So on April 6, I enlisted to the army. Feeling nervous and shit, as expected of all new recruits. The army life certainly was a huge contrast to the civilian lifestyle and I was unsure of what to expect. They said that the army has mellowed down a lot over the years due to parents complaining and shit, but how much? Hmmm
Took the ferry with my parents and took a few photos (with my hair intact) with them first. Once we reached Tekong, my parents and I were separated. That was when I know, shit was going to get real.
Luckily, I was walking with Keith Low from ANDSS. Quite a few people I know were enlisting on the same day as me, Javier, Mikail, I even met Zack at the Pasir Ris Bus Interchange and talked for a while. Certainly made me less lonely. We got seated in some open area with 9999 chairs and other bored recruits, and waited for at least half an hour. This was a sign of what to come: S A F EFFICIENCY BOYS.
We got separated into different groups when they called our names out. Keith and I both got a red paper while others got wristbands etc. This actually signified that we both were in the same platoon. I think the whole bunch of people there were in the same company. We had to get instructions on shouting WITH MY LIFE and shouting Majulah Singapura for the oath taking ceremony. It only made me feel that all these were so superficial.
In the auditorium, my parents saw me and my mum waved ever so eagerly. I froze and gave a weak smile as I was uncertain of how strict the army was. What if I had waved back? D E T E N T I O N B A R R A C K S B O Y S ? Did all the garbage and was sent down with my heavy bags and no instructions on what to do. Ended up waiting for nothing to happen before I just went and followed my parents. EFFICIENCY.
Ate lunch with my parents. I felt like this was my last meal with them. Bade them goodbye and went off in a bus to Rocky Hill.
This part starts to get hazy. We were sent to take our stuff from the army, duffel bag field pack all that. Had to pull that son of a bitch up to the MPH to check for items. God was it stressful. So many things inside, and the fear of misplacing them. After that, we had to check the size of shirts, pants, shoes, cap, things which size was asked beforehand before enlistment. All good right??
The size guide they gave was contradictory at some points, so I was unable to give accurate sizes. Ended up having to replace shoes, pants and cap. Then the sergeants be like "Those who want to change cap come here, pants go there, shoes go there."
This was when I knew what FML was like.
After changing that shit, went up to my bunk. Found my new friends. One of them was my schoolmate from AJ, Melvin, but he didn't know I was from AJ, he was my buddy too.
All seems good, the guys in my bunk seem friendly enough.
Then we got our sergeant, lets just call him Sgt. My left hand hurts like crap. This post took over the span days, if I continue with my storytelling it might take weeks. Anyway I got my locker code from sgt and put my numerous stuff inside. No instructions on how to place my items. I knew about the stand by area garbage and was going to prepare for it but I couldn't because there's no guide. Thanks S A F.
Damn, I don't know what to write. Ah, some guys said my hair was great while passing by. Not sure if sarcasm or its because I was going to have to shave it off.
In came 5 hairdressers with a whole group of half naked men and lots of hair. Paid $2 (cheap cheap) and went off carressing my head. See you again hair.
This had led to 1 problem. After weeks of training, my head suddenly hurt. I thought it was a migraine and told my sgt. After a few days of aloe vera and pain, a platoonmate said there was cum on my hair. My scalp was actually peeling off. Seems like hair is really important, especially when you have to train under the sun.
Training was quite alright. Maybe it was the first two weeks of BMT thats why it was ok. The hard ones was the Route March I guess. Nothing else stood out as difficult.
Well, this may be scattered. On the first day, I was the only one in my bunk to not have a bedsheet. I did have like 3 pillowcases though wtf. Slept on pillowcases on my first day. I also cried after calling my parents. Man, I feel like my tuition teacher is psychic. Remember that Sensitive New Age Guy thing? Or just pussy. I guess that means I do love my parents. Or I'm a pussy. Eh whatever. Only first day and I'm crying lmao. I cried for the next few days too.
The first few days were more of a struggle for my stomach and mouth adjusting. 20 mins to eat meals was a challenge for me because I eat slowly. I've heard other friends having less time though so I was unsure whether to be grateful. Ended up always asking for less rice because I didn't want to waste food. As the days went by, the training became more intense so my appetite increased. Some superiors said that Rocky Hill's food is better than Ladang also. Huat huat.
I felt that I was dragging my feet through the days. Training wasn't bad like I stated but it was such a drag. The only thing that kept me going was my section I guess, plus the people I know in my coy.
Let's go to the main point of this post. On a practice session of SOC, I was scaling the low rope. I forgot the technique that they taught in AJ, so I was determined to do it properly.
Until I heard a pop. I then lost all my strength in my right arm and fell.
It didn't take me long to realise what happened. It took me 1 second only. This was not my first time.
"Oh my god!" I cried in agony.
The FT brought me to the medic van. I was sweating so hard, and LT Jonathan helped me remove my stuff. The encik came and asked how many push ups I did for my NAPFA, I said 15 for my CAT test and he actually mocked me for it. (wrong form cost me like 20) Such an appropriate question and response to a guy who is clutching his arm in pain. Lost my respect to him in 1 shot.
Sgt Joshua brought me over to Ladang clinic. Did I mention I waited 20 mins +? The medic driver was not at the scene at that time. Just proper safety regulations.
Guess who had to wait in line and register? Thats right, the guy clutching his arm. Waited like 15 mins before the doctor came to give me a vague diagnosis, there was a xray machine available but for some reason they didnt use it. I got a splint instead from a medic called Shawn Lim too. He gave me porridge as I shivered in a room, trying to find a position to relax while clutching my arm.
I waited 2 hours in that room. We missed 1 boat back to SG and had to wait for the second one. Sgt Joshua let me use his phone to call my parents and my mum was distraught. I wept silently. I came to Tekong to learn and grow. The last thing I wanted to do was to trouble my parents who were already troubled. (A little context, I broke the same arm when I was P5, so this was not something new)
When I arrived at SG, I dragged myself to the ambulance. Guess which driver didn't start the vehicle and used WhatsApp for 10 mins? Let me add on, another guy was with me also, I didn't know what was wrong with him though.
When I was lying down on the hospital bed, it was 11.30pm. This incident happened at 5. Go figure.
Fast forward to today, I'm typing this whole post with my left hand only. Life has been more bitter I guess. Ironically my section friends said I was having a good life at home while they are in Tekong. To each of their own. Do they really think breaking a limb is better than Tekong?
Well I kind of beat Pokemon Black using this time though. Welp.
"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." Randy Pausch
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