 days for posting about NS deaths.
Come to think of it, my BMT memories are starting to fade. Probably due to age lah. Since its so long now, let me clarify one thing. Orion company had a whitehorse then, but he was treated equally. My company's standard was also not much difference compared to the rest. Up till now, I dunno why people still have the wrong impression about the January batch Orion company. Otherwise, it was the most physically intensive period so far. SOC every other day. Field camp was a killer. Endless IPPT and SOC tests wore me out. Fortunately, I managed to scrap through to POP safely.
A Levels results next. Not resounding grades. I used to joke that my results slip had only As and Bs and people will like "woah". Yah, all at the wrong places. Although with those grades, I could still get into the course I desired. It filled me with a slight tinge of regret in the choice of my subject combination. If I could do it all over again, I would have swapped Chemistry for Computing and studied Econs at H2 level. Studying for Chemistry sucked up alot of my time. Memorising those reagents and conditions, observations etc was hell. Too late now. Besides, it not good to attach an "if" to such scenarios. Its a chapter of my life I considered long closed.
Post-BMT, I was slightly disappointed at not being posted to SISPEC. Being a Signal operator means my pay scale would be that of a rifleman. It lasted only a few days. I got over with it. After all, I have not the least bit intention to sign on, why bother so much. 2 months of relax life. No SOC, no IPPT, just learning from computers and instructors. Some even spread wicked ideas of failing so one can get to recourse and stay longer.
The skies were only clear for a moment before the next downpour which lasts till today. 3 Signal Battalion, the most "up" Signal unit in SAF will by my unit till ORD. With many years of best Signal and Combat Support unit awards to its name, one can roughly guess what type of training I will undergo. Famed for long and tough UIPs, it was the most dreaded posting, but I got it anyway. I was depressed for the first few weeks. Saikang was and still is endless. Guess what? My UIP has still not yet ended.
I was involved in NDP in streaming images from the heartlands to the screens at Marina platform. Backbreaking work that lasted about a month. It was all worth it in the end when I could get tickets for my family and I to watch the rehearsals.
Driving course next. A break from 3Sig life. Depending on how one sees it, the SAF driving school can be described as follows, a highly accelerated high-tech programme, strictest instructors, the lowest first-time passing rates and one more thing. The drivers who graduate from it are the safest one can be trained in Singapore. The unofficial 4th driving school in Singapore certainly has a reputation to speak of. Its also the only place where men under 21 are trained to drive class 4 vehicles. I'm glad to be part of it. To know more, you can check out this link.
So back to my unit life now. Its slack now since its the clearing leave period. Come next year. more awaits me. So whats up with that title of mine about 2010? I have guard duty!!! Yes, a frigging guard duty on the first day of 2010. What an unhappy beginning to a new year that it deserves a mention right at the beginning in the title of this post.
Here are my top 2 resolutions for the new year:
1. ORD safely with no extras or traffic accidents. The latter which may make me liable for DB.
2. Get my civilian class 3 license. Since I drive very little, I can't get to convert my military license to a civilian one. So I'm taking lessons now from a private instructor. Basic theory out of the way, advance theory next.
I have other resolutions, but they are personal ones better kept private. Till 2010 then!
Labels: milestones
Unfair!
To put things in perspective, most of those in that batch have yet to enlist in the army when my batch entered this unit. Their UIP lasted for about a month, mine is more than 6. And yet they received they privileges faster than mine. At this rate, I'm going to be Corporal UIP. I didn't imagine this was possible. I knew 3 Signals was notorious for long UIPs before I was posted in, but at up to 1/3 of my unit life????
Tsk tsk, dunno what more to say sia... Suck my thumb and fingers until swollen liao, must suck my toes next.
I am old....
Must march everywhere I go, no canteen breaks, no nights out, bookout timings subject to certain "uncertainty", shiong stand-by-beds, endless saikang and guard duties just to name a few.
Some kind of battalion culture the people say, everyone in UIP wants to get out. Once you get out, you want the next batch to suffer or its "unfair" so some say. Its like NS, how would you feel if its abolished right after you ORD?
Speaking of guard duties, I think thats one of the things army is very efficient in doing. I moved to another part of the battalion recently. I thought I could start afresh. Who knows on the day I move house, I was informed that I am slapped with regimental guard duty the next day. Courtesy to an email, specially for me, sent by my previous commanders to inform my new commanders about my duties.
As an NSF man, lan lan suck thumb and do lor... Life is unfair. I'm LCP already, LCP UIP personnel, thats 3 Signal Batallion for you.
One more year to ORD!
Despite this, I'm still undergoing part of my vocational training. Yes, almost one year on, I'm still not fully trained! And I'm just a man. The fourth course (after BMT, Signals and driving) I'm undergoing now is basic vehicle maintenance and repair. Most of my friends who enlisted in April and posted as a man have already finished all their training. And here I am, still on course. Unfortunately, I have no skills pay. Sianzz...
Otherwise, I like my vocation. It isn't as physically demanding as others and yet I get to learn lots of stuff that can be applied outside. The key is, it isn't boring. No offence to some, but I think guarding a military camp for 1-1/2 years will drive me nuts. Chionging every week with camo and SBO attire is also too much for me to bear.
ORD! You inch closer every passing day...
8 Nov 09, 22:08
wjc: haha.. ya i agree .. i rather be outside peniless than having tat "stable income"
10 Nov 09, 23:31
andy: wjc u can say that now cos ure not penniless but wait till u really are let's see if you'll eat ur words. and to you, ppl cant choose their vocations so.. ure just comforting yourself just cos u didn
10 Nov 09, 23:31
andy: even manage to get into sispec. tsk tsk
12 Nov 09, 13:08
wjc: erm...I said no to command sch ...And i think u got me wrong.. wat i meant was i rather stay in sch to study ... which in effect means that u dun earn anything ..
15 Nov 09, 10:37
Chwee: true indeed, but the grass always look greener on the other side, be careful what u wish for, uni might not be that big a stress reliever as compared to army haha
15 Nov 09, 21:45
kwek: wa. one more year to ORD sia. I dun even know how long more till that sacred day.
The income we get as NSFs is measly for man. Not that we can afford to go without it. The pay we get right now although higher than 30-40 years ago is actually lower in real terms. Inflation has sped ahead faster than NSF's pay has risen. In this case, I would prefer to work outside and get more pay. Even if the pay is the same, I dun mind since the freedom is there and thats the key.
To wjc, I think Andy's statement on SISPEC is meant for me. Its precisely we can't choose our vocations, thats why I phrased my words in that manner. In summary:I feel fortunate to be a vehicular signal operator. As for comforting myself, laughs! That time has long gone and past since I'm from the January batch.
I wrote that way in the previous post because I met a minority number of commanders who seem to think they deserve that rank and that their men are inferior for not entering command school. They throw their newly-acquired powers around as if the men owned them a living. Even though we are way more experienced then them in certain areas.
Agree with Chwee on that one. Heard from many uni friends that the stress is actually on par with JC with the high influx of eager foreigners. My dad also mentioned that he viewed his NSF and reservist period as a break from his work and studies. Just follow or give simple orders. Dunnid to think so much compared to civilian life.
Dun worry lah kwek, its fair what. When I was slogging in BMT, you were out in the civilian world taking a long deserved break after A Levels. I will get mine, just later... Then I will flash all of you April guys my pink IC while all of you are still in green! Wahaha!
By 
yeokm1, at November 15, 2009 10:15 PM
LCP finally
Attaining an LCP rank provides an increment of a measly $20 into my slave-grade allowance. The extra pay is insignificant, but the feeling is not. Having nothing on my amulet since I enlisted, the association with mere recruits by some is anger-provoking. Of course, a higher rank entails a slightly higher responsibility. In my driving course, the small number of LCPs were arrowed to be ICs.
For those (soon to be) specialists and officers, I know this rank means nothing to you. No matter what rank he is, a man is always subordinate to you. Don't be too smug about it as some people I know do, your subordinate may not be so lacking in leadership as the BMT posting suggests.Up next would be Corporal. Should be getting within the next few months if all goes well. Pay wise? Extra $20-50 I guess.
Labels: NS
2 Nov 09, 17:38
killerzephyr: Congratulations! Gong Xi! Omedetou Gozaimasu! :D
4 Nov 09, 16:39
jAson: woah! y so late! haha. i getting mine this mth le =) better late than neva thogh..lol
4 Nov 09, 21:02
Cheryl: HAHAHAHAHA "Attaining an LCP rank provides an increment of a measly $20 into my slave-grade allowance" HAHAHAHA. You sound sooo funny...! haiya just be thankful that you have a stable income man
4 Nov 09, 21:02
Cheryl: I have ZERO!
5 Nov 09, 21:49
wjc: wow!! tats really late... some of us already got ours ...
I appreciate the congratulations. I should have been promoted 3 months ago since LCP is automatic.
But my unit insisted on presenting us our rank before we can wear. Just before we could recieve it, I went for the two month driving course which delayed it. In the end, we were told to just buy ourselves. Lame right? Not that I mind since my pay slip has already reflected the rise months ago.
As to stable income, I prefer to be studying uni right now. The freedom is there too. Staying in army camps from Sunday to Friday and not even including exercises and occasional guard duty on weekends is no joke. Easy for outsiders especially girls to say, not easy on the guys to endure.
By yeokm1, at November 8, 2009 12:35 PM
Did You Know 4.0?
4:46
Enjoy! And get a renewed perspective of the modern technologically-advanced world we live in.
P/s: Singapore is featured in this video too.
Labels: Science and technology
Finally NO more driving
After nearly 2 months in this driving course, I'm now a qualified driver with a catch, only military vehicles. Train so much more than civilian schools, drive on lousiest possible vehicles and technically still cannot drive my dad's car. What a dead irony...
Labels: NS
No more "L" plate!
A major load of my shoulders. I was lucky to pass the "traffic police" (TP) test under the odds of a 1/3 passing rate on the first day. Made slightly more challenging (some say much easier) by the sudden change in test location.
Unfortunately, the remaining 2/3 had to do several remedial lessons to qualify for the second TP. I wish them all the best. Being the first 9 of 60 in my group to pass, I get the much needed break till next for my islandwide familiarisation. A long weekend at last!
Of course, the most important of all. I have to thank my instructor Mr Nathan who has taught me well for this entire course. I salute you "Mr President", for you teaching!
I hope my course ends quickly...
In just 6 weeks, I have drove so much. Averaging almost 2 hours each day, tons of theory lessons, military-specific training and not to mention cross-country training which I just did yesterday. It was no doubt very tiring throughout the course compounded by lack of sleep. Nevertheless, I have been to areas where no civilian vehicles can negotiate, trained on vehicles older than myself and having to take the driver's pledge almost everyday. This former driver of the SAF provides an excellent account.
All will be well once I pass. I just have a few more training exercises and it will end. If I fail, more remedial training awaits me. I just had a chance to recce the test route. It was sooo narrow. Chances of passing? Grrrr.....
Hi there,
Thanks very much for your interesting blog. It's always nice to see how people on the other side of the globe live, how they share the same joys and sorrows, what they do in their free time, etc.
I actually have a question about your blog. Would you mind helping us with a linguistic research project? We're compiling data from various Singaporean weblogs. All it requires is checking a few boxes. If you want to take part and/or have more questions, drop me a note ( hack2301@uni-trier.de RE: Question ) so that I can then send you the 'official' project eMail. We'd really appreciate your help.
Thanks very much in advance!
Best regards,
- Fran
PS: Good luck! Hope you'll pass :)
By graveyard.cat, at October 7, 2009 10:16 PM
2 months to learn, a lifetime to master
I have been lucky so far, most of the tests I have cleared either on the first or second try. Its common for driver trainees among the lower rungs of the academic ladder to retake the tests as many as 10 times and still not yet pass. From the training and tests we received, its easy to say we have more training then the civilian driving schools. Class 3 holders in my course can attest to this.
Despite this, our license can only be converted to civilian licenses only after clocking up thousands of kilometers. I don't understand why some look down at this. It does mean an SAF license is anywhere inferior to a civilian one. Driving is a learning experience that continues to accumulate day after day as we get on the road. Even if one does not attain the required mileage, the experience is there. Next time I get my civilian one, its sure much easier for me to pass.
And btw, its September 21 today. In one more day's time, its my first year anniversary of my relationship with Ying Yi. Three cheers for us! Its been a long time.
