I’ve just completed my first ICT of 740 GDS today and I must say that ICT is not slack at all! ICT for Guards is a very sick thing even though there were some periods of time we were waiting for things to happen outfield. Just on Thursday alone, we went out at 7.30am and reached camp on Friday 1am!
The men had more rest time in between activities, and they can lie on their bed and sleep for periods of time but I have been going for meetings and taking instructions and doing a lot of things. But overall it was not really that physically draining. However, who goes for an 8km combat march in the first ICT?
All along we heard stories of how the ICT is a very slack event. People playing cards in the bunk etc. But it’s totally not like that especially for commanders.
The 8km combat march is the most physically draining affair. After about 2 and a half years of not doing army related stuff, I was plunged into full battle order and we walked for 1+ hours just for 1 km. I seriously do not believe that it was 8km. It may be 8km on map distance, but the physical distance you walk up slope and down slope just means we walk longer. Plus for the first 4 km we were walking near fast march pace.
Overall I’ve learnt that we all were seriously unfit, but the reason why we could all continue on without dropping out is because we’ve been conditioned not to. Lennard, who from the day I knew him wanted to OOC from GCC and fall out from ICT, didn’t OOC and didn’t fall out. The 84 cmdrs, KH, Jasper and Kwa also walked on with their 84 guns and manpacks and completed the whole march.
The company ended up being the best in every segment possible, but we weren’t rewarded with anything from our superiors at B HQ. In fact, the B HQ didn’t seem to understand the men at all, and I think they all should try a section commander stint to get to understand what the men and specialists want in reality. Despite all the nonsense from HQ, I think we all will come back again even though we said we wouldn’t want to. This is because of the deep friendships we have forged over the years, and will continue to forge. A relationship that isn’t just about being acquainted with other people, but about knowing that they will walk the distance with you, complaining together, but still walking, and supporting you along the way. Knowing that they truly care and will want the best for you. Knowing that you will want the best for them.
It’s the little things that says so much. How my previous section took lunch for me even though I am no longer their sect comd but their Plt Sgt. How we just laugh at simple things. How we will just go the extra mile to take the 100plus for our men even though we are already very shag out. How among the ba long long-ness we all managed to survive well. How that when someone’s feet swelled, he still continued to walk and kept on going. About my section 2ic who stills calls me sgt kenneth during civilian days, and how he actually bought a can of 100 plus for me and his section when we were out for training. How we did not care that there’s no distinction between specs and men when we sit down during field training. How a very special group of people just took the bedsheets down without me needing to assign duties.
I have changed my opinion about many people during the ICT. I was very impressed with my group of specialists, my co-ps and the section commanders and my MG cmdr. We’re all different, but we make a great team. I think I learnt a lot this ICT, and I’m glad I was there.
That’s the total defence day tagline for this year, and I think it’s a good question that we should all think about. If we seriously ponder, there are many things that each and every one will defend.
Just yesterday when I met up with Nelson’s other friends for badminton, I found out that they are also from Guards, except that they were from 3 Guards and I was from 1 Guards. Different batch too. One of them commented that Guards is sick. I said no.
Personally Guards is a tough unit, but all the more I’m proud to say I graduated from the conversion course, endured my whole NS journey with my fellow Guardsmen, and grew up together with them. It is this pride that keeps you going, that keeps me saying proudly, “Yes I am a Guardsmen”.
But back to the question. What will you defend?
I’ll defend Singapore because this is my home. I don’t care who is running this country, whether it is this government or any government, because to me, Singapore is this geographical entity bounded by the hearts of each and every single Singaporean. No matter which political party takes over, Singapore is still Singapore and this is still my country. So don’t comment and argue about how could I love a country that [insert your ideas here].
I’ll defend my family because that’s where my life is.
I’ll also defend my ideas on freedom and my rights.
There are so many things I will defend for. What’s yours?
I read a blog through The Online Citizen just now, and the blog is talking about National Service and how it stands for slavery. For more details, here’s a link to the blog.
Basically I disagree with the author. Why do we call National Service slavery? In a skewed way, yes perhaps it does seem like slavery. You spend 2 years of your life having sweat and tears grinded out of you and you get paid miserably for each hour spent in camp. But however, if we recognize the basic intention of national service, perhaps it is a sacrifice that is worth it?
The purpose of National Service cannot be summarized in a single sentence. National Service, primarily, is for conscripting soldiers for the citizen army, in such a way that when there is a time of need, we are able to fight and defend ourselves. Critics argue that a bomb can destroy Singapore and there is no hope in defending. But I ask, should you ever give up without a fight? Or give up totally because you feel the odds are against you? Or are we a nation of sissies that are so cynical that we assume the worst will happen?
The author seems to hint that National Service is slavery, but titled in a nice way called “National Defence”. He asks “How is buying coffee and breakfast for the Company Sergeant Major or Regimental Sergeant Major considered national purpose or even national security. How is being called names like cheese pie and kuniang and f**ers considered good for defence?”. However, let’s not kid ourselves. How many of us actually bought coffee and breakfast for the CSM / RSM? Most of the people who end up doing the job are those who have medical problems. They are either those that truly have some problems, or those asshole keng-sters who want an easy life out of NS. The rest of us toil and sweat in our training for purposes that are intended for defence.
What i’m trying to say is that we should not generalize. Perhaps it is the way in one unit, but it isn’t in the other units.
I think the author of that post is seriously bias. He fails to consider alternative viewpoints, but launch into attacks of the system with no strong support. He only talks about parts like area cleaning and gardening (???) as if that is all we do in National Service. I believe even at home, we do our own area cleaning. How can we live in a place that is dirty? Without area cleaning, can we have a better and more hygenic place to live in? If we don’t even take care of our own camp, can we blame mosquitos from biting us?
The truth about National Service is that there are many different people inside holding different jobs with different viewpoints. National Service is intended to be for the defense of the nation and the author fails to show how it has not succeeded in its aim.
The author laments about the possibility of getting charged within one day, but how many people actually get charged within one day? Unless the offense is serious enough, most of the time we just end up with extras. Anyway, what is the point of bringing up Mas Selamat anyway? Appeal to fear?
I don’t deny that there are some parts of the SAF that is screwed up. The recent incident of a blog post about this guy who is ending up half blind because of the SAF. Assuming it is authentic and true in all his words, then the SAF has to revise its own system on how they treat their manpower.
However, from the 2 years that I have served in the Army, I think that it is not so bad after all, at least in my camp.
The author says “I believe conscription is increasingly a tool for the State to emasculate the male citizenry, to impose its will to develop a compliant male population who is ever so quick to kowtow to authority figures all in the name of duty, honour and country.”
But is it? It seems to be more of an assumption. The SAF now is different from the SAF in the past. There is less vulgarities. I do admit, there are vulgarities, and I am at fault for spewing them out of my mouth when I was angry with my men, but those are just part and parcel of army life. Am I compliant? I don’t seem to have changed. I think by myself and I know when something seems wrong or right. Just note that we do not kowtow to authority figures in the name of duty, honour and country. In the name of duty, honour and country, we fight, but not to kowtow as if worshipping a God. If National Service is intended to force our citizens to be compliant to that extend, I must say it is a total failure. Why then, is an ex NSman so un-compliant?
Let’s just remind ourselves that Singapore is not the only country that conscripts its own male citizens. South Korea is another such country. Why do we keep whining about losing out to the females of our own age? Certainly we wouldn’t be competing everything based on age are we? Besides, many of us have gone through this process and I am going through it now. My female classmates are two years younger than me, but is that such a big deal?
If we consider the possibility that we may end up subject to another country’s rule, then perhaps these two years spent is time worth spending if we could prevent that possibility from happening. Whatever happened to a sense of feeling to our country, regardless of the political party that is governing it? I am asking you to love Singapore, not the PAP.
If we ourselves cannot put in our part to defend the nation, then who can? Our country is already flooded with foreign “talents”. Can we trust them in times of need? If we can’t even put in our own effort, then this country is doomed.
After my two years of National Service, I emerged a much better person overall. I made friends and gained many brothers. I have brothers that gone through thick and thin with me, something that I can never gain if I had not gone in for the two years. I must say I have gotten plenty of work experience, just that my work experience is in terms of building relationships with my own men. I also emerged physically fitter. The gains are there, but it is up to us to face it. We can always deny and shrug it off, but the truth remains.
Whether we end up as good men or not, it is up to us. National Service is merely a process where we all grow up. It is Singapore’s identity and culture and should not be abolished. It is also not slavery. If we criticize National Service, then can we give a viable and better alternative? After all, criticism is just talk and no action. What’s the difference between this and calling someone a f***er in the army? It’s just talk.
My ex PS is a regular. Now I have his MSN and I keep in contact with him. His latest nick says that “There is no greater honour than serving the nation”. He has his beliefs, we have ours. But let us respect him for the path he chosen. The SAF may have its faults, but it has its uses.
Basically, I am supportive of National Service and I think it should continue. Perhaps it should be improved upon, but it should continue. I had some of the better times in life in there, with my friends at 1 Guards. 1 Guards taught me never to give up, to challenge myself and give my best. My brothers also supported me through my NS. NS is a great chance, and it depends on how you make use of it.
On a lighter note, I find it ironic that the author is so angry with the army, but uses it to maintain a blog about the army.
In the last post I stopped when I was talking about Physical Training. Potential Guardsmen will surely be concerned with the level of fitness required during the course. Let me just say that it will be tough, no doubt about it, but it is definitely manageable.
I do recall many different types of physical training which focused largely on the abs area. An example of a particular exercise is to raise our legs up whilst lying down and move your left and right name alternatively up and down. After a while your abs would be very tired, and you can’t put down your legs till everyone’s legs are straight and at a 45degree angle. This is a test of endurance as a team. If there are some jokers who do not comply with instructions, everyone suffers. This allow you to find out if your friends are really trustworthy in times of need.
After a few weeks of running and training, your fitness will definitely improve. By the way, the IPPT system for Guards is different from normal infantry. To get a Gold, you must get an A in all the 5 stations, plus running time for 2.4km be less than 9 minutes and 15 seconds. To get a general feel, for a Pass in Guards its like a Silver in Infantry. One level up.
As for SOC, there is no major difference, except that the passing time is not 9.29 and below but 9.14 and below. The 15 seconds is for pride issues. At least you can tell your friends that you passed the Guards SOC. I did, and I cleared it in 9 minutes 7 seconds after many tries.
In the next post, I will talk more about the stuff that I did. However, they will not be detailed and certain parts will not be said because certain stuff are sensitive information.
A few days ago when I was on my way back home on the MRT, I overheard a brief conversation between this girl and this guy before they left at Jurong East. All I managed to cover was two sentences.
…every weekend you go to log-in?…
Me:Isn’t it book in? Hmm
…I hope my brother won’t get into Guards. This intake…
Me: Yep. Talking about NS..
There have been plenty of instances when people around me have shown the common mentality towards serving National Service. The best case for them is to get a slack vocation, best if you get to go home every night. Hence, being in a chiong-sua unit is very much frowned upon. Not to mention being in a Guards unit.
I have had the same problem before. When I was first posted to 1 Guards in 2005, I prompty googled Guards and tried to find any information that I could have helped towards my understanding of becoming a Guardsmen.
Hence, I decided to write a few blogposts about my path of becoming a Guardsmen.
On the day that I graduated from Sispec (School of Infantry Specialists) from ASLC (Advanced Section Leaders Course), I received notification that I was posted to 1st Battalion Singapore Guards. I was naturally afraid and I was so turned off that I was badly demoralized. Why not send me to BMTC (Basic Military Training Center), I thought. Everyone wants to go to a slack place and enjoy their NS life, but it is not my choice to make. The worst thing is, its Guards. I would have to go through the dreadful GCC (Guards Conversion Course)! I would have to continue being a trainee again! Not to mention that everyone has the common feeling that GCC is a sick and tough course which is difficult to pass. The problem was also that my fitness was not the best as compared to the rest, so why am I posted to Guards, an elite infantry unit?
The next book in day I proceeded to my unit and saw many familiar faces, fellow ASLC trainees that were also sent to Guards altogether. Everyone was having that sick feeling in their guts (not a pun ok?), and we were jealous of friends who were posted to BMTC, or even Infantry units.
When I went there, the GCC wasn’t going to start yet, for we were waiting for the officers to come. Depending on the requirements, you can either go for a mixed course (with officers and specialists), or a separated course. Mine was a mixed one.
The days went pass and we started knowing who’s who in our battalion and we began some physical training and skills training before our GCC. Training was tough, but they emphasized on team building.
How was training like? I think I shall leave it for the next post.
