Here I am, finally started to talk about the 2nd part of my NS journey in Specialist Cadet School (SCS). I'm really sorry (to myself badly) that I have left this blog forsaken for quite a while because of my consistent laziness to just come here and blog about it. Plus, knowing that each post would be a long one kinda of serves as a deterrence to come here. I have decided to continue talk about my 2nd part of my NS journey because I don't want future Oliver to come blaming the current Oliver for not having typed this out when future Oliver starts to forget all that happened in 2011 - 2013. So here goes!

Being posted to SCS was really something which I wanted back during BMT. Not like most guys who wanted to go Officer Cadet School (OCS), I had the interest to become a Specialist instead. Well, I guess that interest arises from the fact that my 2 brothers also graduated from SCS, so having me to become a Specialist meant that all the boys at home are Specialist. That may perhaps sound so simplistic you might comment, but I didn't want to break the 'trend'. 

Another reason was reality. I knew that given my physical fitness and mental ability back then, meeting the expectations to go into OCS was a far reach.I was not as mentally strong back then so the thought of going through 9 months of training made my decision to pursue for SCS instead.

Furthermore, (I know this is a sweeping generalisation) most guys who wanted to go OCS tend to be those who like to show off or attention seeking than the rest when they do not have real ability (also known as 'wayang' in the army). I didn't really like the way these people behaved so as to strive to go to OCS. I cannot imagine how it would be like to be living with these people for the next 9 months if I were to go OCS. Respect from me goes to those who are prominent but at the same time capable but not to those who are outstanding from the surface but deep within is an empty shell. During BMT, I did meet those with real potential and I'm glad that they did made it out of OCS. Nevertheless, I guess it's inevitable for those who are good at acting made it to OCS. On second thought, it's also a great situation here for me because it also meant that I didn't have to meet them in SCS! Those with real potential to be an officer will eventually prevail so I believe that would count. If you're really good, you'll make it out in life.

At the end of BMT, I believe almost every soldier would roughly know the difference in the roles of a Specialist and an Officer. Coming to SCS initially meant that I would become a Specialist at the end of training. Reasons I have stated above to go SCS were more of the environment and perceptions that I had during BMT. There was not much of a reason to be a Specialist above that. Nevertheless, at the end of my 1 year 10 months in NS, I have found deeper meaning and discovery of my purpose of being a Specialist. These new found discovery broadened my mind. If given a choice again, I would choose to be a Specialist. I'll talk more that discovery in the later parts of this series. Now, let me focus more on my time in SCS.

Training in SCS was divided into 3 parts, namely the Foundation Term, Professional Term and lastly the Combined Arms Term. I've only spent in Foundation Term in SCS. More on Professional Term and Combined Arm Term in the later parts of the series. I shall talk about my Foundation Term here.

 Honestly speaking, my time in SCS can be described to be fast-paced, blurry and meaningful. I have decided to come up with short descriptions so that elaborations would be more concise.

Fast-paced.

Foundation Term was a short 8-week training. At the start, it felt really long because of the long days and weekends burnt due to live firing or remedial training. My bookouts on Fridays were always late, meaning Saturday was like a half day given lack of adequate rest. Training expected of us were much higher compared to BMT, lessons were more detailed and required more time to understand. For instance, I remembered taking like a few days to learn to operate a SAR21. In my unforgettable first week in SCS, I was exposed to 3 different weapons and 1 signal set. First day was training and the next day was the technical handling test. The training for the first day was a flood of information on top of the technical aspects of weapon handling. The whole day was spent on that and by the end of the day, all my section mates and I were still a little unconfirmed about what we learnt. It can be described as the blind leading the blind.

In the short 8 weeks, I went through various training events like navigation, outfield, chemical defence, various live firings and route marches. Combat fitness was really much better than before when we went through tougher outfield exercises and consistent 'semulas' (meaning back to the start) during field training. Last but not least, donning on long 4 with fieldpack and load-bearing vests was a norm in SCS and camo-on was something which never ceased. Learning curve was really steep. If you don't get a certain concept, you've got to catch up because the next training activity commences.

Blurry

Time in SCS  Navigation was another module which again, my friends and I took considerable amount of time to master on our own given that learning in SCS was self-directed. That meant learning from the laptop and clarifying questions from the instructors. The good? More time for us in bunk and time to use the laptop. The Bad? Connections were slow at times and given the same period of time, we all had different learning pace. So learning was a continuous rush through the lessons. For those who had short attention span, the next moment was spent on either like Facebook or games. Own time own learning was great, and it would really help had you spent the time to focus on learning the concepts taught. But once you abuse that, disaster would strike when we're out on the field looking lost.

Routine in coyline was okay I would say. Time in SCS was quite free after 6pm if there's no night training. It meant free time for my section mates and I to do anything we wanted (but within limits like duh). Those who wanted to run went for runs, but most of us spent a lot of time with our laptops, since it was a communication tool to access the outside world. 

With all that we had during our free time, it was ultimately under the control of my Ops Spec at coyline. Gosh, I won't forget the regimentation that we've got when he came. He imposed quite ridiculous punishments on us sometimes which were unreasonable. Sometimes he's right with his reasons but then again, when he gets pissed, judgements and decision making kinda of like falls apart. As we were commanders-to-be back then, his actions and thoughts reflected upon me what kind of commander I would be when I graduate as a Specialist. How would I behave as a Specialist? Would I become the kind of Specialist who is unreasonable to people? How would I punish people? How am I going to treat my men? Or would I become those who treat people like slaves under my command? Or the Specialist who is nonchalant in attitude, waiting for things to happen before action takes place? Would I become like the Ops Spec? There were quite a lot of answers which I needed to find out for myself and these answers cannot be obtained except by myself.

Despite the unpredictable path that I was taking, I knew that I just had to go with the flow, because time will tell.

Meaningful

With all that time I've spent in SCS, I would say there were many nice experiences gained which were interesting and memorable.

Learning new weapons and soldiering skills added value to my learning and role as a soldier. Those time spent outfield with my section mates, be it in UO or terrain environment, it honed my mental strength and ability. Given the company which I had, I'm glad that these people were with me throughout that period of time. Opportunities given during training such as firing a matador, entering a smoke chamber and navigate in a forest are something which I would have a chance to experience in my normal life. Recalling back, I do wish to be able to try out all these things again. Nevertheless, I do believe that continual exposure to that would definitely make me be sick of it too. As they call, diminishing returns of utility!

Overall, I wouldn't say that the self-directed learning adopted in SCS was bad. True that we were lost along the way and made lots of mistakes, but that also meant that we've picked ourselves up and learn from experience. That was something which I think given the minimal spoonfeeding that we had. Independent learning for adults, but whether it benefited really depended on your mindset, whether you're open to it or not and whether you're willing to commit to it.

I've liked my time in SCS, the place, the food and the people I've met. Given that it was the Home of the WOSpecs, it does bring a lot of memory back to me whenever I returned to SCS as a parade trainer for the next few batches of graduation parade. Time back there was tough to handle with consistent thoughts of wanting it to end quickly. Now that those training are history, I have that fulfilling sensation knowing that I've become better than who I was and where I were. 32km marches through the night with a heavy load, those sweat spent during outfield training, to be able to break through boundaries that I have not ventured in, that gamble emanates a sense of personal achievement. Plus, through SCS, I had greater experience of how outfield is really like and I'm grateful for that when I started out as a trainer in my own posting.