The SCS Life (Foundation Term)

I just graduated from SCS Foundation Term last Friday, the whole course was one heck of a ride (not really, I just loved it there cos it felt WAYYYYY better than my BMT days).

My Corporal rank basically haha

Week 1:

In-Pro, Rank Presentation

Orientation Run, Lectures, Combat Fitness Acclimatisation 1 (CFA)

More lectures, Strength Training/Interval Training (ST/IT)

IPPT (Cat), Trip Flare, Claymore

NFE, ACES, GPS, M203, PRC, Matador

My first day in SCS was awkward since I arrived 5 hours late. I had something on in the morning so I couldn't report on time, and I received lots of calls and what not. Thank goodness my superiors were nice and kind, they just asked if I was alright. I later found out that i've made a huge spectacle of myself though... The whole company had already knew my name since everyone was looking for me for the period where i was absent and nowhere to be found. Everyone thought i AWOL-ed or something. Some had the impression i reported to the wrong place cos that was the excuse i gave my BMT mates. It was quite unjustified for them since they thought i wouldn't get into command school, much less SCS.

Later that evening, i had my rank presentation. 

The enciks said we were weaklings (obviously they said it in a crude manner) at the end of the 40 min parade because some of us fell out and there were 4 girls who stuck throughout the whole thing. 

Week 2:

Navigation, Army Recruitment Talk, CFA 2

SOC, Leadership Values

Grand Premier

The army always tries to recruit more people to sign on, and it does so with bounties, high salaries, bonuses and weird perks (More money). I signed once in BMT as an Officer in Military Intelligence but i didn't get in. Perhaps I wasn't cut out to be an officer. (Only one person in my platoon got into OCS hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm conspiracy) I've considered signing again in SCS, but i never liked the regimentation in the army, it isn't a lifestyle i can embrace. Besides, green is not a creative colour ;) 

Leadership Values teaches how to handle your men (I'd like to refer to them as my peers though) in future, according to their personality types and the different approaches available. I didn't learn much though, it was more of me telling my great stories from BMT to the platoon. Then, there's Grand Premier that gives you the big picture of what the army does and how the system works. At least, i finally understood my role in the SAF as a Specialist. 

Week 3:

Navigation, Saw live firing, Urban Operations, IPPT test, National Education, Commanders' Dialogue, Sports day

They gave me a map, a compass and a pacer, placed me in a jungle and asked me to find my checkpoints before getting out. I passed the test (somewhat) but if you expect me to complete a mission, i wouldn't have the confidence to do it. 

The SAW???????? It's a nerve wrecker cos of its complexity and my shots somehow landed in my buddy's target board. Somehow, i got 66 out of 25 points though (due to sand flying around and hitting my board)

National Education - where they tell you in the face who Singapore is defending against and what those countries have done/said to us.

It's like a rally haha. 

I joined the frisbee team for Sports Day but we lost our first match and got kicked out just like that. I'm so sorry for being a burden and not playing well, but thanks for giving me the chance to play in a team.

Week 4:

Navigation, CMR, Military Law, 

Week 5:

Chemical Defence, Urban Operations, Exercise Wanderer, M203 and Matador Live firing, CFA

It's a hassle to put on the full suit + mask in the event where there is a chemical warfare, I would choose not to put it on if i could. I couldn't go into the Training Facility (aka Gas Chamber but the term is strictly used for killing) cos i have childhood asthma and it puts me at risk if i enter. 

Exercise Wanderer is a scaled-up version of whatever i was doing in my navigation lessons (Climbing up huge knolls, finding azimuths, reading maps and pacing myself over a distance of 5km). I kept my mouth shut throughout the exercise cos of high stress and tension levels within the team and i wasn't too confident in leading them. Funny thing is, we were always first to get to the end point so yay.

I didn't get the opportunity to fire the live ammo for both the M203 and Matador (only practice shots) so... 

But it was a thrill watching the rounds blow up.

*imagines power rangers walking away from the blast area*

Week 6:

Field Camp

I definitely grew mentally stronger after this one, carrying the matador for 4 days straight (with a lil' help from my section), digging my shell-scrape in the middle of the night, giving myself a facial every now and then (Camo), bearing with my heat-rash and trying my best not to scratch myself.

I applied the SAF ninth core value when digging my shell-scrape, took my helmet, iLBV and rifle off. I got caught in the end and got punished for it but it was worth it haha. 

The 6km route march back was insane like *** the load was ASDFGHJKL. One thing about me is that i always want to fall out during tough times like this route march but i never do. I think i'm weak cos i can't have people looking down on me.

Week 7:

UO, Section Live Firing

*Sighs deeply* Only takeaway from here was to always put my rifle on 'safe mode' cos i ND-ed (Negligence Discharge, I fired off a blank during a ceasefire) 

SO GUESS WHAT? 7 days of SOL (Stoppage of Leave) 

I couldn't leave camp for 7 days and had to report every 2 hours to the guardhouse, but it's fine, I had my BMT section mates to accompany me. So, the three of us, who got into SCS together, got SOL together on the second last week of SCS. (CONSPIRACY)

And I started to dislike this certain person who refused to carry his matador since it was his own responsibility, while yours truly carried it for 4 days straight with no complaint. 

Life firing - funny how i spelt it that way the first time 

I was feeling really bad the whole week cos of this. I had the fear of dying throughout the whole week cos anything wrong could happen ie. having live rounds flying right at you. 

I have a lot of things that i wanna do, unfulfilled plans and wishes, dreams and goals and things i wanna continue doing. (but at that point in time, all i really thought of was this girl hahahaha)

Sadly, the Mt Kinabalu incident happened that same day. Then I just realised, hey these people have unfinished business too.

Week 8:

Maintenance, 24km, Graduation Parade

I volunteered myself to be the front scout for the second part of the 24km march (which i regretted during the march since my leg started to ache really badly). I wanted to give up but still couldn't bear others mocking me, so... I completed it. :'(

Reflections:

I really learnt a lot about myself and others and how to work with them in a team cos for the past 6 months i was thrown into places dominated by polytechnicies. Junior College was more of "every man for themselves" and "follow the correct procedures" but i've come to my senses. 

1) There's a right way of doing things, but there's a 'left' way too.

2) Bribing people with food is a super effective move against anybody

3) Chill out, just chill the *** out

Can you believe this my smile is so wide 

So yay, I've finally overcome SCS (foundation term nia)

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BUT I STILL FAILED TO OVERCOME THE SYSTEM SO NOW I'M IN INFANTRY. :(((