i didn't really feel like penning this down cause i dowan ppl to read it.but its sort of for myself..
A short chat with Maj Rafi during the retreat, basically summed up my term as an Officer thus far, and it was nothing but fulfilling. It was no overnight thing, that stories were told, milestones achieved and me being part of it, and definitely valuable lessons learnt. After all, from the start I've never even dreamt of being an Officer, cause initially I seriously knew nuts about the army. I was given the chance nonetheless, and i felt it was a gift after all, with hidden agendas. It was to nurthure people who has the prospect of leading others, and there was more to it besides.
The first week into OCS, yes culture shock was the word, as training kicked in before we knew it. haha though i kind wanted it to be like bootcamp style since I'm already there. The modules were arduously crafted out, and you could see at any one point, near giving-up faces all around. It was a trying period of thirty-eight weeks, sometimes only spending less than a day's time at home on a weekly basis. And so it all went past, an interminable wait till the end, including two overseas trips to Brunei and Thailand, albeit i felt Taiwan would be much better. Overseas training went to another level , and i dare say it deliberately tested the mental model of a person, especially being miles away from home.
It was the people around me, who made it all worthwhile and memorable. Jin yang, vincent, yong hwee, jing hong, amos and many others, they made my day always. Not forgetting those from Sierra Wing, chin mian, nicholas ling, sean bla bla. I guess without them it all wouldn't be possible. And i cherish the times we had, out in the field, in the jungles of brunei, the sparse plantations of thailand, forests of lim chu kang, marsiling, during climate changes, cohesion activites, sports and games, commissioning ball et cetera, all deeply etched in my memory.
Commissioning on the 15th of March, it just justified that it was just a beginning of a journey, as i resumed the course of national service. Elation was at the highest level though, the parade being the 3rd in terms of significance in the country as our Sergeant Major always say, the culmination of months of immense suffering. Then came the posting. Assuming the appointment of a trainer in a reservist camp, the immediate thought was like 'wow, i'm gonna train reservists!' It turned out fine though, and never had I thought I would work so closely with higher ranked people, forging another sort of bonds. At some point, time seemed to be crawling, as I really hope to take a break from all this, donning the green uniform and being so actively active in the institute's affairs.
So much so as a result from training, I came across all kinds of people. Working with regulars, active nsfs, reservists young and old, warrant officers, it was really an experience. I've took the advice of many, at the same time giving advice to others, and it so amazingly happened that I can actually make a group of 40 or so NS men listen to me. Its really quite a feeling. And it opened my eyes to how miserable a person's life can be, after all i always believe you only live your life once, and it is up to you to determine how it should be. I see people wasting it away, like running water from a tap. I really hope they could be enlightened one day, so that it doesn't aggravate any situation further. and those drinking sessions, thanks ah, for teaching me the signifance of drinking
Its all coming to an end, and there are many take-aways from this, most importantly I felt I've grown so much over this eleven months. I had learnt to deal with people and relationships, learnt what is hardship, learnt that there is always a rationale behind things, learnt how to communicate with people, learnt how to slack and not get caught while, getting the job done on time. And it all ends with a contented NSF, his MAj telling him, 'You are a good Officer.'
