Resort Tekong

[Backdated Record]

Every morning, i will wake up before 5 am. We are suppose to wake up at 5.30 and fall in at 5.45. I was kinda fustrated at first because i am force to wake up by the lights and noise at such an early time. I felt that there isn't a need to wake up so early just as what the sergeant has said. The sergeant told us off yesterday not to wake up and fall in so early. And i felt that way too. Seems kinda pointless. I read bible and brush my teeth. By 5.15, i sit on my bed staring into space till its fall-in time. I was going "God let this day pass quickly" ... everything is so dull and we are indirectly prisoned in the past 2 days with nothing else to do except the normal Army routine that even the unfit can do. What are those?

Water Parade
No sweat. I did this so much before during Secondary school scouts. Drink up the water from a bottle provided. About 500ml. Initially, it was ok. But for no apparent reason, at odd times of the day, we would have water parade. One before we eat breakfast. One after we eat breakfast. One when we fall-in. One before lectures. I was going " OMG!?". The main reason for water parade is because of the fear of dehydration in soldiers. But for PES E's ... we did nothing, sweat little ... and have so much water parades for what?!? For the very first time in my life, i actually feel full before i finish my meal. Thanks to all the water i drank very much early before. Did i mention i pee alot?

Before every water parade, we have to chant a cheer.

Sergeant: Bottles up!
Recruits: Bottles up(echo)

Sergeant: Caps off!
Recruit: Caps off!

Sergeant: Never wake up is it? I don't care if you are ******* Pes E's. You better shout.
Recruit: Yes sergeant!

Sergeant: Bottles up!
Recruits: Bottles up(echo)

Sergeant: Caps off!
Recruit: Caps off(echo)!

Sergeant: Drink Up!
Recruit: Drink Up(echo)!

Recruit:
SAF 7 core values are, Loyalty to Country, leadership, discipline, proffesionalism, fighting spirit, ethics, Care for Soldiers!!!!

*gulps down water forcefully*

Sergeant: Bottles down!
Recruit: Mohawk!

Sergeant: Caps on!
Recruit: Caps on(echo)!





Marching
We will march everywhere. From point A to point B. It looks very ugly because most people don't know how to march. We march from bunk to cookhouse. Bunk to canteen. Practically everywhere we go, we'll swing our hands in "perfect" unison. During marching, we also sing army songs and cheers.

Have you ever wonder?
Why must we serve?
B'cos we love our land.
And want it to be free to be free.. Hiah!

something like that. I never actually sing but hear other contingent sing. The sergeant dun wanna teach us songs. Bad sergeant.




4D number

Mine is M 2204.
M stands for my company Mohawk. 2204 stands for company 2, platoon 2, bed 4.

Basically that's all, we did that is kinda same to the rest.


So what did we do today? After breakfast, we have our usual water parade, Then we have a long footdrill till 9.30. During the footdrill, i realise that the Sergeant Major can't teach footdrill well. Y did i say that? He said that Behenti- command should land on your left leg and then you can stop marching. He keeps giving the command on the right leg. I was like omg ... my sergeant major really cannot make it. I am kinda pissed ... and i am really piss by the way he teach. I don't know why. Maybe i just lost it when our platoon march so horribly. But yet i understand its first time for most of us. Just find the whole footdrill alittle crap and waste of time. Footdrills like what the sergeant said in lectures ... are meant to enforce discipline and teamwork. I clearly see no improvements at all in whatever principles they are promoting. Sigh...

After that, its lectures and lectures. Lectures are really challenging in Army. Even i don't fall asleep so easily in SAJC lectures. The subject they are talking is extremely boring. Mostly National education. Some are which i have learn a dozen times over in school. Repeating in the dull army lecture tone isn't helping at all. So the challenge is to try to stay awake while the sergeants and officers are babbling away. The good thing is some officers allow you to fall asleep right under their nose. My friend beside me started snoring and i was poking him everywhere to wake him up. He really slept very peacefully. Amazing.

I finally discover a big jackpot that might possibly kill boredom..... Games room. Just a floor down, is games room. I can watch TV, read newspaper, play pool, play carrom, play ping pong .. dance.... The place really look like a resort now. After receiving the last orders of the day, which is usually after our night snack, i would head down to the games room to relax. ITs not very crowded. Most people stay in bunk to exchange vulgar craps. Some went to smoke in the smoker's corner. I am happily playing carrom and alittle soccer machine with other people there. Now, life is slightly better now. Still, my urge to get out of tekong has not cease.