This 4 weeks just reminds me of my NS trainee days. When I WAS fitter. However, I am sure glad that I have been running to keep fit. If not, these few weeks may have been worse.
I enlisted on Apr 1999. I was assigned to BMTC School 1, Alpha Company, Platoon 1, Section 3. We were the first batch of recruits to use the new camp facilities for the whole BMT duration as it was just completed. New big twin door cupboards, new shoe racks, KingKoil beds, everything was new. Back then, I wanted to go OCS. I also almost sign on as an army officer under the Local Study Award (LSA) scheme. The contract was placed right on front of me already. However, I did not take it up in the end as I thought this kind of life was not suitable for me. We had a 24km graduation march on the last day of our BMT just before marching into the parade square for our POP.
After a few days of block leave, we went back to receive our postings. I was posted to SISPEC. I was disappointed. We had our fair share of the horror stories of SISPEC. It was called School of Infantry Specialists but it is also called Suffer In Silence Plus Extra Confinement. We marched from our company line with our full packs and duffel bags to the parade square to be picked up by the people from SISPEC. It was a long bus journey from Changi to Pasir Lebar Camp.
The Pasir Lebar Camp at that time was still the old camp type. Double deck beds with sponge mattress, small green cupboards. Our bedsheets were those that need to tie knots at the two sides. We began the 12th Basic Section Leader Course (BSLC). I was in Delta Company, Platoon 2, Section 1. 10 weeks of training beginning with the infantry section organic weapons, namely the M203, LAW, SAW. After we passed the technical handling tests, we started with the group trainings. It was proceeded with section trainings. There was group live firing, several different section live firings. The SISPEC training made our BMT training pale in comparison. We were also taught how to navigate, set up basic signal sets and communicate with them using voice procedures. Towards the end of the course, we touched a little bit of platoon level trainings. There was also a height confidence course. We were given responsibilities and we learnt how to handle responsibilities.
Also added into our training programe every other day was physical trainings. Runs, IPPT, fast march, SOC. My physical fitness had always been poor. I kept failing my IPPT while the rest of my platoon mates were passing them. Luckily, I always manage to come back in time for SOC. Those who fail to do so had to run a 2nd round.
Training was very tough. We were toughened up. There were 2 main exercises where we went through. Nutcracker which was a 3D2N defense exercise where we had to dig individual shell scrapes and fox holes through the night. Grandslam was a 3D2N exercise at Tekong where we did section attack missions.
There was still chances for us to crossover to OCS. I was still hoping that I can make it. In the end, I did not make it. 2 of my section mates managed to cross over.
After the BSLC ended, we were given corporal ranks. We would be assigned new postings again. There were 6 companies conducting the BSLC. Some will stay back to do the Advanced Section Leader Course (ASLC) while the rest would be sent out to other formations. Life at Delta was real tough and Delta would be conducting the ASLC too together with Golf so I was hoping that I would be posted out. However, I went to ASLC and was back again at Delta Company. New trainees from other companies were also posted in. So now we have old friends, new friends and the same old environment.
ASLC training, I would say, was more fun then BSLC, though as tough. In ASLC, there was an advanced height confidence course where we did flying fox and sky ladder at Hendon Camp and repelling at the location outside Hendon. Training now focused entirely on platoon level. You ask anybody from an infantry platoon and for sure they will know what is "Gap! Gap! Gap!". There was Fighting on Fortified Objectives (FOFO) where we learnt to fight in a net work of trenches. The most fun would be Fighting in Built Up Areas (FIBUA) at the Lim Chu Kang area. There was Grandslam 2, an major platoon level exercise that included heli insertion where we had the chance to sit in a Super Puma.
The training was also 10 weeks. We were supposed to go ROC at the end for our summary exercise. However, at that time the 921 Taiwan earthquake happened. Our trip was cancelled at the last minute when we were almost done with the preparation for the trip. So everything which was supposed to be done in ROC, we did it in Singapore. For the navigation exercise, our company was split into 2 main groups of 3 - 4 men each. 1 group would start from Pasir Lebar and make their individual way to Yishun, finding the many checkpoints given to them along the way. The other main group would start from Yishun back to Pair Lebar and my group was one of them. I remembered we were dropped near Orchid Country Club.
We slowly went from Yishun to Mandai to Kranji to Lim Chu Kang and back to camp. It was a 3D2N exercise. 1 step too many, I began to feel a pain on my right foot on the 3rd day. I could not move as fast as my teammates and I was dragging them down. In the end, when we were left with a few checkpoints, they asked me to stay at a spot and wait for them to search for the checkpoints. i forgot how long I waited for them but the feeling of being left behind due to an injury was not nice. After they returned, we started to move back to camp. I remembered when we reached camp it was already past 2000Hr.
The next day, I reported sick. it was the first time I reported sick ever since I enlisted. In the past, I would endure through even when I have cough or flu. I would just drink more water then proceed with the training. In fact, I was contemplating on whether to report sick the night before or join in the final exercise 2 days later. My section mates advised me to do so as my right foot was already swollen. There was also a painful feeling when I pressed down on it.
I was given excuse lower limb and given an x ray appointment. I only joined the final exercise for the first couple of days at Lim Chu Kang and Mandai as an "enemy". When they were preparing to move to Tekong, I was sent back to camp so that I can go for my x ray appointment. The results showed that I suffered a stress fracture. A hairline crack on one of the bones on my right foot. When I showed the x ray film to the MO, he said he will put me Out of Course (OOC). I pleaded with him not to do so as I did not want all 5 months of training in SISPEC to come to waste. I almost wanted to cry at at moment. Luckily, the MO agreed not to OOC me. He just gave me excuse lower limb for 6 months.
The guys came back from Tekong about 1 week later. Now, training was almost completed. It was just left with the Skill-at-Arms competition and ridgeline live firing, both newly incorporated into our training programe. I did not take part in both due to my injury.
One of the guys told me our PC told them I was still able to pass the course even though I did not participate in the final exercise as I had already done enough. However, as I did not go for the final exercise, he could not award the Silver Bayonet* to me. The SB went to another guy in my section instead. In fact, I thought he deserved the SB much more than me. I was grateful to my PC for letting me pass.
* The best trainee of the whole cohort will receive the Golden Bayonet. A selected handful of others will receive the Silver Bayonet. This is similar to the Sword of Honour and Sword of Merit of OCS.
Now, the only thing everybody was waiting for was the POP 1 week later.
This was our BSLC platoon photo.
Our ASLC section.
The guys at the start of the Skill-at-Arms competition.
Resting in our bunk during lunch time for the POP rehearsal. Notice the tan lines on our arms and foreheads.
Our section doing dekitting the night before with our section instructor. All of us were sunburnt on our arms and face and had dried and cracked lips due to the parade rehearsals.
There was no time for photo taking during the duration of the ASLC. This was the only platoon photo I had taken before our POP.
Our section.
Those were my NSF trainee days.
For the mortar course, I received the best trainee award. No prize money thou. Just a medal. Its actually nothing much to boost about. No pay increment too.
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