Saturday, April 29, 2006

My Motto

I have decided to give myself a motto and i will be sticking to it for as long as possible.

Endure and Excel

It is taken from some unit in the Army. However, to explain that unit it will take a while. So ya, this is my new motto. =)

More on NS...

I just realised that my last two posts were simply about complaints and more complaints that i forget to fill in on you guys about other stuff we do during NS.

NS at NDU is not all about doing PT(Physical Training) only okay? Haha.
Um, at least not during BMT period la... haha.

My point is that other than PT, we have to go through range and SOC(Standard Obstacles Course) too during BMT. Of course mah, have to learn how to shoot a rifle right? Lolz.

Unlike Tekong, we have to go out of camp to do our SOC and range. For 2 weeks, every wednesday we are transported by tonners(that BIG green army trucks you seen on the roads sometimes) to Khatib(shld be correct spelling) Camp for our SOC. Progress is slow as we have been introduced to only 7 out of the 11 obstacles.

SOC is difficult i admit. Low wall is actually quite easy. Once you get the technique correct, you should have no problem clearing it. I won't which obstacle is the hardest as different people view the obstacles differently. But apparently the hardest for most is the low rope. To clear the low rope, you have to climb up the rope, touch the top bar and lower yourself down. Although there is a technique to clear it, it rely a lot on arm power. So...

Anyway, Khatib Camp is home to the Gunners(the Artillery section of the armed forces la, not Thierry Henry and Co. ya?). Although it is not Highbury, but being an Arsenal fan, whenever you see the words, "Home Of The Gunners", you can't help but have a strange feelings which i can't describe. Well, anyway, the camp is quite big but sadly we didn't see any big guns moving around. Must have been hidden in some storage area.

For range, we went over to Nee Soon Camp. I think it is home to quite a lot of army units. If i am not wrong, the Combat Engineers, the SAF Music and Drama Company and maybe the Medics are based there. Whatever the case is, it is so exciting to do something associated with guns. Haha. We didn't go straight to live range but had a practice session using computer simulations. Rather fun but very tiring to my eye as i am not using my master eye to aim. Than the target is damn small, like a microchip like that. It took me a while to get used to shooting a rifle, especially when you get to experience recoil which affect your aim. Furthermore, my gun had a problem halfway through, which make me miss 1 out of 6 practice sessions(1 practice session differ from another by the way your body is positioned. One session you may be sitting and another you are standing). Oh well, had a happy and bad experience. Hope the next one is better. =)

So ya, i don't spend everything running, swimming or doing push-up. I still get a chance to do other stuff like range and SOC. But after BMT... just hope i can survive the Physical Conditioning Phase...

Saturday, April 22, 2006

2nd Week...

To all who left comments on my tagboard, thanks for your encouragement but do keep it coming cause...

I am dying soon.

Last week was what they call a orientation/transition week. So everything was rather slack and more admin stuff than Physical Training(PT) stuff. This week is totally different. Since all the admin stuff has been more or less settled, it is time to intensify the training. And when they mean training, they really mean training. Imagine wednesday you have a running training session. Next day is a 5km run and friday is another running training session. Everytime after the run i just feel i just emerged from a swimming pool. And since there can be no PT straight after meals, we do Arms Drill lor. Do well, we get rest. Screwed up the drill, do push-up till you go nuts. Wah kao, wear No. 4 and do push-up is damn hot okay??

But what make this week special is that we started to draw arms. Nahz, we not using the new gun that SAF just introduced. Still using the M16 as it is the most basic weapon and hey, it can fire underwater okay? Quite exciting as you really get to lay your hands on a REAL weapon, not those dummy one. But... as all NS guys know, the weapon is like your wife. Misplaced it, 7 years in Detention Barracks. Than we learn how to strip and assemble the M16. Um, heard that there is a test on it. I think within 1 min or 45 secs must strip the weapon and another 1 min or 45 secs must assemble back. Um, it is actually quite easy but the parts are rather small and lose any of it, good luck to you man. Overall it is quite fun but one bad point is that is is VERY oily...

Anyway, this is just BMT. If anyone think the training now is tough, the physical conditioning phase after BMT will be even tougher and Hell Week will really be another day in Hell...

Friday, April 14, 2006

Army Life...

The past one week has been rather "interesting" as i am making my transition from a civilian to a soldier. Not a pleasant one i would say and my arms have begging me to apply for a death certificate to certify that my arms are officially dead.
.
.
.
Okay okay, i know that is lame. =p

Anyway, during the time i was in camp, i am exposed to an environment which i will be in for 2 years, or 1 year 10 months to be exact. No complains though. While someone like me in Tekong share a bunk with 9-11 other people, i share my cabin(Navy's term la) with 3 others. And yes, i am right when i said i will be caught in trunks everyday. Wah lao! Even running also wearing trunks...

Maybe it is because of the differences in objectives hence there is the following differences between Naval Diving Unit(NDU) and BMT in Tekong:

1) In NDU, we don't call our superiors Sir but simply instructors. We only call people whose rank is Staff Sergeant and above Sir. Most instructors are 1st Sgt by the way.

2) While people in Tekong have foot drills in their No. 4 everyday, there are only 2 foot drills sessions over 7 days. So most of the time i am in PT kit and either attending some talks or doing physical training.

3) I am not sure about Tekong but in NDU, the buddy system is damn important. You go anywhere must have a buddy accompanying you. You go toilet must have buddy with you. If you forget to bring something from your cabin and you need to retrieve it, a buddy must also go with you. You fall out and retrieve something under the instructions from the instructor also must have a buddy accompanying you. In short, you go anywhere must have someone beside you. If you are caught alone, you drop and give the instructor 20. No questions asked. The rationale for being so particular is because once you are out in the sea, you have to look out for your buddy and vice versa. So if anyone meet with any thing, at least there is someone to alert the instructors and everyone's safety is ensured. It is damn dangerous when diving you know? Especially when you are in the sea...

4) The instructors are particularly interested in your physical and discipline aspects. Other aspects are more relaxed. For example, your boots need to be black and not shiny. If the whole company perform well and meet the expectations of the instructors, you can book out on friday night. Although there is still the stand-by bed and area inspection(NS guys should know la hor), as long as you meet the minimum requirements, you are okay. For physical, they are damn damn demanding. They expect the whole company to reach Gold standard for the IPPT. What is the Gold standard? More than 6 pull-up, 9 mins and 14 secs for 2.4km run. No need to elaborate more hor?

5) NDU unit is the only unit in the whole of SAF to have Hell Week and maybe only Commandos POW treatment training come close to it. I am not sure of the Hell Week thing but heard it is a BIG test on your physical and metal strength. After this will be the diving phase where you learn how to dive. If nothing goes wrong, on 3rd of Nov i will be commissioned as a Naval Combat Diver. Than i will be sent to either Clearance Diving Group(CDG) or Underwater Demolition Group(UDG). That will however be another story. Haha.

So in short, for my two years of service, my main focus will be on physical and diving training and that is all i guess. NDU is not particular on how you look when assembling as a unit. As long as your No. 4 and No. 3 look presentable, your boots are black and your marching don't look like shit, nothing else matters. Most important is that your body is strong so you can perform physical demanding tasks. Imagine carrying oxygen tanks and running around okay?

Talking about life in NDU... well i would say in my company there are all sorts of people from all walks of life. You have a typical nerd whose conversations with you somehow can link back to academic. Than you have those typical Ah Bengs who can't stop sprouting vulgarities. Their sentences start and end with vulgarities. Than there are those whose mouth move but not their hands. I especially remember one guy who simply freak the whole company out. His facial expression, his actions, the way he eat and the way he communicate with people... simply freaking. I am damn scared during the live-firing session he might just... I don't demand much la. Just remember that i have spelled out how my funeral should be like ya?

But luckily they are the minority. Majority are still okay. They are your average guy like me(haha) who follow instructions and generally law-abiding citizens, no, soldiers. We talk about anything under the sun, ranging from girls to cars to anything. We get along well and ya, that should be it.

The food is excellent and they are damn generous with their servings. In fact, i felt like a pig for the first few days. Being fed with lots of food and pumping me up so they can kill me later. Besides, i heard that the cookhouse in NDU is regarded as No. 1 among all the camps. Wow.

Okay, enough for today. Got to stack up FHM and Maxim now. Now now i am not one of those desperate guys who need to see girls in skimpy outfits ya? Need the pictures in the magazines to paste on my cabinet TO distract my instructors during stand-by bed inspection. =)

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Back!

I am back! Back! Back to my home sweet home! Hooya!

o.O

I mean WOOHOO! Sorry guys, been shouting too much Hooya during camp. =p

Um, will update you guys on interesting stuff later... provided i can wake up la. Haha.
There is a lot of interesting things to say... really... heez

Now to just shower and hit the bed.

Um, can shift the the bed in my bunk back to my house not? Sorry mum but the camp's one much more comfortable leh... King Koil leh... what to expect?

Thursday, April 06, 2006

D-Day...

It is official. From tomorrow onwards, 2 years of my short life will be spent receiving shit treatment, making new friends, using a green ic, be caught in trunks everyday and guess what, my best friend will be the chloride-infested swimming pool.

Not that i am complaining... i get free food, free lodging, free body-building courses and i even get paid for it! Besides, if i do pass out successfully, i just need to do a simple course and i can dive anywhere in the world. =)

But... the thought of me going NS... oh well, i think i better don't think too much and enjoy as much as possible. As Wei Yang says, "You will be leading a carefree life during NS. No need to worry too much. When you move on to Uni, you will be very stressed up by the various different problems."

Wish me luck guys. I will survive... at least one week. =p

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

2 more days...

Yup, 2 more days. No extreme feelings yet... haha.

Okay, now to start packing...

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Army...

Counting down the days to my death liao... haha.

When i was in secondary school, i would always say why worry about NS? Still a long way. When i was in JC1, NS is not something i worry about. My worries include studies, my "image" etc...

Reality hit a bit when i was in JC2. The medical checkup and stuff and letters from the Navy and Air Force kept flooding my mailbox. But that "A" Levels kept my mind occupied. Besides, still far la...

Reality hit a bit harder when one of my close friend report for NS on Dec 9th 2005. Well, considering he is still surviving and a little fitter, i guess BMT isn't that scary. Besides! I still got 3 more months.

Now, reality hit a bit too hard. Today is 4th of Apr and i am going to start NS on 7th Apr.

Wah lao! 3 more days nia! How?! I have not enjoyed myself enough leh!

But as a Singaporean male, do i have a choice? Even if you are handicapped, still have to serve NS. So i guess the only way is to accept it with an open mind.

Bought most of my stuff liao. Just need to spend tomorrow packing and at least i have thursday to do last minute shopping. =p

Oh ya, if you guys remember, which i don't think so, i have an all-important interview today. Don't ask how it goes. No need to think of ways to congratulate me or console me either.

Cause...

The interview was cancelled today.

My guess is that the high-ranking officials are not free today. Oh well, just have to wait for them to reschedule another day lor...

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Random...

Congrats to Huang Zhi Yang of HCI for being the first Campus Superstar! I would say his performance is wonderful and he truely deserved it. Kudos to Teresa for putting up such a wonderful performance too! Although you may miss out on the title by a bit, you are still one truely deserving 女子组冠军! You go girl!

Was kind of happy that the Grand Finals is a showdown between Zhi Yang and Teresa. As one of the judges said during the show, both of them gave people the "comfortable" feeling when they sing. Their voice is so smoothing that you would really enjoy whatever song they sing. Furthermore, both of them got the looks. 男的帅，女的美, what more do you want? Haha.

Shall not comment on their performance here cause i am severly under-qualified. But i would say as the competition drags on, Teresa lose a bit of her concentration hence her last song is not as perfect as it should be. Zhi Yang managed to hang on and so his last song made a perfect full-stop to the competition.

But overall, both performed wonderfully well and showed why they truely deserved to be the ones in the Grand Finals. Good job guys!

Due to some reasons, i am not able to catch up on the show. For Project Superstar, i can tell you most of the contestants' names and their strengths and weakness. But for Campus Superstar, i can hardly recognise who is who. Maybe only those who have truely devote their time and money into the show can feel the impact when the winner is announced. Although for both Project and Campus i am rooting for the 女子组冠军, i felt more heartpain when Kelly lost to Wei Lian. The disappointment at that time is much more bigger than the one i am feeling now.

But hey! The competition is just a starting point nia. The road ahead is much more tougher and the fans must really give their idol their support so he/she can walk down with confidence and courage.

Once again, congrats to Zhi Yang!

Oh, before i end, i think Malaysia think we Singaporeans and the Thais are super rich. They just implemented a law that states that any vehicle entering Malaysia must pay RM$20. Wah siao ar? Than those who visit Malaysia regularly how? Like that they easy to go broke you know? Want to earn our money not like that one mah...

Vote for her!

No no i am not asking you guys to vote for Teresa today for the Campus Superstar Finals but rather for my CUTE little niece, Shanya. =)

To vote, click on SHANYA at the below link:
http://www.tangerined.com/KZ_talent/WhatsOn/CutestKID_bb10_2005.htm

Before you guys go "Wow! So cute!" or "So adorable!" looking at the pictures, PLEASE PLEASE click on my niece picture FIRST okay? She is Shanya(pronounced as Sher-nai-ear) okay?

Remember hor! Right, now what are you waiting for?

Lazy...

I know i have not update part 3 to 5 of my Bangkok trip and i have not start my movie review on V for Vendetta...

Yes i am lazy. I know i am but for this month i have been busy with affairs regarding Uni admission and trying to prepare for NS(little progress though... haha).

Furthermore, i am hooked on an old game, Diablo 2...

Besides, i want to enjoy as much as possible before going for hell training for 2 years...

So pardon me guys. Will update once i have the time. =P

Before i end, like to wish my cute, adorable but highly mischievous nephew happy birthday! Wah, 1 year flew by just like that...