Hi people, this post will be rather nostalgic as i reminicise on my Army days, especially more so during my time at 1 Guards.
In a blink of an eye, it has been more than half a year since i ORD-ed from the force. I must admit that i miss those days of chionging with my men very much. I may sound crazy saying all this, but yes i seriously miss my army days very much. haha. The whole lifestyle then is something that i cannot find anymore, the espirit de corps, commaderie and brotherhood. Is something that i miss.
Not to mention the things i did during my time. Grooming and leading the recruits into operational soldiers. Right now, my men who were once recruits are already nearing their final phase in 1 Guards. Soon they will be fighting ATEC and i do hope they do well. =)
I came across a couple of videos that made me really think back on my Guards days, though they are not of my men's but they were filmed in Dieppe barracks of the 11th MONO (Mine's 12th Mono), where i spent a good 3-4 months there training to be a Guardsman and earning my Khaki Beret from. So i can relate to it. =)Those bittersweet memories of 02/05 Guards Conversion Course.
This video especially made me think back. The rappeling and the section and platoon training are all things i can relate to. =)
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Nothing beats the sensational of rapelling, the desperation you feel as you are in the L-Shape on the skid of the helicopter with the down-wash pushing you down, hanging on for dear life. The exhilaration of jumping off 80-Feet in the air with nothing but a rope seat harness you tied yourself.
With a clap, you push yourself off the skid and let go of the rope slidding down and seeing the helicopter move further away from you. That is of course if you oversome the initial vertigo you feel as the helicopter rises into the air and the people below get smaller and smaller.
Or that exhilaration when you do an Australian (Face-down, walking rappel) off a cliff edge. I did try the inverted once too. =)
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I might sound a little masochistic to say that i did enjoy all those outfield exercises and fighting alongside my section. Or those endless night marches that never seemed to end. The complete exhaustion one feels when you are bogged down my equipments and responsibility. But i always felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when i complete them and see my section intact. =) Those fierce firefights and quick-thinking moments. Shouting through the gunshots and advancing towards the enemies. It is a feeling that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
My Section that i left behind Top Row : Kalai (2nd SAW), JJ (1st M203) Bottom row : CPL Saiful (2nd M203, my capable Sect 2ic), LCP Fadli ( 2nd LAW, Sharpshooter), Andy (1st LAW) Missing : Raizahan (1st Saw)
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I always wore my uniform with pride and i miss that feeling. Of wearing something that you have earned and built over two years to reflect your efforts. The Guards Tab, the Khaki Beret, the CSB Badge, the Rank and the formation patch....Even till now, i always hang a ready set of #4 in my room as a testament to me as a Guardsman and a trained Soldier of the SAF. I may sound crazy, but this is how i want my NS to be. As one of proud moments and good memories, to say after so long that i did my best and i did it well. I do not want to remember my NS as one blur spot, but rather one in which i truly understood who i was and who i could be. I may just be one soldier in a vast sea of Servicemen, but my memories of my time as one will remain as something precious to me for a lifetime. I used to complain how sian i felt at times of NS, but in retrospec, i wish i could go back to myself then and tell me what i feel now. There were things i could have done better and things i could have done without, if only.
Rawdy Platoon 2, 12th Mono-Intake with Second Year Cmdrs. (I ORD-ed by then already)
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On a brighter note, today had dinner with Ms. S's mum and sister at Sakae Sushi. =) It was a simple dinner but a fun one at that. =)
Thank you for the dinner Dear. =) it was truly sweet of you to treat your mum and sister to such a feast =)
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It is late and tomorrow i'm going shopping for my very first pair of sneakers. =) Hopefully i get to find a cheap but good one! =)
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They were tough while they lasted, but thier impressions in my life lasts a lifetime.
= Alan a.k.a Scionfire =
= 21 yr old M =
= Was from CJC =
= Ex-29th CJC SC Councillor =
= Hails from Pioneer and Proud of it =
= Enjoys Jazz, Zen and Gregorian =
= Jay Chou RAWKS =
= Loves living the simple life =
= Operationally Ready NS-MAN and Proud of it =
= Guards Specialist : Ready to Strike! =
= Has a wonderful Girlfriend =
= Struggling undergrad in NTU =
Nothing beats the sensational of rapelling, the desperation you feel as you are in the L-Shape on the skid of the helicopter with the down-wash pushing you down, hanging on for dear life. The exhilaration of jumping off 80-Feet in the air with nothing but a rope seat harness you tied yourself. 
With a clap, you push yourself off the skid and let go of the rope slidding down and seeing the helicopter move further away from you. That is of course if you oversome the initial vertigo you feel as the helicopter rises into the air and the people below get smaller and smaller. 
