What an Unlucky day...

It was a Thursday afternoon at about 2pm when I drove my veh back from the fuel top up point. The weather was cool, soothing and rain was imminent as can be seen from the patches of dark clouds forming in the sky.

I wore a helmet which doesn't belong to me, just borrowed from others for the sake of operating the vehicle. The helmet stinks and I suppose it hasn't been washed after atec. For a moment, I took off my helmet seeing that no one was around as the stench was killing me. Coincidentally, my CO who was doing his routine ckecks, walked past me!!!

I maintained my composure, brought the vehicle to a halt and expected the worse. He came to me asking me I didn't wear my helmet. I told him I just took it off. "Rules are rules", he said firmly. He asked my name and ordered me to take 5, which means 5 extra duties...

I was helpless but I can't do anything to salvage the situation. Now, I am thinking about it day and night, even before I sleep. ORD, just less than 2 months away, but I still have uncleared leave and offs. Can I clear my leaves and offs on time? Will my weekends be burnt due to my 5 extras? I can't do anything but just hope for the better....

The Final Lap....

After struggling for 1 year and 8 months in NS, I have finally come to the last leg of the race - ATEC stage 2. This coming Tuesday, I will be embarking on one of the highlights in my NS life.

Not everybody can experience ATEC during NS, which depends whether your unit is in her first or second year during your ORD year. To many people, we are the unlucky ones. Some people can just slack and work in an air-con environment serving their NS, while some like me have to work so hard every day, going outfield frequently to prepare for ATEC stage 2.

But I believe all the hard work will pay off one day. For ATEC stage 2, we will be tested on various war scenarios and how effectively we can meet the objective at the end of the mission. No doubt there will be lots of casualties during the mission. OC will be down; PC will be down, leaving the specs or even the men to command the entire platoon or company.

Heard from others that ATEC stage 2 will be fun as there will be lots of fighting and killing, seeing your superiors die, killing your own friends etc...

ATEC stage 2 is also the time when you see how you put to use what u have learnt during the course of your army life, from things learnt in BMTC all the way to the various commanders' training. Although I hate outfield, I will put in my best for myself, the company, the battalion to do well for this ATEC. It will probably be the last outfield in my army life before I ORD in early Nov.

Having worked so hard in this battalion since I was posted in last year Nov, my OC has planned for the commanders especially to clear our off and leave after ATEC. It has been so long since I had a super long weekend, slacking at home, waking up for brunch etc...

To keep our spirits high for ATEC, the whole battalion spent last Friday morning at Kallang river side park dragon-boating. It was extremely tiring but fun, especially during the part when 2 boats come close to each other and all the splashing will leave you totally drenched.

We also had a 21km AHM run last Sunday on the 27 Aug. To me, it was a significant event in my army life as I have never ran such a long distance before in the wee hours of the morning from 5.45am to 8.15am. It was a time when u can run on the roads without getting caught by the police, a time when u never ran so long and so early. It was truly an experience running on the expressways, roads, streets as the side crowds cheer you on. I was proud of myself completing the race and got myself a medal as a souvenir...

Looking forward to the week after ATEC...and my ORD...