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02/05 Guards Conversion Course
Oh well, been very busy shifting house and decorating my own room. Finally, i can decorate it however i wish it to be. I paid for all mu furniture (less the ones that were from the old house). Its simply wondeful i tell you. Simplistic in nature, lots of wood and very refreshing. I luuuuurve it. =P I'll post a picture up on my blog once i doll up and finalise my room. Its still slightly cluttered with boxes as i'm still moving in.
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Alright, on Saturday morning, i finally passed out from my Guards Conversion Course. That of ocurse, makes me a qualified Guardsman, worthy of wearing the Guards Tab and the Khaki Beret. I've worked hard for it, as much as my other comrades have, we've al teared for it, bled for it and as a reward, we have been bestowed witht eh Pride and Honour that comes with wearing the distinctive Khaki Beret. But the Beret is not without its hardships and torture. We were literally thrown in to the cauldron of fire during our summex.
Our summex consisted of two parts, one phase in Singapore, while the other in Tekong. What made the summex particularly tough was the obvious sleep deprivation. and the long route marfches that comes along with each mission.
I present to you, a chrnological breakdown of how my summex went.
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Monday 071105
D-Day H-Hour 071730Hrs.
After spending the whole morning and afternoon doing our Battle Prep, drawing stores, weapon maintenance and packing of our field packs, we set off from Coy Line toward the MPH whereby 3 tonner were waiting for us to load up. One last final check t0 ensure that everything was good 2 go. Off we went! to a week outfield on our Summex!
We were trooplifted to the landing site whereby we will transit to take a CH47-D Chinnook helicopter to heli-insert into the area of Opearations which was in lim Chu Kang. At about 2030 Hours, the first wave of Chinnooks arrived and being in the first stick, my platoonw as the first to go. Loaded up the chinnook and flew off from yishun Ave 7 towards Lim Chu Kang, by then , it was already dark.
Once on ground, we re-orged and waited from the entire company to join us in 2 other waves. Thereafter, in the deads of the night, we walked through the night from 2100 till 0530 the next mornign to our next objective in FBO with Platoon Estab (i.e : With MG and 84mm RR sections). The first thing whihc hits you i the sheer amount of weight that you carry in your field pack, the next being the obvious sleep deprivation. By the time we struck our first objective, most of us haven't slept fro 24 hours already.
Bashing through the jungles and occasioanlly walking on the track, i had to fight off fatigue, sleep weariness and utter hallucinations to continue walking in the hazardous jungle. Being in total darkness, sharp logs or branches lurk at every corner, ready to trip and seriouly hurt you. I was unfortunate enough to slip and fall 2 times on soft, slippery grounds.
Finally at 0530, after nearly walking for 9 hours straight, we attacked out first objective - a platoon dawn deliberate attack which involves deliberate breaching and the whole platoon over-running an enemy knoll.
MIssion Completed.
080700 HRS.
Mission 2 - Frag-O was given and we had to do a quick attack on another objective. With a quick re-org and rest period, we quickly redistrbuted ammunitions and tok our lunch. Some took this opportunity to catch up on some sleep before we struck the next objeuctive.
Was appointed the ACSM (Assistant Company Sergeant Major - the highest appointment a Spec can get in GCC) HAd to organise the all-roudn defence and oversee the battle prep of the tropops before the H-hour of the next mission which was after lunch.
Marched towards next objective in SBO this time. Attack was done quite smoothly, captured objective in no time at all. After that, we were required to do a hasty defence i.e: dig shellscrpes and sicne i was in the MG team for the next mission, i had to dig an MG trench whihc was 3 shellscrapes dug side by side. Enemy came at nihht, attacked our base and literally over-ran us. Got f-ed, packed up and left for Tekong the next morning.
091030 HRS.
At TFT, we had our chance to breifly sleep for awhile. In the 3 days we have been outfield, most of us slept only a little more than 30 minutes. Haviung to constantly be on stand-to and on missions, gace us little or no chance to sleep properly. By this time, my water bottles had run-out and was desperately short of water. NBut i had to keep moving on as i did not want to fall out. I had to complete my task and i had to accomplish it no matter what it took.
091200Hrs
Reached Tekong and set up the Platoon operating BAse as part of our Summex for OOTW. Snadbags had to be filled, Singas (Watch Towers) had to be constructed, and being in the MG team, i had to keep watch at all times. I was the MG commander and together with my men, we were on a 24 hour rotational watch duty. Which meant even lesser sleep for us.
Wednesday night was the worst as we experienced alot of turn outs and ene,my harrassment. Caught little sleep, barely only about 45 minutes.
Thursday was slightly much better. still on Singa Duty.
Thursday night was the best, after nearly two days of no missions, i could finally go out and find soem action. Was involved in a section patrol. Due to enemy movement spotted in our area, what originated as a blue patrol transited to that of a Green patrol (i.e: Hostiles expeted). Had to set up an ambush, failed to meet the H-Hour so the aabush site was changed to another location. Ambush successful. Afterwhich we had to casevac back to POB for about 1 Km ++.
Packed up the POB and prepared for the next day's mission.
- Cordon and Search.
Was Platoon Sergenat. It was messy as what happened was totally different from what was planned out. Either, lots of men were lost or what began peacefully ended up like a typical FIBUA session. Lots of shouting, shooting and killing. My PC died, so i had to take over. Successfully completed my mission, although a section of my men died due to some explosives that detonated while they were searching the room.
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Once completed, we prepared for our next mission whihc was to be the final one - To attack 7 knolls continuously.
The format was simpel enough, it will be a staggered Coy attack I.e: Plt 5 will attack knoll 1 while Plt 6 attacked knoll 2, then Plt 5 attack knoll 3....etc.
After the 7th Knoll was attack and successfully over-runned. 2 casualkties were declared and we had to casevac them all the wy back to TFT to catch our ferry back to mainland. In all it was about 6-8 Km, with more casualtiues declared along the way. Once we finally reached the Ferry Terminal,m alot of people simply collapsed from exhaustion. 2 friends of mine were even sent to the Med. Center.
We thought it was the ned of it all.....we thought that our parade would be on Monday, we thought that after that we could all go back camp and enjoy a good-night sleep
oH.........HOW WRONG COULD WEVER BE.......
Back at SFT, after checkikng stores, we laoded up the tonner and left at about 0100HRS for Dieppe (supposedly). But after barely travelling about 10 minutes, the tonners suddenly stopped along the long strech of road beside Changi Airport...
One of the Cadres shouted....
"Everybody out of the tonners! Grab all your equipments and everything you need and go into the vegetation!! THIS IS NOT A JOKE!
Most of us expected it, but weren't that convicned since during AAR, Staff Ivan did tell us the parade was on Monday instead. So though we got wind of it, we sort of thought it was cancelled.
Was made Platoon Sergeant by my Coy OC and briefed on the mission. It was supposedly our 8th mission whereby we had to march almost 20Km to Bedok Camp in FBO to set up a POB.
After recovering from the inital shock and disappointment from not being able to sleep peacefully in camp. I got my act together and readied the platoon. Making sure that all the bottles were filled and that their equipments were properly secured.
When we finallly concluded another round of marching through the night, we attened our own little POP parade. It wasn't anything fancy, no crowds, no big fanfares, just a simple ceremony to don our Berets, pin on our Tabs and say the Guarsd Creed. After that we were treated to a grrrrreat Breakfast in our new Camp. i received my Medal for being the Merit Trainee of the course. A happy moment for me indeed. =)
Finally loaded up the tonner and headed back to camp...this time, we all slept peacefully back....no more worries of marching, turnouts, etc..just...undisturbed sleep back to camp with our new berets and tab.
I'm proud my mates and i did it. We stuck together and completed the course together. We did not yield when obstacles were thrown in our faces, we simply sucked it up and spit it back out. We saw each glimmer of light as hope to continue moving on to our objective, towartds our eternal pride and honour, towards our Khaki Beret. Many times, i felt that ic ouldn't make it anymore, i was tired, physically and mentally exhausted, but i held on, held on not bcause of my pride or my will to get my beret, held on because my mates as much as the rest fo us, expected each and everyoine of ourselves to pass out and get the beret. Each and evewryone of us expected the same from everyione else - to never yield and to complete each given task.
Yes, the march was long and arduous, the blisters on the feet - pain like you've never experienced before.
But it all disappeared the moment we donned our Berets, the moment the tab was slapped onto our shoulders, together with our Chevrons, this two symbolises the hardships and pain each trainee went through to be where they are now.
I'm proud of my achievements but am more proud of people that have proven themselves to be of calibre and stature. Lennard, though i know u'll never read this, but i cannot express how PROUD and GLAD i am that you are finally a Guards Commander. You have proven your worth to me and the rest of us who have alot of faith in you.
You need to believe in yourself if you wish to achieve what you believe you are capable of.
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The Distinctive Khaki Beret, Guards Tab and my Chevrons
I'm a 1 Bn Singapore Guards Commander. READY TO STRIKE!
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The Guards Creed
WE are GUARDSMAN WARRIORS.
Resolute in loyalty, Steadfast in commitment.
We fight for our country, our Homes and our Families.
Land warriors from Air and Sea,
Unfailing in Toughness,
Valiant in our Actions.
We destroy all foes who challeng our Mission.
We are ELITE warriors,
With Daring Initiative,
We Rule the Day,
We Rule the Night!
ALWAYS READY!
READY TO STRIKE!!
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Roger....over and out.
Labels: NS
Alan gagged and reeled at
3:47 PM
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..:: Semper Paratus, Sine Mora ::..
