I made a promise here that I would talk about my NS journey before I officially go operationally ready, so after much procrastination, I guess I shall finally start to recollect all these memories before I forget about them one day. It says 1135pm on my desktop now, my eyelids are getting heavier and I'm having difficulty typing away on this small netbook but I shall persist!

05th May 2011, 1045h. That was the significant date which literally involves an exchange of my pink IC with a Green SMART card in return. More than that actually. It also meant that the next 1 year 10 months of my life, and on top of that my future, would be somewhat different from how it used to be. To be honest, I didn't really know what to expect for NS when I first entered. I could imagine NS as a period of time when I will spend a lot of time literally running around, rowing in mud and spending all day in forest. Getting lost, dirty and lonely in the dark woods. I would shun away when those thoughts came, as it seems daunting for anyone who hasn't had that life before. Nonetheless, what will come comes and what will not, does not. Enlistment is real. True that I had friends who gave me a brief overview of how BMT was like, but it was really a brief one, not even those "bring lots of coins" or "buy extra garters in case you lose it" kind of tips. It was much of a exposure for me to experience how BMT and NS was like. It wouldn't be fun had I knew what to expect.  I did had a tour of Tekong the previous year when I followed my brother's enlistment, but my memory bank only recollects the family engagement part of the enlistment day and nothing else. Much knowledge about that but the rest were completely empty. As blur as the rest, I just followed suit with the instructions given. Excited yet feeling anxious, because you never know what's gonna come next.

If you had watched Ah Boys To Men, I believe you would know how the first day roughly goes. Much equipping and carrying new baggage of items around, checking the items one by one (except mine was done in a training shed near Orion instead of a table layout format shown in the movie). Knowing that there's always timing given in the army, I tried to save time during the items check by remembering how each item was initially arranged in the duffel bag and fieldpack so that during the packing (under very limited time) I could still pack it back nicely without the duffel bag or fieldpack looking deformed with its seams bursting. After that, the fastest clothing-fitting session ensued when all of us tried on the uniform, pt kit, pt shoes, boots, ILBV, helmet, jockey cap and so on. I wouldn't forget the rush when there's so much things to try on and so little time. 

Once all that was done, it was time for in-processing, meaning reporting to the bunks and section commanders. I heard about the 4D number system from my friends who had already enlisted but I didn't know that each number had a specific meaning to it! I remembered I was given this number 3357 when I first collected my duffel bag and equipments and assumed that was my 4D number. To be honest, I was getting confused when I tried to find my name on the board and realised it was otherwise instead. For those people who know about 4D numbers in the army, you should be laughing at my stupidity by now when I thought that 3357 was my 4D number. Thinking back, I think I put too much thought into that back and tried to be a smart alack then. Ultimately, I figured out what my 4D number was and proceeded up to my bunk, living with people that I would spend my time closely with for the next 9 weeks.

When I first entered my bunk, all unfamiliar people and only 1 person whom I could recognise - Dennis from my neighbouring class back in JC, also one of my orientation friends back in  J1. Kinda of awkward to meet new people all of a sudden, plus I actually reported late (touched down in Tekong at 1145h when enlistment letter, stating 1045h, meant 1045h at Tekong instead of Pasir Ris interchange) so almost everyone was there in the bunk starting to know one and another already. I think they did a second introduction for the late-comers. Everyone seemed okay on the first day, no grumpy mummy's boy or anything else. To be honest, who remembers 15 new names at a first instance of meeting them. I must say, it felt weird to enter the bunk with like 15 other strangers looking at you, but never would you believe that these 15 people are friends whom you can really talk to and joke about in the next few weeks to come. Looking at those new faces, judgements are just passed so quickly before you know it. Plus, I had quite an impression about my buddy when I first saw him, but later did I found out that looks are just deceiving.

During the in-processing, I had a section commander interview. It felt uneasy to keep saying "Yes, sergeant" when replying to my section commander by adding the extra "sergeant" into it. Plus, saying "Ya" was a taboo in BMT, which most probably your commander would reply by saying "Ya Ya Papaya!" Following which you would just be stunned and don't know what to reply next. Clever ones would correct themselves while the rest would just get reprimanded or just face the floor. My section commander was actually quite friendly and I would say he's one of nicer sergeants around, though he can be a little quiet at times. Answered some routine questions and some personal questions. Never expected myself to be doing that when I became a sergeant and a section commander too. 

I knew a little about falling in given my band background, so it wasn't like a whole new never-seen-before thing in my life. That fall-in was a literal change to my life - caused from there I marched to a location to have my hair shaven and look like any other recruit which appeared in Tekong. To be honest, the barbers there never actually bother to shave the hair of recruits properly. Still remembered some instances when I had to edit my hair on my own back in my bunk, helping one another to see if there's long strand or uneven haircut. Well, a $2 haircut, what to expect huh?

Currently, I have vague memory of what happened on the first day, but I remembered it was just dinner followed by company fall-in, administrative and routine orders. Well, much unpacking of my belongings and oh yes, learning how to fold my bed, my uniform, other attires, shoes and lastly arranging my belongings in the cupboard. That brought my impression of army to a whole new level, but I kinda of expected the standardisation thingy so yeap. Till today, I still follow the way I was taught in BMT, how I place my stuff in my cupboard, how I fold my blanket and such, such habits die hard, literally. That part took quite a time, but had us interact with one another, especially between buddies. (I forgot to mention - there's a buddy system in place so yeap I had my buddy too).

I remember making a call to my parents to inform them about my condition in camp, following which it was like lights out timing by 2230h. Months before enlistment, I had a hard time sleeping early. Normal timings became like 0100, 0200h and sometimes even 0300h.It was really tough to sleep at 2230h. Had to just like "act dead" and gave my all to just keep my mind blank and sleep. I didn't fall into deep sleep, more like REM sleep, since my sleeping late days also meant that I woke up late too, I consistently told myself to be able to wake up early so as to be able to meet timing. (The whole timing thing was kinda of into me during BMT at times.) Funny thing happened on my very 1st night in Tekong - my whole bunk woke up at 0100h thinking it was 0500h+ since one of our alarm clocks rang at that time. Till today, I'm still not quite sure whose alarm was it but I remember a few suspects. Epic much. We unanimously had doubts that it was 0500h+ and in my mind I couldn't believe that 0500h+ would come by so quickly. Glad someone shouted that it was 0100h and we shall went back to sleep. That, was my very First night in Tekong.

The next morning was introduction of how morning routine would be and such. The 5 basic exercises (or commonly known as 5BX) and with my sergeants sending us to the cookhouse. One noticeable point of army lifestyle would be to march wherever you go (for trainees) and sing as you march. So yup, it was the sergeants leading the songs initially, followed by us leading ourselves. One prominent song IC (that's what we call it) was Joshua, whom I never expected to end up as my buddy during Spec Course. Speaking about these songs, who would expect 18-20 year old people (guys especially) to be singing together without any bit of shyness. Well, since Tekong is all closed up away from public, it doesn't really feel that awkward to sing along with those army songs. Plus, these songs actually accompanied me quite a bit from the start till the end of BMT, for instances route marches and runs (though in SCS, my enciks didn't really practise that, except a strong emphasis of singing while marching to the cookhouse). Well, as I progress further in NS, the songs that I knew didn't change much. After a while, it seemed that those songs seemed a little boring, to the extent when I kinda of forgot those lyrics so easily when you don't sing it that often anymore. Well, they sound nice to sing along to for a start when you lost touch with them, but after a while boredom kicks in, feeling nauseous upon hearing them.

The days continued with more introduction of adapting to the army environment. Anyone who hears of this would be put off upon knowing that it would happen to them. Standbys - be it standby universe, area, toilet, corridor, bunk, bed, cupboard, or etc, every trainee would frown upon hearing it. It encompassed a strong meaning of relentless cleaning to meet up to the expectations of the sergeants and the CSM (company sergeant major). I wouldn't forget that first scolding that I got when I didn't push my footwear all the way to the leg of the bed frame (which I didn't know at all despite continual cleaning and preparations). Didn't expected that, but well what could I do back then after that mistake was brought up. I don't remember being punished for that though (since it was the very first standby). The memorable part was when all of us stood at ease outside our bunk during area cleaning, looking at our commanders surveying every single corner of the room. If no one got called in, it would be good for all of us. The moment you got called into the bunk, you just get burnt. Not to forget the last minute adjustments when we're told that the commanders are coming and some of us were in the bunk trying to tie some loose ends. Heart-wrenching when you try to 'play' a little of the system, but thinking back, it seemed like a funny picture in my head.

I believe this area cleaning system really taught me much about responsibility, co-operation, habits and hygiene. Being responsible to your area of use, even if it's a shared property, and taking ownership of it was a good lesson taught subtly. Co-operation meant a lot went 16 guys had to clean quite a big bunk together, on top of our own area cleaning duties. Different people took initiative to clean different parts of the room, and there wasn't a I-only-clean-my-own-area-and-nothing-else person in the bunk. I'm glad for that in my section, since I remember there wasn't a delegation of duties put in our faces, but rather everyone just took up some areas to clean to ensure that the standbys would be a great one. I remember always cleaning the top of the bunk door, the switches of the lights (after an instance when my sergeant checked that out of the blue) and bed frames (every single nitty gritty part of it). Habits were built when things are done regularly and constantly, till it forms part of our human behaviour. After 5BX, it would be an natural instinct to start area cleaning without any commanders to start informing. After standbys, it would also mean first parade, aka falling in and accounting for strength of the soldiers. The first activity of the day would then kick start. Routine much, but that's how NS is like. A lot of traditions and habits, culture put into place. As I continue to adapt into NS, certain habits were formed, which wouldn't break away until now. Every morning when I wake up in camp, I would make it a point to fold my blanket and put my pillow properly before I go off. Accounting for all items in my bag, my equipment or my rifle also became a natural part of me with continuous execution.

Some may have a bad impression of area cleaning, when they associate it with an opportunity for commanders to find fault and punish them. Well, can't blame them for that, since it is a very fact that some commanders abuse this system and make area cleaning a horrendous experience for many. Nevertheless, those who never did area cleaning in their life before, learn to do it, while those who suffered despite doing their duties and cleaning it properly, learn to clean better to meet up to expectations. You never know the kind of characters you'll meet in the army, so maybe that 'enhanced' area cleaning standards would make those who are held back to really take that step forward as a soldier. I had a personal terrible experience of area cleaning when I encountered a particular commander in SCS, which ultimately changed some of my beliefs as a commander when I graduated as a Specialist. I shall talk more about that when I move on to talk about my time in SCS.

Forming up for physical training or combat training sessions is also one point for me to talk about with regard to regimentation and discipline. A lot of thought put into place for such cultures and traditions I would say, sometimes making things seem neater but yet inefficient at times when time's not on our side. Squatting down to form up into neat rows with some people forming up as the 1st guy indicating to the rest his " row number" using his fingers. Not fast enough, another random number of rows ensued, until everyone moved fast to form up. The funny moment comes when you see those guys at the front played the "fastest fingers" to indicate the median number of the rows required for forming up. I don't know why, but somehow I would always try to form up near people whom I know and in rows with the first guy who I know. I don't know if that happens for everyone, but nevertheless, when the situation calls for it, everyone would try their best to just form up without caring much who you're near to.

Physical trainings were honestly no easy back then, when everyone's physical fitness (despite being from enhanced batch) seemed not that good at all. I wouldn't forget that epic moment when I actually failed my running for the very 1st IPPT by 1s for my 2.4km and pull-ups. Much of physical trainings that got my muscles aching a lot. Improvements doesn't seem so instant, but after a while everyone got physically stronger than they initially were. I believe the most enduring training was the Ability Group Runs (also known as AGR), where we were classified based on our running timings and trained separately. I must say that it was really effective because it just meant continuous running and running at a certain pace, but no slowing down since the commander who lead us will just continue to run at a continuous pace. From a runner of 12:21 at the start of week 1, my timing was cut down to 10:20 by Week 7 or week 8 of my time in BMT. Never did I believe that I could run that fast given my weak physique since forever. Physical trainings need to be done progressive where limits are pushed, so that we would learn to break these limits gradually. Progressive training was something which I learn and continuously reminded myself of. With progressive training, we could accomplish much of what seemed initially unreal.

As progressive training, the most evident part would be the route marches in BMT. 4km march in vest slack (meaning t-shirt with our no.4 pants) with iLBV, followed by a 6km with fieldpack, followed by the 8km (for field camp). 12km (to SIT test) continued but in long 4 this time round, with 16km coming next Last to go was the graduation march, 24km, from Changi Beach Park to Marina Bay floating platform, which was one of the worst march ever, since it was a continuous lot of mind-boggling moments. I'm glad that I didn't fall out at all in any of these route marches. I must say that the 8km was the toughest, when it was a new attempt of carrying a load worth 10kg and marching in 4km intervals. Wouldn't forget the site when it was continuous marching with no end in sight. Heat acclimatisation was important too, since back then we were all having problems with adapting to the iLBV issued to us. I guess without my friends around to push each other on and the songs sung, I wouldn't have completed those marches. The most enjoyable march was the 16km, when we marched in pure darkness and just walking and singing, not really able to see where we're going. But it was fun I must say, since we marched together, brought sweets and such to push one another one. Shag much but I felt real happy about it to be honest. If I ain't wrong, I remember waking up the next day around 8am since we had lights out around 1am (7h of rest). Sun coming into the bunk and you just woke up - how great was that! Always liked the satisfaction of completing a route march when you actually managed to complete the distance that seemed quite far to accomplish.

Field camp was another highlight of my BMT times. I'm not going to describe or narrate much of what happened during my field camp but rather my learning experiences. For a new soldier back then, I would say that field camp taught me quite a bit about life. Forgetting that food was actually served hot, realising that brushing teeth and washing face seemed like a given, sleeping on a bed was actually something which is a privilege. Little things in our lives which we always forgot about or put little thought into, seemed so important during the days in outfield. But nonetheless, the times spent with section mates during training are always fun and make time pass by faster.

Times spent in bunk are always not without laughter. Living with people who come from different backgrounds and lifestyles, I always had quite a thought about who would be those people that I would live with during NS before I enlisted. It is actually okay, once you start to know those people in bunk through daily interactions and experiences with them. Area cleaning was one instance when we helped each other, fieldpack checks at the hard ground was another, followed by days of PT and night time interactions when we gathered at the common table to talk. Those food sharing, looking through funny videos or facebook photos of girls from friends, weapon cleaning outside bunk, poker card games made out of paper, chess games and news sharing from the articles, and music from those who brought in their music players. I remembered my laptop issued that didn't had the programme for the commanders to track our movements, so it was like a free-to-go-any-website laptop for everyone in bunk. I could go to facebook during the day without the commanders knowing and such, but once in a while, commanders would pop by the bunk to check our status.

I wouldn't forget my section mates and their associated habits in bunk. Bed 1 Ian, the Bunk IC, who would never fail to wake up everyone in the bunk at around 0525 in the morning with his epic line, "Guys, wake up already!" Bed 2 Bastien, who we had thought his name should be Sebastian instead of just Bastien, and since he wanted to go OCS, it would be like Sir-Bastien. Bed 3 Zhenyu, whom everyone calls him the Rat, since he always took food from us (and we offered him too). There was a rat case that happened during BMT and he was known as the Rat subsequently. Bed 4 Glenn, who slept opposite me (given the bunk was given a 2-level bed), always had Redondo in his cupboard and always missing the gold by 1 pull-up. Ultimately he got gold in BMT I think. Bed 5 was Guan Chiap, whose name was a tad harder for some to pronounce and ended up to be called names like kuay chiap at times. Nice guy to talk to, helped to take drinks for some of us when we were in long queues for food be it breakfast, lunch or dinner. Queues for food in BMT were always understandably long given 1 cookhouse shared by like 8-10 companies within a 2-month period. Bed 6 Timothy, who could be a little blur at times, quiet, always falling asleep but adept at sports from what I see. Oh yes, given that he was from Scouts, he helped a lot when we had trouble learning all sorts of knots during the preparation for SIT test. Learning those knots were seriously irritating, but they proved to be useful during SIT test when we had to tie for some of the missions.

Bed 7 was Mark, named as Pu-Bor by some of the commanders in BMT, was one joker who can be real sick at times, but never fail to be laugh at his jokes and funny antics at times. Wouldn't forget that morning when he woke up finding himself trapped in the bed with 6 ladders surrounding him (he slept at the lower of the 2-tiered bed), epic much! Not to forget his predicament during SIT test, when a big tree branch literally dropped from the tree and tore down his barsha which he was sleeping in with his buddy. I was in the neighbouring barsha, hearing his groans but ended up, he didn't got much injury at all, think it was a slight cut perhaps? Bed 8 WenJun, who always seemed like a machine when he did pull-ups, superb runner who had the potential to go OCS but chose to be a sergeant instead. He's one of the more amiable characters in bunk and always had a particular laughter in my opinion. Bed 9 Jonathan, who could be quite nice to talk to but at times quite blur, to the extent the section couldn't take him at times. Bed 10, Faris, another character in bunk who could be quite a joker with Mark when they talked. A sad thing was when he hit his eye with his rifle muzzle during one night in Field Camp, which made him go out-of-training for 1-2 weeks, causing him to miss his SIT test and had to do a make-up one. I remember one instance during fieldpack item check when we had to rush to put back everything into the fieldpack, with all equipments including the iLBV and helmet if I'm not wrong. He ended up carrying his fieldpack with the top flap of the fieldpack unclipped - which makes it look like a dick from the contrast of the fieldpack pixels and colours. Bed 11 Joeshua, who always got stuck in bed and on the phone with his girlfriend. All of us were like making fun of him in bunk with mushy and sweetened words in front of him. He never fails to call his girlfriend every night when available. Another nice character to talk to, but he seemed to had a little difference with his buddy, Bed 12 Kok How, especially when Joeshua got punished for not reporting his buddy when Kok How went toilet and came down late, in slippers with the bunk locked. Kok How was another character in bunk whom we liked to make fun of, especially with his name Kok How, which sounded like "Cock". Ended up, we got used to calling him Kok. He was okay with us making fun of him and jokes actually, think he got used to it during school days already. I must say, he is one person who was always helpful, knowledgeable and good at the things that were taught. He's also quite selfless I must say. He helped me quite a lot during BMT and especially SCS when skills taught were really important then.

Next, Bed 13 Kangjing, who was my buddy during BMT and SCS. Looked like an Ah Beng (or pai-kia) with his golden long hair at the start, I was a little taken aback when I knew that he was my buddy. Ended up, he was actually a harmless and friendly character to interact with. Both of us were deep sleepers but he was a deeper sleeper than I am. Wouldn't forget those days when I had to wake him up after I returned from washing up. Both of us could be stubborn yet flexible at times. It was interesting to know when I realised that my buddy actually had a twin somewhere else in the army. With his high-pitched voice, he was one of the prominent people in the section or even in the platoon, who looked like a small kid at times. Wouldn't forget those days when he was the platoon IC with his high-pitched voice which couldn't really be projected far. The sergeants had to pull him to a distance from the company line for him to give the platoon a command. Definitely, there would be much differences at times during certain junctures of training, since we each had minds of our own. There would be different opinions at times when we don't agreed on but no heated arguments I believe. Nonetheless, there were times when we actually had the same opinions about a particular issue. At the end of the day, I would say that he's a great buddy to have,  independent and helpful at times. Interaction with him could be quite fruitful, such as discussions about life or just plainly any topic during field camp, SIT test or simply just outfield during our time in SCS. I'm quite independent I must say, but sometimes without him I wouldn't know what to do or how things would have turned out, especially with the horrendous setting up of the barsha which we slept in during field camp and SIT test. Back then I was still not as combat fit, 'shag cannot think' like what most people like to say. Oh yes, he's terrific with pull-ups I must say, around 15 for each IPPT? But he had difficulty with SBJ, which proved to be a major obstacle for most of us during the end of BMT and during SCS throughout. One memorable moment with him was during outfield in SCS, when we were past midnight still digging our shellscrapes (yeah I sucked badly at digging shellscrapes), he came over to my shellscrape to have a talk. Nice conversation admist the cold and dark outfield but it wasn't for long since it was like the 1st day of outfield and we had a few more days ahead of us. I'm thankful for that my buddy during BMT and SCS was a great one, hope it goes the others way too =P.

Bed 15 was Caleb, who aspire much to go to OCS like Glenn, humorous in his own way when mixed with Mark and the rest. He's also one of those whom I interacted most since he's like my neighbouring bed. Together with Ian, I wouldn't forget his daily attempts to wake the bunk up by switching off all the fans and turning on the lights. It was either that or he rotates duties with Ian, or he does all that while Ian just says his favourite line. Wouldn't forget those days when Caleb chooses when to put in his effort into. He psychoed Joeshua to report sick with him if I remember correctly, which made Joeshua almost couldn't make it for the 24km march. Given that we were like neighbouring beds, Kang Jing, Caleb, Dennis who was Caleb's buddy and I were quite close during BMT and worked together a lot during BMT. Last but not least, Dennis, who was my JC schoolmate but I didn't know him that well. Through BMT I got to know him better. He often made fun of me by saying how buff I looked yet unable to do pull-ups. Yeap, I must say my body was more of for show rather than how it really is. Luckily he went on with SCS with us since he didn't had any intention to go to command school at all during BMT. Good that our influence worked and got him to go for SCS (since well, sergeants get better paid that men).

Alright, I think I spoke much about my time in BMT. To be honest, if I were to continue on, this blogpost would go to neverland already. There's just too much things to talk about! I'm just gonna list some of the events that took place during BMT which you, if you had been through NS, would be able to understand and recollect of.

1. Talks about signing on (be it army, airforce or navy), SAFRA membership, community chest talk, which served as a big time for us to sleep in the auditorium while waiting, and a good time for us to enjoy the air-con which we don't get at all during training.

2. Rifle Presentation - a ceremony when we first held on to a rifle and were presented by our commanders

3. Packing our fieldpack items in bunk, labelling it and trying to squeeze the air out of it.

4. LEARNet in the lecture room, where all of us brought our laptops to do e-learning. Plus, I remembered that each section sat each row of the seats.

5. Drills - only 1 foot drill lessons we had, which we had trouble learning for things like turning right on the march and turning left on the march. Another was the horrible graduation drills which we had to practise all over, trained by the CSM (who could be quite a bitch at times) from like 1pm to 5pm

6. First Aid Lesson - those rhythmic steps which we kept reciting to remember while performing CPR for the dummy

7. Grenade - the lesson at the training shed which had us crawling from one point to another. I remember all of us (the whole company) were punished and putting on helmets when Guan Chiap or Mark were playing with the rifle, pulling the charging handle with an empty magazine and showing to each other that it wouldn't get stuck at the back. Discipline much about ricochets if a live round were to appear. Next few lessons was about using and finally throwing a live grenade

8. Firing for Marksman - Wouldn't forget the continuous waiting for our turn to shoot, with us playing chess at the training shed while waiting and sleeping. I went to shoot for 2 days in order to get my marksman during BMT

9. SIT Test - when my platoon sergeant raged and had us high-kneeling while eating our breakfast.Was a tad boring when all of us were mixed up into groups and had to work with strangers literally.

10. SOC - I didn't had SOC back then since they were renovating the SOC ground, so it was mainly like a simulated SOC around the coyline. What I hated most was the heat acclimatisation run, which had us dropping our arc of fire sticks and toggle ropes. So you could practically hear metals falling to the ground literally every minute. To run with the iLBV, rifle and equipments was tough back then, since the extra load made it hard to run, especially with boots which we were not really used to.

Well, few more weeks to ORD and this week I had a pre-ORD training, mainly like a refresher of basic fundamentals. As an instructor in camp, going for a course like this does relive a little of my trainee days. Sadly, not everyone of my Spec course came back though, if not it would have been awesomely fun, seriously. Nevertheless, out of 120, only 16 remained for the pre-ORD training, together with some 60 men. Not much people, which makes events proceed faster but after being involved in training for so long, seeing how things work when another unit organises the course does make me reflect a lot about how efficient when my unit conduct courses.

Since I'm in a 'trainee' mode, observing how other commanders work and react to situations on the ground has definitely been an eye-opening one. Sometimes I feel a little frustrated over how slowly and inefficiently the commanders react but I'm glad that I didn't step in much or at all. Well, you may say that I'm not doing my job but on the contrary, I think I'm doing my job as a trainee well since trainees take instructions from the course commanders. Good time for newly graduated commanders  to learn to plan and conduct activities. Nice opportunity  for me to do a little review of how each event could have been conducted smoothly and efficient when I, as a trainee, had many instances of just pure waiting, be it during the daily activities or last parade. Much learning as a instructor here I must say and for courses like this, experience really counts. One reason for me to be proud as a Specialist indeed. How things could have been set up at a faster rate, how things could have been explained properly to the trainees, how things could have been planned ahead and briefed properly, how instructions could be disseminated properly really comes with the ability to be forward looking and to react on the ground swiftly. Experience is key I must say, and that was very evident when I saw the way 2 persons from totally different ranks addressed to the group. Not surprising at all that the one of lower rank seemed more experienced though.

As of next week, I'll be back to my job as an instructor in camp. Well, shag much since there's much events ahead with so many out-of-the-blue activities hijacking the training programme. Trainees gonna suffer much with the little time left for them when there's so much to accomplish during the next 3 weeks. Gosh.