Three months have passed since becoming one of the defenders of the country and I’m really happy to say that I’ve completed most of the milestones there are to graduate from BMTC(Basic Military Training Centre).
One of the toughest days in BMTC is the 5-day 4-night Field Camp we have to complete. It really spells trouble for me and I hate to admit it but it made me appreciate what I have in my bunk. The comfy bed, pillow, blanket, fan, toilet, water cooler and definitely the wonderful concrete roof that sheltered me from the rain while I sleep peacefully through the night. Due to the fact that I’ve been living under shelter for most of my life, I simply could not adapt to the life in the wilderness in just a finger snap.
Field Camp is torturous, it really is. It all started with a 8km route march to site under the scourching sun with my ever present 10kg field pack and my newly wed wife, SAR21. Throughout the FC, you get to see different sides of everyone. Tensions are high, tempers are short. All these are attributed from the mental and physical stress that the higher ranks have set. They pushed us to the limit where the word “shag” is no longer enough to depict how mentally and physically worn out we are.
Just when you thought the day is over, comes the night. When one mention about darkness, I have thought but could not have imagined it to be the kind of darkness I have to face after sun set. The 5mm by 5mm red torch light I have to use to move around just adds the already difficult level of FC.
On a day where no matter how much movements drills, artillary drills or leopard crawls we’re given, it has come to a point where it no longer matters. We just have to finish what the higher ranks set it out for us, do it without hesitation and questions, and get it done and over with.
“What am I doing?”
“Why am I doing this?”
“What the HELL am I doing here?”
These are the exact questions I asked myself when we’re told to recover.
*panting panting*
I’m already reaching my limit soon, and if only the ground isn’t wet, I would face plant myself straight. As I sat up straight, I was staring into nothing and my mind was at its blank-est period ever.
“Yun Weng”
“Yes Sir!”
I was snapped out of my own sanity and handed a letter from my PC. I knew it wasn’t from home but I still took the time to read. I guess a little word of encourgement from the SAF isn’t that bad eh? As I looked up and took a quick glance at those that received letter from their precious home, all broke down in tears. Words of encourgement from none other than home itself is the best remedy one could get after going through all the shit that none of us wanted. Only at that point of time when we’re right deep into our own grave, do we realise that we’ve a family standing strong behind us.
Right in the middle of the FC, we’ve been given a piece of paper and a pen. We’re told to write back to our family and it will be send at the quickest possible time. Yes, that was it. I too, broke down uncontrollably.
No comments:
Post a Comment