Friday, May 30, 2008
Back from 2 weeks confinement, never had that since BMT, which is, so long ago.
These two weeks are quite slack actually, apart from the fact that we had to run 6km and 7km on two consecutive days and SOC sometime in the same week, the others were mostly lectures and techinical handling plus live firing. We had 3 nights out in 2 weeks, imagine how much time we actually had. Then again, we will only get such privileges at this point of time. When the subsequent weeks come, I will only dread the weekdays. Just take one of the weeks for example, 10km run on the first day, 32km march from second day to third day, SOC on both fourth and fifth day. Finished, good game.
I don't know if it is the fact that we are in ASLC, most people seem to be really unmotivated everyday. ASLC is tough, indeed, but since we are here already, we might as well make our lives easier by encouraging one another. My section mates aren't too bad. They are mostly friendly people, though sometimes I must say we do straighten things out sometimes in a not-so-friendly mood. So far so good, unique people with very much different characters from the people i used to mingle with back in school.
Okay, I shall rest now, my head is spinning due to lack of sleep from yesterday's live firing and intensive running this week. Ciao guys.
These two weeks are quite slack actually, apart from the fact that we had to run 6km and 7km on two consecutive days and SOC sometime in the same week, the others were mostly lectures and techinical handling plus live firing. We had 3 nights out in 2 weeks, imagine how much time we actually had. Then again, we will only get such privileges at this point of time. When the subsequent weeks come, I will only dread the weekdays. Just take one of the weeks for example, 10km run on the first day, 32km march from second day to third day, SOC on both fourth and fifth day. Finished, good game.
I don't know if it is the fact that we are in ASLC, most people seem to be really unmotivated everyday. ASLC is tough, indeed, but since we are here already, we might as well make our lives easier by encouraging one another. My section mates aren't too bad. They are mostly friendly people, though sometimes I must say we do straighten things out sometimes in a not-so-friendly mood. So far so good, unique people with very much different characters from the people i used to mingle with back in school.
Okay, I shall rest now, my head is spinning due to lack of sleep from yesterday's live firing and intensive running this week. Ciao guys.
sharkfin fullstopped here
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Today is POP day. Well, the parade isn't really like the one we had in BMT. It is just like a gathering for your PC to put on your rank. the most stupid thing is that we rehearsed so many times in SBO, in the end they asked us to do in FBO in the actual parade itself. Lol, 2hours plus worth of time and preparations down the drain. Furthermore, the sound system is so screwed this morning that the CO's speech is cancelled. well, better for some of us. I was practically fidgeting throughout the whole parade. Not just the weight of the FBO itself, but having finished 28km route march, it is really hard to order your legs to stand still.
Talking about the march, I would say that this 28km route march is not as easy as i thought it would be for 24km. Partly due to the fact that we are not conditioned well enough (in BMT we have 4 6 8 12 16 RMs before the actual 24). Another reason is that everyone marched in the night. Mental fatigue plus physical exhaustion. I really experienced what is called space out - for good 10 minutes I don't know what I was thinking and doing but just let my body take charge of the whole march. It is interesting, though, because your mind can actually control so much things over your body which is restrictive on the capabilities of our body without the mind. Body and mind aside, during the march I thought the organisers have cheated us of some distances. At some parts of the march it does not really feel like 4km but rather 6km or more. Some can argue that it is the effect due to mental fatigue and taking smaller strides in the uncertain darkness. However, we took 1hour most of the time to march 4km, and I think that is too long for 4km, given that our pace is not small and slow. Oh well, speculations.
So we marched from Kranji War Memorial at 2200hours to a scouts camp at serangoon before entering the lim chu kang area to finally reach our section live firing area. 28km in total, time expended 7hours and 30minutes. 2 blisters and some abrasions. It is not very bad, but given the terrain we marched on during the last 8km (which is on rocky trails), the pain is simply unbearable. Rest points between 4km (if it is really 4km) is only 10minutes inclusive of the time taken to fall in, refill water and etc. Either way, I survived, amongst the 41 people (out of 50). That should be the way.
So practically, I didn't sleep from yesterday until now. Gonna have an early night today. Booking in on monday night 2100 back to the same old PLC, same coy, but different platoon. Yeah, I am now in ASLC. Even though I sort of expected it given my PR status, I still can't help to shout WTF out loud. Haha, just to vent my frustrations. I will be over this ASLC blues soon, for the time being, just let me whine. lol. In my section of 11 people, fortunately (or how unfortunate I am) for the 8 people, they are not posted to ASLC. 5 in Chemical Biological Radioactive Explosive (CBRE, I cannot remember the actual full form). 1 of them is Armour Engineer, another in Arty and another as Bridge Engineer. There are a handful who are going Armour Infantry (AI for short) and miraculously, someone actually got posted to AirForce, and another to MP. I am really jealous of them =( There are still a wide of variety of postings such as SIR recce and signals. I am one of the unfortunate forunate 47 from my company to stay in the "mother company". KILO!
Looking through my future section mates, I believe I am gonna have a super interesting ASLC experience. Details can't be elaborated further due to possible issue of info leakage and personal attacks. Apart from the people, I am going ROC for training! How weird huh, going back as a foreigner to train. I am just looking forward to the 3 days RnR man. hahahaha
Yeah man, I guess I have mostly covered what happened these few days. I am already starting to miss my BSLC mates. Especially my section mates. Only when I begin to realise how fun they are, we are parting again. 8 weeks is short, too too short man..
Now, for the overall review of the course. I know I did not perform, espcially in the areas of outfield and physical fitness. Peer appraisals may be another aspect to look into. More importantly, my sect comm says that I needa work on the SOC part. SOC is a Veto factor in ASLC, so die die, lan lan, I have to pass, vomit drag fly crawl, make it to the end point in 10minutes 29seconds. There will be a lot more shit flying towards my way. This time, I shall not slacken off and achieve my best. I shall work harder in ASLC to become a better shaped commander. Lol.
Talking about the march, I would say that this 28km route march is not as easy as i thought it would be for 24km. Partly due to the fact that we are not conditioned well enough (in BMT we have 4 6 8 12 16 RMs before the actual 24). Another reason is that everyone marched in the night. Mental fatigue plus physical exhaustion. I really experienced what is called space out - for good 10 minutes I don't know what I was thinking and doing but just let my body take charge of the whole march. It is interesting, though, because your mind can actually control so much things over your body which is restrictive on the capabilities of our body without the mind. Body and mind aside, during the march I thought the organisers have cheated us of some distances. At some parts of the march it does not really feel like 4km but rather 6km or more. Some can argue that it is the effect due to mental fatigue and taking smaller strides in the uncertain darkness. However, we took 1hour most of the time to march 4km, and I think that is too long for 4km, given that our pace is not small and slow. Oh well, speculations.
So we marched from Kranji War Memorial at 2200hours to a scouts camp at serangoon before entering the lim chu kang area to finally reach our section live firing area. 28km in total, time expended 7hours and 30minutes. 2 blisters and some abrasions. It is not very bad, but given the terrain we marched on during the last 8km (which is on rocky trails), the pain is simply unbearable. Rest points between 4km (if it is really 4km) is only 10minutes inclusive of the time taken to fall in, refill water and etc. Either way, I survived, amongst the 41 people (out of 50). That should be the way.
So practically, I didn't sleep from yesterday until now. Gonna have an early night today. Booking in on monday night 2100 back to the same old PLC, same coy, but different platoon. Yeah, I am now in ASLC. Even though I sort of expected it given my PR status, I still can't help to shout WTF out loud. Haha, just to vent my frustrations. I will be over this ASLC blues soon, for the time being, just let me whine. lol. In my section of 11 people, fortunately (or how unfortunate I am) for the 8 people, they are not posted to ASLC. 5 in Chemical Biological Radioactive Explosive (CBRE, I cannot remember the actual full form). 1 of them is Armour Engineer, another in Arty and another as Bridge Engineer. There are a handful who are going Armour Infantry (AI for short) and miraculously, someone actually got posted to AirForce, and another to MP. I am really jealous of them =( There are still a wide of variety of postings such as SIR recce and signals. I am one of the
Looking through my future section mates, I believe I am gonna have a super interesting ASLC experience. Details can't be elaborated further due to possible issue of info leakage and personal attacks. Apart from the people, I am going ROC for training! How weird huh, going back as a foreigner to train. I am just looking forward to the 3 days RnR man. hahahaha
Yeah man, I guess I have mostly covered what happened these few days. I am already starting to miss my BSLC mates. Especially my section mates. Only when I begin to realise how fun they are, we are parting again. 8 weeks is short, too too short man..
Now, for the overall review of the course. I know I did not perform, espcially in the areas of outfield and physical fitness. Peer appraisals may be another aspect to look into. More importantly, my sect comm says that I needa work on the SOC part. SOC is a Veto factor in ASLC, so die die, lan lan, I have to pass, vomit drag fly crawl, make it to the end point in 10minutes 29seconds. There will be a lot more shit flying towards my way. This time, I shall not slacken off and achieve my best. I shall work harder in ASLC to become a better shaped commander. Lol.
sharkfin fullstopped here
Saturday, May 10, 2008
One more week to POP and we are so happy~
Actually, not really. Maybe we have already experienced POP before in BMT, this one doesn't seem to be as attractive as before. Not expecting too much from it anyway, since no family members will be invited. My PC is probably just going to stick on the rank onto the velcro of my no. 4. Even though it is the last week of BSLC, there is still a lot of events going on. We are going to have our last fieldcamp on monday, which is an exercise that sums up all that we have done during the previous field camps. Though I am fortunate enough (for now) not to tio the section commander role for this exercise, the thought of having to chiong again and not sleeping well for the coming 28km route march on friday night just depresses me a little.
On saturday itself we will know our postings. As a PR, I stand a high chance of going ASLC. As I was looking through the training schedule for ASLC, it is.. crazy. The stuffs we do in BSLC is nothing compared to ASLC. PT aside, there is countless fieldcamps, endless weekends to burn due to live firing/outfield. The only thing worth looking forward to is probably going overseas. Then again, it is only the R n R part. Training wont be easier than usual I suppose. Anyway, enough whining about it, I shall just wait and see what happens on saturday.
I realise I have really nothing much to blog about, apart from the little things that happen in camp. I can't really describe them in detail here, but to those who are in OCS now, continue to perservere, all the shit you guys are going through are for that bar =) my life has been great and fun, and I shall try to continue to enjoy it =)
Actually, not really. Maybe we have already experienced POP before in BMT, this one doesn't seem to be as attractive as before. Not expecting too much from it anyway, since no family members will be invited. My PC is probably just going to stick on the rank onto the velcro of my no. 4. Even though it is the last week of BSLC, there is still a lot of events going on. We are going to have our last fieldcamp on monday, which is an exercise that sums up all that we have done during the previous field camps. Though I am fortunate enough (for now) not to tio the section commander role for this exercise, the thought of having to chiong again and not sleeping well for the coming 28km route march on friday night just depresses me a little.
On saturday itself we will know our postings. As a PR, I stand a high chance of going ASLC. As I was looking through the training schedule for ASLC, it is.. crazy. The stuffs we do in BSLC is nothing compared to ASLC. PT aside, there is countless fieldcamps, endless weekends to burn due to live firing/outfield. The only thing worth looking forward to is probably going overseas. Then again, it is only the R n R part. Training wont be easier than usual I suppose. Anyway, enough whining about it, I shall just wait and see what happens on saturday.
I realise I have really nothing much to blog about, apart from the little things that happen in camp. I can't really describe them in detail here, but to those who are in OCS now, continue to perservere, all the shit you guys are going through are for that bar =) my life has been great and fun, and I shall try to continue to enjoy it =)
sharkfin fullstopped here
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Realised that the song on my blog is outdated.. Changed new ones.. I think I only listen to audition songs, lol
sharkfin fullstopped here
2 more weeks to POP. Woohoo~ but still got one more field camp to go and 28km route march x.x i really hope we don't have to carry matadors when we march.. it is really annoying.. but I don't think that will come true, lol.
Last week had NUS medicine interview. I don't know if I did well or not.. it is my first interview and I would not be surprised if I screw it up. Furthermore, I don't really know if I want to study it. haha, sounds like I am just there to "gain experience". I don't mind studying it.. though I would really prefer to study pharmacy, I think.. really scared of making the wrong choice. Then again, I would not know if I have made the right choice once I am out in the society working. This really kinda sucks.
actually.. I don't really know what to blog about. Hehe, book in times just pass damn slowly.. everyday just look forward to lights out and dread waking up in the morning.. everyday there is one full pack day.. sometimes route march here, sometimes camou there.. ahh, somemore my company is already quite welfare already.. I can't imagine if I am in some other companies (like bravo), I think I will still make it through but just feel more sians and dreadful to wake up everyday. Book out time.. seems to be really lethargic and just wanna slack and play games.. feeling quite sick now.. keep coughing. Supposed to have class gathering today.. but nv go.. argh, quite no life I realised.. every weekend is stay-at-home day. =.=
Okay I should stop blogging randomly. ASLC, here I come.. boo
Last week had NUS medicine interview. I don't know if I did well or not.. it is my first interview and I would not be surprised if I screw it up. Furthermore, I don't really know if I want to study it. haha, sounds like I am just there to "gain experience". I don't mind studying it.. though I would really prefer to study pharmacy, I think.. really scared of making the wrong choice. Then again, I would not know if I have made the right choice once I am out in the society working. This really kinda sucks.
actually.. I don't really know what to blog about. Hehe, book in times just pass damn slowly.. everyday just look forward to lights out and dread waking up in the morning.. everyday there is one full pack day.. sometimes route march here, sometimes camou there.. ahh, somemore my company is already quite welfare already.. I can't imagine if I am in some other companies (like bravo), I think I will still make it through but just feel more sians and dreadful to wake up everyday. Book out time.. seems to be really lethargic and just wanna slack and play games.. feeling quite sick now.. keep coughing. Supposed to have class gathering today.. but nv go.. argh, quite no life I realised.. every weekend is stay-at-home day. =.=
Okay I should stop blogging randomly. ASLC, here I come.. boo
sharkfin fullstopped here