Sunday, October 25, 2009
(Part 2)22/10/2009 (Gypsy)Today is the day where we finally had our Gypsy navigation in Mandai Jungle. We didn't really know what to expect but hearing from our Encik's, it seems like it's not gonna be easy & it turn out to be true.
When we got there, we were brief & once everthing was settled they deploy us to our first checkpoint. The terrain there was quite alright except for the freaking sharp torns & the muddy grounds. We had problems finding the first checkpoint as we were suppose to find "Moon" but we end up finding OCS "Moon" instead. We tried looking around but we didn't manage to find it so we decided to head back & check with the instructor's. They told us that the checkpoint that we found was wrong so we decided to search for it again. One thing great about our team was that we had a strong fighting spirit. We are not gonna give up that easily.
After walking & searching for hours, finally we found our first checkpoint. The feeling was awesome & our confidence level grew. We head back to report to the instructor's & took a couple of minutes of break.
For the next checkpoint, we didn't had much luck. We stick to the plan that we felt was the best but after walking through tough terrain's we end up getting lost. Everyone was trying to locate where we were but sadly we didn't know where we are right now. So we took a deep breath & discuss on what's our next plan now. After a while we got a message from the signal set informing us to cut the exercise & head back to the endpoint. Before departing, we met up with our other section mates who was in another team. So we set our compass to North & head all the way to the endpoint.
After bashing & walking for quite a long time, we finally reach the endpoint. Even though we didn't manage to complete all the day checkpoint's, i was glad that we put in effort & did the very best that we could.
Soon it was nightfall & it was time for the night checkpoint. I was kinda worried as the daytime was already tough & now imagine doing it in the night when the visibility is low. But i guess we are not gonna give up without putting up a fight first so we continued with what we have planned. It was really hard walking through the vegetation as it was dark. We even had to walk through a difficult log to cross over the swamp & after being able to cross it, we got stuck as we couldn't continue walking as the place is block with with very thick trees and bushes. We reach a dead end so we had no choice but to back track. Damn, now we had to cross the difficult log again & this time i slip & fell with my butt hitting the bloody log. It was hard balancing as my boots were slippery & the signal set that i was carrying was heavy. Thankfully there wasn't any serious injuries haha. So we continued & decided to go with our plan b which is walking along the side of the tracks and head to our checkpoint as ours was pretty near to one of the tracks according to the map. We walk & walk till it was almost time to the exercise cut timing. So we decided to take a few minutes of break & we found this beautiful place to catch a breather. We did some replanning & one of our team mmembers felt that the checkpoint was quite near to the spot where we took a break so we decided to give it a shot. We walk & bash through the vegetation's but sadly we came to a dead end as there was no way we can continue walking due to the thick vegeatation's. So we decided to head back to the end point. It was a long way back & after walking like forever, we finally reached the place & thankfully we didn't got lost.
It was really hard to navigate this time but it was a good experience. We learnt our mistakes & hopefully we will have better luck on the next navigation which is Wanderer where this time it will be at Tekong Island. Hopefully we won't get lost there haha.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
20/10/2009Today we had the gas chamber confidence course. We got to experience staying in a room covered with tear gas & we were gear up with the suit & gas mask.
When we first got in, they made us do 5bx inside the room, we did some changing of filter drills & lastly we had to take off the mask. That was when the bad part began. Our whole face has this burning sensation feeling & when they made us open our eyes & say out our NRIC/name that was when it got even worser. The gas got into our throat & it causes us to have this choking feeling & our eyes hurt as well.
Once we were out, everyone tears & mucus came rushing down. After a few minutes the effect began to slowly worn off. It was definetly an experience imagine with only just tear gas, the feeling is pretty unbearable. I guess the actual harmful gases will definetly be more painful & horrible.
After we were done with the exercise, we got our Night's Out:D. Me & some of my section mates decided to head down to Jurong Point to have dinner & catch a movie. We ate at Thai Express & watch "Imagine That". Though the outing was short but i did enjoy myself. Overall it was a good day & thankfully everything went smoothly.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
14/10/2009Today we had to navigate again but this time we had to use the map, compass & plan our Navigation Data Sheet. We will be doing in Section level but too bad our section had to split up & join other sections.
In the beginning, the navigating was alright but going up the slopes was kinda hard & the place was surrounded with so many mosquitos. Once we reach our first check point we had to pause as it was raining heavily.
Finally after a long wait the rain had slowered down so we continued on with the navigation. Now the additional problem that we're facing is the wet slippery ground. It was pretty tiring going up & down the slopes & we had to be extra careful. Navigating in the rain is really a hassle but thankfully the section that i was with didn't gave up & did their very best to overcome the challenges that we face.
Finally we reach the end point. We had dinner & waited for nightfall as we had to do the night navigating as well. Night time came & we continued with the navigating. It's really hard to see our surroundings due to the darkness & we had to climb difficult slopes but this time i felt that we improved compared to the day navigation & everyone moral was high. There was teamwork as well & finally we reach the top. Our instructor brought us to a place where there was a breathtaking view.
What a tiring day it has been but it was a experience one can't forget & overall i really enjoyed myself.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
(Part 1)13/10/2009 (Compass Course)Today we had the Compass Course lesson. First we learned on how to use the pacer. Finally i know on how to use it while ealking. Once we were done, we march to the next location where we will be going inside a jungle & use the compass to find our way to the location's that we were given. Also we will be doing it individually so i guess this a good time to trust our own instinct & built our confidence on navigating.
So first we started with the day navigating. We were given 4 location's to go to. It wasn't that easy as the jungle area is full of high & down slopes so it was pretty tiring climbing up & down. My first attempt on the first station was a failure as i made a mistake so i had to go back & navigate again. Thankfully the second station i got it right:). I finally got a hang of it & learned my mistake. It was fun but tiring at the same time. Once the day training was over, we took a break & ate dinner while waiting for nightfall as we had one more to go which is the night navigating.
This time for night navigating we had to navigate in the dark using the compass. It was pretty tough as it was difficult finding my way due to poor visibility as it was dark & the fogs on my spectacles. I had to be really careful not to walk on holes or fall over slopes. But thankfully i found my way but i drifted my station by 1.
Overall the experience today was fun & i really enjoyed myself. Though it was tiring but being able to find your way in the night is definetly a good feeling:).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
05/10/2009 (First Field Camp In Sispec)Last Monday was our first field camp in Sispec. I remembered my very first field camp during my BMT days where it was really a challenged not only physicaly but mentally as well. But this time we heard from the seniors that it was better than the BMT field camp.
On the first day, it was pretty hectic & rushing as we kept receiving different information on what to bring for the field camp. I guess next time we should be more prepared and organized. After all the madness finallt it's time to move off to the field camp site. Instead of taking the tonner they actually provided a bus to take us there. I guess the welfare here is better than Tekong haha.
Once we got there, we were brief on the stuff that we had to do for the day. Night time was awesome as we get to experience setting up a real live tripflare & seeing it in action.
The first night was bad as we were sleeping cowboy style without any shelter & unlucky for us it was raining heavily in the middle of the night. We had to quickly pack up & rush to the training shelter.
For the rest of the following days, we did a lot of fire movements. There was lots to learn & the most challenging part was the jungle terrain. The bushes were so thick & there was so many sharp torns not to mention the place was full of insects. I felt that it was worser than Tekong jungle. It was really tiring & we were pretty unlucky as it was a rainy season. It kept raining & our area is always wet & muddy. We really had little rest as it was always raining in the middle of the night & we always have to rush back to the training shelter. Our sleep always got distrupted all thanks to the weather but i guess it was a good experience as even though it was tough, i did enjoy myself & it's nice to experience different kind of stuff in life.
Overall this field camp i felt that it was even more tough & tiring compared to Tekong. The terrain was horrible & so is the weather. Pronning in torns, mud's, thick bushes, bashing through tall bushes & sleeping in a wet area is something one wouldn't want to go through but i guess it's good for us though as it made us to be a more better & braver soldier. It make us appreciate life even more and not take things for granted.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
29/09/2009Today we had the normal routine such as lecture's & PT exercises. But in the afternoon, we get to experience something new which was shooting of the SAW weapon. Finally we got to use the weapon & experience the feeling of it's recoil & the automatic function. We also learn & got to try aiming using it's so call "scope".
So first was the day shoot. We got to try the 100m & 300m range. Personally i prefer using this weapon as i find it easy to aim. It was really fun experiencing the automatic bullets shooting out more than once. The recoil was good as it wasn't that strong.
After we were done with the day shoot, we took a brak & waited for nightfall as we will be having the night shoot as well. We began quite late as there was a delay & we wasn't fast & efficient so that affected the actual time plan. So once everything was settled, we began the night shoot. The night shoot was a bit different as this time we only need to shoot 50m & 100m. For the 50m we will be using the LAD light & we had to adopt the standing position. The night shoot was pretty tough for me as i had a hard time aiming as i couldn't see the scope due to the darkness. For the 50m's, it was a standing position & taking aim using the LAD light. I didn't even hit a single target as it was hard to control the weapon as the recoil causes the weapon to move.
So once everyone has completed, we went to pick up the RAI's, did our declaration, pack up & we march back to the company line. We had some difficulties in the company line as we had to sent weapons, clean 10 rifles that we borrowed from another company, distribute the night snack's & we had time constraint as it was already late as it was about to reach our light's off timing. So everyone was rushing & thankfully we manage to bath and sleep by 12am. We learned that if everyone do their part, if there is efficiency & teamwork we could have ended even more early. So i guess we still have lot's to learn. But overall it was an enjoyable day & i had a lot of fun shooting using the SAW weapon:).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
28/09/2009Today was the first time we had SOC in Sispec. SOC is a lesson which almost everyone hates as it's not that easy to pass. So when we got there, they brief & taught us again on how to clear the station's & the correct method on how to clear it safely. I didn't had problems with the other station except for the rope station as i still have problem clearing it since in BMT. Our Encik observe & gave up tips but i still couldn't clear it. I tried 5-6 times but i still failed. But im not gonna give up & i will definetly try again on the next SOC.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
24/09/2009Today we had our first IPPT in Sispec. IPPT is always the event that i hate the most as now we have to at least get silver to be safe from RT on Saturday's. I'm still having problems with my chin-up. So i guess i will be a RT regular=/.
IPPT test was supposed to begin in the morning but due to the heavy rain it was postponed to the evening so we had some other lesson instead. In the afternoon, we had two other test and lecture's. It's about tripflare & claymore mines. We had the theory lesson first and it was kinda tiring as there was quite a lot to memorize. But during the practical lesson, i had a lot of fun setting up the Claymore mine & i finally get the idea on how it works & how to set it up. Once the test was over, we move on to learning on how to set up the Tripflare. I wasn't really confident at first but after practicing it wasn't that difficult afterall.
Once we were done with the test, we rushed back to prepare for IPPT. I was quite disappointed with the result as i couldn't pass my Chin-up. I guess it was my fault for not training during my block leave. But im not gonna give up & do my best for the next test.
After out IPPT, we had to go back to our bunk and change to admin attire. We had to fall in asap for our dinner but everyone was kinda slow so our Sergeant Major gave us our very first "Knock It Down" punishment in Sispec. During dinner we got another scolding as everyone was too noisy. I guess everyone should try to cooperate as even after getting scolded, there are still people talking and making so much noise. I hope that this will be the last as i have a bad feeling that we will get more harsher punishment if this continues=/.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
25/04/2009Today was a tiring day as we had to learn 3 new weapons & other devices for the whole day. First was the SAW weapon. We had to learn on loading & unloading of the weapon, stripping and assembling it & IA drills. There will be a test on all of them & we have to do it within the timing that they gave. Thankfully i pass the test & didn't had to redo it.
Next was the Metador weapon. Before that we had to learn on how to use the GPS device & tested on it as well. I made a careless mitake & becasue of that i didn't get any reading from the system. The instructor taught me and i have realised my mistake. It wasn't that difficult afterall. Once we were done, we continued with the Metador lesson. As usual we learn on how to operate the weapon, loading & unloading & what to do when encountering IA.
Finally it was the last lesson which was the M203. I was feeling really tired by then but i tried my best to stay awake & pay attention to the lesson as it was important. Thankfully during the test I didn't made any major mistakes. Overall i had a fun day learning about the 3 different types of weapon.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
(Click To Enlarge)
Some overdue graphics i made last month. Life in Army has been hectic lately. Will update when i have the time on my next book out.
