National Service

Yes, yes, I have been enlisted for National Service and am now officially a National Service Full-time. I enlisted on the 29th of December 1999 into Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) School 2 which is based on Pulau Tekong. I was posted into Orion Company, which was a PES C company and a JC batch. That means most of the people there took their A levels and that we all had medical problems that prevented us from going to the frontlines (which also meant a shorter and easier time at Tekong)

Now I have already passed out of BMT and I am now a private instead of a "cao" (ie:smelly) recruit. (YEAH!) Thank goodness I'm a private now, a recruit is LITERALLY the lowest "life-form" there can be in the army and you're pretty much treated that way too.

Schedule

Well, the following is a list of what a PES C recruit has to go through during his seven weeks in Tekong.

Week 00 - General Military Knowledge Lectures/Drill
Week 01 - M16 Technical Handling Lessons and Test
Week 02 - Electronic Range (IMT)/Individual Field Craft (IFC) Lessons (held outfield)
Week 03 - Grenade Lessons/3D2N Field Camp
Week 04 - 5K Route March/IPPT Trial Test/Live Grenade Throw/Live Range
Week 05 - Live Range and Night Range
Week 06 - Battle Inoculation Course/IPPT/Trench Digging/10K Route March

This is a rough guide of what a PES C Recruit goes through in his seven weeks there. Stuff like bayonet fighting, arms drill, PT and weights training are also taught throughout these seven weeks. If you are wondering what happened to the infamous Standard Obstacle Course (SOC), well... PES C recruits are excused from SOC. awwwwwww........ ;p

I could tell you all about my training and I would have told you all about my training, however, by doing so I could have leaked out restricted information. Since I do not want to be caught for leaking restricted information, I will not be telling much here. :(

Food

Well, I suppose I would not be jeopardising my nation's security by saying that the breakfast at Tekong sucks big time! Yep, it sure does. Ask any Tekong-er about the Chee Cheong Fun or the Mee Hoon Soup. Urgh..... Rule of thumb:Any breakfast that is not cooked on Tekong itself (ie:bread) is a luxury. The lunchs and dinners are alright, it's better than most school canteen food. Unfortunately, you get pretty sick of the lunchs and dinners there pretty soon too.

Is The Training Tough?

I personally found it pretty ok, enjoyable at times, terrible whenever we're being punished. Overall, it's ok. Then again, I'm a PES C recruit, so training is less tough for me. PES A recruits ahould find their training bearable while commando recruits should start praying for a miracle. :)

Whether your life in Tekong is a living hell or not totally depends on your superiors. It is all up to them. I thank god that mine were humane. From what I hear, Taurus company is a very TOUGH company.

Tips on how to make your life in Tekong that wee bit easier.

1.Always greet the PTI before he greets your company/platoon.
2.Bring washing powder, especially on your enlistment date.
3.Never dismantle any part of your rifle when you sleep during your field camp. Instead, button your rifle underneath your uniform and keep the muzzle under your neck.
4.Ensure no one pees into the drain during your field camp.
5.Try to wrap your elbows with some small cloth when you go for you Battle Inoculation Course. Do not get caught doing it.
6.Bring fibre supplements for your own comsumption. Constipation is the consequence of non-compliance.
7.Bring a lighter and a pair of scissors.
8.Bring a black pen and take it to your live range/lectures/battle inoculation course.
9.If your song ic/timer has a screwed up sense of timing, screw him and start timing before he can.
10.Last but not least, do ONLY what your instructors tell you to!

Epilogue

Well, my time in basic military training certainly has had it's fun times and tough times. But what is most important is your perspective of things and your own situation. A positive outlook will make time go past very fast. On the other hand, a negative one will make these 3 months the longest 3 months of your entire life.

Overall, I came out of BMT a slightly better person (I hope) and my body is definitely fitter. It has been an enriching experience but it is something I definitely do NOT want to do ever again. *grin*

-- Darren is a buff hunk wannabe...

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