Part D 08
Part C 08 Training Team: Bertram, Aaron, Ferris, Me
The long awaited NCO-ship. How time flies. Felt very excited to be taking over and become leaders of the unit. Felt glad to be working under Bert as I respected him alot even as cadets, and with Ferris and Aaron. Took over Yi Ming's part on 6 Jul 08. It was up to us to bring them into their last phase of cadet life, to groom them into leaders of tomorrow. After several meetings together before ORD to discuss our goals and plans, our training team was mentally prepared for NCO-ship.
Hillary Challenge was shortly after ORD. We were notified of the performance only a few days before the event. Nevertheless, Aaron and Weilong managed to chiong out the formation and the performers came to school almost everyday to train for it. If im not wrong, we took less then a week. My first triple jumbo performance, though it was from the opposite side, as I could not do the other way. The audience were also one of the best, kept cheering and clapping for us. One of the best performances for us indeed, and even David Low came to praise us after the event ended.
Video can be found here:http://youtube.com/watch?v=YXvCwEtN4nc
First task at hand for our training team was NDP'07, where the Part Cs would be marching as GOH in front of the whole school. All the drill trainings, in MSCP, on the track, on the field, paid off well as they put up a good display. We bought a cake for them as well as cards which we forgot to bring on the day itself. Rushed off to perform PDS at the hall after the marching.
March Pass can be found here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=6Wn6I-ZPtmE
NDP PDS performance can be found here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RnJUvGXX1O8
Orienteering Competition was next. Honestly, our training team had a hard time choosing the team, it was not as simple as it seemed. Eventually, we managed to come up with the best team after much discussion. During one of the trainings while Bert and Aaron were at Senior Spec, me and ferris ran with the team to KAP and treated them to milo, then I accidently spilt the milo onto Yong Le. Haha sorry about that. The competition date was 24th Oct 07, and the orienteering team, accompanied by the training team + sam and weijing, went to HQ to support them. Was quite sad that we got route D instead of route C, if not we can get to keep the plaque for good if we win 3-times in a row. Never mind, still do our best. The team eventually set off after what seemed like an eternity of waiting. The rest of us stayed back, looking at the time, wondering when will they come back. Eventually they came back, having the same score as RI. We went to check the exact timing and found out that they won RI by 4 seconds. However, we were still not sure if we had indeed won. It was only when they announced RI as the runner up that we broke into furious appluase. Haha some of the people turned around to look at us, thinking that we were from RI. But we clapped even harder when they announced HCI as champions. 3 times in a row!
IMT competition next. Went to SAFRA for Part C, B, and A'07 training. Not enough time to train properly but no choice, all the slots taken up by other sch ppl. According to Bert's blog, Part Bs 6th in West district, Part As 2nd in West district. Their competitions were before ours, and I felt quite satisified with the results, even though we could have done better. Hopefully the next batch would be able to improve on the unit's shooting, as shooting is usually the cause for our failure to win BUC.
EOY Camp 07 next. Jun Kai was RSM, Gerald was ARSM. I was Section NCO for Delta Section together with Daryll, Jun An and Jun Yan. Alfred was I/C for the first activity, Auction. Quite slack in my opinion but nice to see the cadet's faces when they tio extra rifle or something worthless. Route march next. Our shooting team went to HQ for a live shoot practice and therefore missed part of the route march. When we went there, it rained heavily so we were unable to shoot until the rain has cleared. Decicing that its not worth waiting there, we told the sir that we have camp and left. Came back, usual stuff and ate dinner. Bunk check, first time checking cadet's bunks as NCO. Was quite harsh on them for first day as it would remind them to clean up the bunk properly for the next 2 days. After that was washing up. A few NCOs went to the second floor directly above the toilet entrance to check on the cadets, and since the cadets didn't know that NCOs were looking at them, some of them did funny things like coming out of the toilet bottomless(=.=) or wearing their shirt the wrong way and cursing loudly. Wargames followed after that. Next day got PT test for the part Bs (c08) and alot of people reported sick. NCOs' fault for not taking into account the tiring activities that the cadets have went through. Was patrolling for clock tower, quite a few cadets slept. Jun Kai made them run 2.4 in the middle of the night, around 3am, + some extra punishments. After that Renjie and some of us went to steal rifles. Camp only lasted 3 days so we POPed the day after.
Part C live shoot comp was after camp. The team comprised of Aaron, Daryll, Ren Jie and me. Weijing accompanied us there. I think our unit was the only unit without a TO to help us verify our scores. The competition place quite zai, got TV screen beside the foxhole, where you can see where your shots have landed, and the targets will rise up and fall down if you shoot them, just like the simulator. I initially thought that the targets were those printed on paper and you had to walk 100m away to hang them on and walk back to take the shoot. After waiting for awhile, it was our turn to shoot. Had to put on helmet and earplugs. Climbed into the foxhole and tried to relax myself. 1st 2 magazines were zeroing rounds. My rifle was quite good, the shots only displaced slightly to the bottom left. The TV screen beside me even helped to measure my groupings, 10cm++ and 11cm++..quite lousy for 100m. After that was the real target shots, 12 deliberate and 12 snapshot. By that time I was not that nervous, as I actually enjoyed shooting a real rifle. The feeling of the recoil against your shoulder hollow and the smell of gunpowder quite zai. In the end I managed to get 23/24, missed the last shot. Had only a few seconds to shoot, and my hands were like trembling, so couldn't aim properly. In the end our school missed the finals by a few points. Quite disappointed but never mind, whats done is done. No point looking back.
Missed orientation due to BSC satelite campus trip. Regretted that decision as I realised that missing 1 month of NCO-ship was also costly. If I knew that there would be one in december 08 I would have gone for that instead. Still, I talked to the training team while I was in Beijing to keep myself updated of happenings. Trained pull-ups on the laundry bar with Jun Yan, Zitao and Hong Run.
IFC and Trainfire mutuals for part Cs followed shortly. Honestly, it was the most boring period of my NCO-ship. Dreaded going to trainings just to stand behind and hear the cadets presenting mutuals. Did my best to identify the cadet's mistakes as well as re-learn some of the things that I've forgotten. Though it was mostly boring, occasionally there would be some funny presentations which made us laugh. Some examples include Daniel's "Dig in is not to eat", or Bertrand's difficulty in spelling the word "soldier". Laughed with the section for abit as I didn't mind mutual presentations being abit more casual. Affirmation Ceremony and RSAF was also in this period. Did my second triple jumbo performance for affirmation, this time doing the same way as bert.
In a flash, Mid-Year camp arrived. Ren Jie was RSM while I was ARSM. 1st day, bonding activities, mutual presentations, immersions, followed by the usual stuff. IMO, the bonding actvitiy could have been improved as we did not really explain the rationale to the company before the activity, leading to them just doing the activity blindly and treating it as a PT session. War Games, actually did not want to play at first, + renjie also don't want to play, but last camp already, better cherish the chance. So I changed to long 4, then renjie also changed, haha. Sad to see that jing kai got injured badly and had to be sent to hospital. Was worried that TOs might ban wargames in future camps because it might pose a danger hazard. Aiya, not purposely one wad. Said some funny stuff in the middle of the night when renjie woke me up..nvm. Day 2, main activity was orienteering. Realised that the mobile medics forgot to bring their medic boxes(=.=), so me and renjie took the boxes and went around namly finding them. After passing them all the boxes, renjie had to do big business urgently, so we no choice take bus back school. Then he left his walkie-talkie on the bus, omg.. Luckily Jaron was able to contact the bus personnel and get it back. SOC and MIA after that. Actually SOC and MIA supposed to be on day 1 but it rained, so it was changed to day 2, which resulted in day 2 becoming too physically tiring for the company, and many cadets reported sick. Seeing the situation, we decided to change the plans to games for the cadets to relax for abit and loosen up the tense atmosphere. Usual stuff before sleeping. 3rd day, Route March and NE trail. Route march was slack compared to past camps, but the scenery was quite nice, get to see planes taking off and landing too. Had lunch at food centre before going to NE trail. Me and elffred tio pangseh halfway through the trail..Solonite, was talking to some part Cs to find out more about them, and to keep myself awake at the same time. Night PT for ppl who slept were not as hiong as last camp. The next day we POPed in the early afternoon and that concludes our last NCC camp.
Had chalet 2 days after camp. Haha Aden never fails to book an ulu place for our chalet. Watched soccer together, played game consoles, atmosphere like totally different from camp. Too bad part Cs were having Spec course therefore could not join the rest of the company, part A attendance for chalet also quite bad. Couldn't go down to SISPEC to see my cadets POP as I had SL project with junan, junkai and daryll. Got 5 awards again, same as last year. Well done part Cs.
Posting, the last and hardest task for our training team. It was a long and tedious process, but finally we managed to come to a consesus and the final posts were finalised. Part Cs, remember this, no matter what post you get, ultimately you guys are still working for the same unit, the same goal. Conflicts will be unevitable, but it is how you guys overcome it and emerge as a stronger part thats important. Posting should not be something that breaks part spirit.
ORD, last day of our official NCC career. There was a sense of unwillingness, but I knew that I hadt to let go and move on. After the parade, part Ds went to do drills and cheer along the way. Really brings back alot of memories of cadet life, of how we so badly wanted tough drill sessions to end quickly. Ironically I wished that this drill session could last forever, and I am sure many of my brothers felt the same way. ORD nite, almost shed tears while the montage was being shown, knew that it was impossible but still hoped that I could turn time around and be that cadet in the picture once again. Gifts, thanks for the june-cat (coincidentally, cat has 9 lives), milo, gloves and bottle. Thanks bertram's mum for the minature cap too. Last debrief, last time to speak to the part. Glad that I was able to say all thses things in front of my part for one last time. From then on, you guys are on your own. Thanks for all the great memories and I would like to wish the next batch of HCINCC NCOs, all the best in your future endaveours.
Part C'08 Assistant Platoon Sergeant
Koh Jun Kiat
6Jul07~11Jul08.
We did it, together.*
9:34 PM
