Saturday, July 19, 2008
Here, as promised.
Note that the events of this post are mainly based on my memory, so some stuff might not be accurate. I’ll try to keep it short and sweet; don’t want to write research paper on NCC life like weijing and bert…
Part A 2005
Training Team: Rui Yi, Hong Jie, Soon Huat, Nigel, Marvin, Lian Joo
When I first came to HCI, I initially wanted to join track and field since I got short listed when I went for the trials during sec 1orientation. I still remembered that it was Yit Khai who persuaded me to join NCC, since we were the only ones who came to HCI from our primary school. So during the selection, I put NCC as my first choice without giving much thought, little did I know that this decision will change my life for the next 4 years of my secondary school life…
First training at block B, our usual camp parade square, in pt kit. Couldn’t recall much, but I knew that Rui Yi asked us our favourite soccer club, then almost everyone said those popular clubs like Man U or Chelsea, but I said Newcastle as it was my favourite club then. Then the NCOs were squabbling about which club was better. We were also asked to introduce ourselves, and everyone was introducing themselves normally until this stupid guy who stood up and mumbled some words then sat down, giving that heck care face. Then when Rui Yi asked him, he started to whine like some kid about how he didn’t want to join NCC, but was forced into it. Fortunately, he managed to quit somehow, as I had a very bad impression of him then. We learnt Keluar Baris / Bersurai after that. Weilong chosen as I/C and Jonj timer.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I tried to do push ups at home after the first training as Rui Yi said that NCC have to do a lot of push ups, and realized that I could do none. =.=
1st time going down to HQ, could already sense the level of efficiency there. Waited damn long before we got our uniforms, and Ferris had to fill up some form coz he was not Singaporean. Actually some chengdu panda also, but I can’t be bothered about him. Learnt how to fold sleeves, starch uniform, polish boots etc. back in school.
1st time wearing no. 4 for training, don’t know how to use garters. Thankfully kind senior Hewlett taught me how to wear. I tried to do some push ups in bunk while wearing no.4, and found it freaking hard (this was after a few trainings with PT kit, and I could do push ups already). Jonj once accused me of using liquid polish when my boots were shinier then his, lol.
On one of the trainings, Khang Chiang (Khang Wen’s bro), the USM then, came to our training and drill us like siao, together with Wan Peng. He gave like duno how many consecutive kekanan pusing drills until we dizzy, then shouted the command into one of the cadet’s ears when he said he couldn’t hear him properly. Then I was damn traumatized when Wan Peng came to me and said “adjust lar, adjust some more” in a super-threatening way when I did not keep my fingers straight in senang-diri position.
June Camp arrived. Soon Huat was RSM. It was the first and most hiong camp I have ever experienced in my lifetime. First muster parade took 1 hour +, and if anyone report sick during the muster parade the whole company would be asked to report attendance again, same if someone decides to join back after reporting sick. The rest of the 4day3night camp was just drills, pt, drills, pt, other then wargames and solonite. Activities like route march, orienteering around namly/linden/botanical gardens were planned only for subsequent camps. I remembered the 1st day dinner I was eating with my section, then I said that I was looking to bath time. Then senior Hewlett told me that after bunk check, I wouldn’t have the strength to bathe anymore. I was puzzled at that time, but understood what he meant a few moments later. Haha, those in NCC should know what bunk check is like, so I shan’t elaborate further. Just leave it to your imagination. =) Hong Run, who was in my section, eventually got the best cadet award among the final candidates. I supposed it was the sir that checked our bunk on the 3rd day who recommended him, coz after his interview he just came into the bunk and carried on all the push ups we have done, and when the sir asked him if he want to rest awhile he said no need because the whole section waiting for him in pumping position. Zai.
Last training before ORD I think, we were asked to do 80 push ups and run driveway. I was the only guy who got the details wrong and brought no 4 only without PT kit. So I had to do everything in no 4. Almost wanted to report sick after the first round of running, luckily at that time Hong Jie didn’t accept my reason for reporting sick and so I continued running. Come to think of it, I just treated NCC as an ep3 which I attend regularly every Friday, without any special significance. I didn’t know a lot of my platoonmates too. Maybe that’s why I was quite slack during part A and un-enthu. But even though I found NCC tough, I still attended it every Friday because I knew that the I/C would be put in a spot every week when the NCOs ask him to account for the missing cadets.
ORD, we did a lousy performance titled “Life of a Part A cadet”, after some NCO told us not to do that. Part Bs did some drills in Chinese, including hentak-kaki cheer, and some game where they imitate an NCO’s behavior and ask them to guess who it is, while part Cs did games. For presents we just gave some crappy teddy bears and soft toys which have little significance. During debrief, we were asked to space out and stand while keeping eyes closed for around 1 hour. Felt dam terrible coz cannot see + cannot adjust, lol. NCOs came by and talked to us one by one. I still remember Hong Jie asked me to smile, and then tickled me when I did not.
That’s all for Part A life, I did not really feel sad when the NCOs left, maybe it was because we were not mature enough to appreciate them or NCC did not have a special significance for us then.
Picture of us during Part A.
We did it, together.*
3:55 PM
Note that the events of this post are mainly based on my memory, so some stuff might not be accurate. I’ll try to keep it short and sweet; don’t want to write research paper on NCC life like weijing and bert…
Part A 2005
Training Team: Rui Yi, Hong Jie, Soon Huat, Nigel, Marvin, Lian Joo
When I first came to HCI, I initially wanted to join track and field since I got short listed when I went for the trials during sec 1orientation. I still remembered that it was Yit Khai who persuaded me to join NCC, since we were the only ones who came to HCI from our primary school. So during the selection, I put NCC as my first choice without giving much thought, little did I know that this decision will change my life for the next 4 years of my secondary school life…
First training at block B, our usual camp parade square, in pt kit. Couldn’t recall much, but I knew that Rui Yi asked us our favourite soccer club, then almost everyone said those popular clubs like Man U or Chelsea, but I said Newcastle as it was my favourite club then. Then the NCOs were squabbling about which club was better. We were also asked to introduce ourselves, and everyone was introducing themselves normally until this stupid guy who stood up and mumbled some words then sat down, giving that heck care face. Then when Rui Yi asked him, he started to whine like some kid about how he didn’t want to join NCC, but was forced into it. Fortunately, he managed to quit somehow, as I had a very bad impression of him then. We learnt Keluar Baris / Bersurai after that. Weilong chosen as I/C and Jonj timer.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that I tried to do push ups at home after the first training as Rui Yi said that NCC have to do a lot of push ups, and realized that I could do none. =.=
1st time going down to HQ, could already sense the level of efficiency there. Waited damn long before we got our uniforms, and Ferris had to fill up some form coz he was not Singaporean. Actually some chengdu panda also, but I can’t be bothered about him. Learnt how to fold sleeves, starch uniform, polish boots etc. back in school.
1st time wearing no. 4 for training, don’t know how to use garters. Thankfully kind senior Hewlett taught me how to wear. I tried to do some push ups in bunk while wearing no.4, and found it freaking hard (this was after a few trainings with PT kit, and I could do push ups already). Jonj once accused me of using liquid polish when my boots were shinier then his, lol.
On one of the trainings, Khang Chiang (Khang Wen’s bro), the USM then, came to our training and drill us like siao, together with Wan Peng. He gave like duno how many consecutive kekanan pusing drills until we dizzy, then shouted the command into one of the cadet’s ears when he said he couldn’t hear him properly. Then I was damn traumatized when Wan Peng came to me and said “adjust lar, adjust some more” in a super-threatening way when I did not keep my fingers straight in senang-diri position.
June Camp arrived. Soon Huat was RSM. It was the first and most hiong camp I have ever experienced in my lifetime. First muster parade took 1 hour +, and if anyone report sick during the muster parade the whole company would be asked to report attendance again, same if someone decides to join back after reporting sick. The rest of the 4day3night camp was just drills, pt, drills, pt, other then wargames and solonite. Activities like route march, orienteering around namly/linden/botanical gardens were planned only for subsequent camps. I remembered the 1st day dinner I was eating with my section, then I said that I was looking to bath time. Then senior Hewlett told me that after bunk check, I wouldn’t have the strength to bathe anymore. I was puzzled at that time, but understood what he meant a few moments later. Haha, those in NCC should know what bunk check is like, so I shan’t elaborate further. Just leave it to your imagination. =) Hong Run, who was in my section, eventually got the best cadet award among the final candidates. I supposed it was the sir that checked our bunk on the 3rd day who recommended him, coz after his interview he just came into the bunk and carried on all the push ups we have done, and when the sir asked him if he want to rest awhile he said no need because the whole section waiting for him in pumping position. Zai.
Last training before ORD I think, we were asked to do 80 push ups and run driveway. I was the only guy who got the details wrong and brought no 4 only without PT kit. So I had to do everything in no 4. Almost wanted to report sick after the first round of running, luckily at that time Hong Jie didn’t accept my reason for reporting sick and so I continued running. Come to think of it, I just treated NCC as an ep3 which I attend regularly every Friday, without any special significance. I didn’t know a lot of my platoonmates too. Maybe that’s why I was quite slack during part A and un-enthu. But even though I found NCC tough, I still attended it every Friday because I knew that the I/C would be put in a spot every week when the NCOs ask him to account for the missing cadets.
ORD, we did a lousy performance titled “Life of a Part A cadet”, after some NCO told us not to do that. Part Bs did some drills in Chinese, including hentak-kaki cheer, and some game where they imitate an NCO’s behavior and ask them to guess who it is, while part Cs did games. For presents we just gave some crappy teddy bears and soft toys which have little significance. During debrief, we were asked to space out and stand while keeping eyes closed for around 1 hour. Felt dam terrible coz cannot see + cannot adjust, lol. NCOs came by and talked to us one by one. I still remember Hong Jie asked me to smile, and then tickled me when I did not.
That’s all for Part A life, I did not really feel sad when the NCOs left, maybe it was because we were not mature enough to appreciate them or NCC did not have a special significance for us then.
Picture of us during Part A.
We did it, together.*
3:55 PM
