Chapter 35-- An eventful 2nd ICT

The past 2 weeks have had been another memorable experience for me as I report for my 2nd but only the 1st high key in camp training(ICT) at the forever ulu Sungei Gedong Camp; Home of armour; Once armour, forever armour. Fetch yong ann to the camp on the first day like what we did previously but this time round, my kakis of wksp platoon guys decided to meet at the gates before proceeding for in-pro together. After dragging and pulling our super heavy duffle bags and puffing our way to the ATI stadium, we started to in-pro while the RSM as usual stand guard just outside the in-pro counters checking our hair. Feel that it is not as chaotic as last time though as I hardly see any people kena caught and send for hair cut although Joey was caught and send for hair cut before he defer on that day. Met my former BWO(Battlion workshop officer) Bryan where he was in charge of the declaration of camera handphones and SSG David(who is supposed to be our wksp 2IC) who brief us about the allocation of our bunks. After which, we began our 1st tactical movements as Dong Yang and me leave our duffle bags for others to carry while we proceed to level 4 to book 2 bunks for ourselves. After a short rest, we headed to the parade square for the CO parade and then to the vehicle sheds where we took over 3 recovery vehicles and 4 BV206 vehicles for our subsequent live firing and outfield exercise. Was personally in charge of taking over my recovery(which is to support Bronco company) and its BII stores just like what I normally do in my active days with Alvin and Zhi Hao while the rest took over the BV.
The next couple of days were mainly spend preparing the vehicles for exercises especially live firing which were to took place on that same Saturday. On the second day, we went for our orientation drive where me, Bandley and Zhi Hao share 1 recovery. Zhi Hao as usual never failed to entertain me as he forgot to shift the gear back to neutral before starting the engine. It was so funny watching him frantically pressing the start button with the vehicle not showing any response.
Saturday was the day of live firing with me, han xiang, zhi hao, yong jian and Daniel being tasked to cover the 40/50 and OWS live firing while dong yang, bandley cover SM1 and Kok pin and some other people cover the mortar live firing. It was quite an awesome experience for me as it was really the first time I got so up close with the firing vehicles as we were just about 10m behind the firing vehicles. Even during my active days have I never got so close with the firing vehicles. Had to however curse myself for forgetting to bring along ear plugs when the OWS starts to fire because it was so so LOUD. Luckily, my ear either soon get used to the noise or maybe it was already damage as I gradually gotten immune of the firing sound. Night firing was really nice to watch as it was like watching star wars movies with streams of red light shooting out of the vehicles. Feel so envious of the firers which are mainly troopers and VCs as they get to fire weapons that not many of us has the opportunity to do so and they were also firing rounds from MG like the rounds are free. It was always at this type of moment that I wish I am a combatant signz. However, I may soon be going for GPMG technical handling course soon(keep my fingers cross) so I may just have the chance to fire for the next live firing exercise that we have in future ICT.
The next Monday was a company cohesion 6km route march(minus the field pack thanks god) where we march around the camp perimeter. Only yong jian, han xiang and kok pin from my kakis of wksp together with some other juniors like Shida and Yong jie were marching togther with the signal platoon and S branches specialists for the HQ company. It was again another refreshing experience for me as the last route march I had was when we were marching the 24km route march before my POP in Tekong.
The final major exercise for this ICT was the company mission exercise(CME) involving a 2 day 1 night outfield exercise with Attila and Bronco teaming up to attack Cheetah company. The whole affair was really shag with the preparatory process being even more tiring than the actual outfield itself. We have to mount the test sets for our vehicles, weapons and SBOs like what it is normally done in ATEC(since I have never go through ATEC before, it was a learning experience for me) and then load the required set of BII into our vehicles while also ensuring that our vehicle is ready to go outfield by checking oil levels etc. It was especially tiring for people coming from the previous 46 SAR unit as we are mainly the ones doing all these preparatory works while those others from other units who had never go outfield before simply throw smoke bomb and disappear claiming that they did not know what to do. In fact, the most frustrating of this ICT is that those coming from 46 SAR and having ample outfield experiences were always the one chosen for live firing and outfield exercise. Cannot really blamed though since our BWO is our previous BWO and he knows what we the previous “garang” technicians were capable of and he will certainly be more assured putting us in charge instead of the rest that have never went outfield before in their active days.
The CME was itself actually quite relax since luckily for me who is supporting Bronco company, no vehicles broke down unlike Cheetah and Attila which have Vehicles breaking down. However, the only shit thing is that we are the only company who has to put up that bloody camo net when we laager at night and I believe that anyone who have set up camo net before will certainly not want to always relinquish the whole experience again. Luckily again, we only set up camo net for our BV since the recovery vehicle was activated to tow a medical platoon BV back to camp. By the time we linked back with our company line, most of them were already asleep and so we just left our recovery in its “bare” state. To my surprise, there were not many mosquitoes like what we have expected and so it was also quite a pleasing night for us to sleep. We moved out at about 7am next morning and by 7pm, we were still trying to achieve our objective. Was rather frustrated at Bronco OC and 2IC command skills as they seems unsure of what to do and hence the delay in achieving our objective(we were supposed to cut the exercise by 6.30pm) By the time we line up our vehicles and convey back to camp, it was already close to midnight. The way back to camp was sooo long( we were moving from area A back to area D) that I actually fall asleep while driving. Have a few close call with the vehicle moving to the edge of the cliff before I wake up in time to steer it back to safety. It really was the first time that I felt afraid that I may not return to the camp in one piece. Even in Wallaby and India whereby the night were so much darker had I not have this type of feeling. Upon reaching camp, those that never went outfield immediately unload all our stuffs and remove the test sets before we proceed to wash our vehicles and send our arms. It was the first time that I feel that I was like a combatant since we usually leave all the unloading and washing of vehicles till the next day in our active days.
With the conclusion of the last major exercise, the whole ICT has almost come to an end and we were basically more relax for the next 2 days before we out-pro. Return all the BII stores and hand over the vehicle the day after the CME and then simply lobo all the way till out-pro. Visit e-mart and our previous 46 SAR unit and while the rest of the time were spend in bunk. The last day of the ICT include a cohesion lunch at 46 SAR cook house before proceeding to the MPSH to view performance put up by the SAF Music and Drama company. Headed to the ATI stadium again where we waited for like more than 3 hours before we can finally out-pro. A mini drama occurred however during this time whereby Cheetah AI trainer called all BV drivers and VCs to gather and explain why so many things pertaining to the test sets like bolts and nuts and adam keys were missing ONLY after the person checking the test sets have left the previous day. They accused us of losing the items although we check everything before we return the stores to them. Say that there is no black and white documents to support our claims when they themselves NEVER gave us any taking over forms. I mean, come on lah, if the person checking the equipments and test sets items found that something were missing(and it involves lots of bolts and nuts and adam keys and not just 1 or 2 bolts and nuts), shouldn’t he immediately notify the relevant people and not wait till they have return to base then come and accused us of not returning the items? In the end, some of us have to write statements(aka 1206) although we do not have to pay for the items lah.
Finally out-pro at about 5 plus after Scorpion, Cheetah and Bronco have long out-pro(Attila is another suay company which didn’t pass its area cleaning and have to out-pro after us; god bless them). Han xiang fetched me, dong yang and Daniel to Marsiling mrt station where we shared cab home and this conclude my 2nd more eventful ICT.

PS: Was still trying to adapt back to civilian lives while writing this and hope to get back in tune with my daily life ASAP. Did miss a bit of my camp mates though but hey we see each other again next year December when we have our 3rd ICT(low key) that will involve range. Will finally get the chance to fire SAR21 by then :)


PS: When we went back to 46, I could sense that things were really not the same as my time there. Most of the things were really getting dirty or run down and the atmosphere at the workshop just do not feel the same as when I am in my active days. Only Winston and Tung from my era remain while the rest of the regulars were either posted to somewhere or have already terminated their contracts. Although the lay out of the office remains the same, I was surprised to find that each FMT now has a LCD computer screen to its own..Well, I believe that it really affirm my belief that it is people and not things that can make or account for an amazing experience. I am just glad that I ORD before wksp becomes centralized since being centralized means that one does not really belongs to 46 anymore. I wonder if 46 would still be worth visiting when I return for ICT again next year… Such a pity when I have so much memories at this place…

Regards,
Yongster

Still many more good years ahead....