After 38 weeks..

This was what most of us were looking forward to at the start of our officer training course..I too was one of them. However, life after commissioning is not a bed of roses..I believe I have said this before, so I shall not elaborate.

The parade's preparation was extensive! Rehearsals too were uber tiring..I personally felt that the parade need not be that extravagant, but that day, I was swayed a little to the other camp..

This was the most touching moment of the entire parade..The affixing of the officer rank insignia onto the newly commissioned officers by their loved ones..You could see how happy Mum and Sis were yah..hahas..=] In my journey to officership they were there to motivate me in my darkest hour, helping me to pull through the tough times..Thank you both so much, love you two loads!!

Not to forget, my cell also came to support! =] I was really glad to see them la..Without their constant prayer and support, I would not have been so blessed by God! Love you all too..=]

Hahas, after commissioning, I was on course straight away! There was no time to even clear our leave..The first course has ended, and I am attending the next one tomorrow. Thankfully we had our commissioning ball in between the two courses to help us relax a little! =] Anyways, the ball was like a mini-VJC gathering for us Victorians..There were loads of Victorians around! Miss VJ to the max lah, can't help it..The picture above was an all-Victorians photo..=x there were more people then these lah, just that I didn't manage to get them all together for the photo shoot..hahas..

So yupz, my life as an officer has begun, and I look forward to it with much anticipation and anxiety..Well, God will pave the way..peace out people.

I think I'm pretty brave..

Heys people! Can you believe it? I just ran 21km today!! Hahas..It was really madness lah, I did not even train for it like I did for last year..However, the experience today was much better than last year's. It was hot and humid last year, and I ran ALONE! This year however, everything was the opposite. The weather was windy and cooling, and I ran with my pal Nicolas. It felt shorter than last year man. Hahas..=] Timing today was 2:06hrs, 6mins more than last year's. But I guess I deserve a pat on the back for the effort. =]

After the ran, I rushed down to cell and had one really good session with the kids. God's presence was really with us this morning as we held a prayer meeting. Tears nearly flowed down my cheeks when I heard so many sincere prayers. My kids rock! Sam Phua's prayer was really apt, even I overlooked it. After the session, the cell seemed more gelled. =] Abit too early to say, but I believe! Really looking forward to seeing them at SAFTI this saturday at my commissioning parade. Kiddos, you guys are a part of my driving force when I felt I could not go on anymore, love you all loads! =] I sound really gay in this post man, grr..But once in awhile it's okay lah..

After this week, I'm tossed into the big ocean of officership..With great powers comes great responsibility..How apt! This commissioning is another landmark that draws me closer to ORD..hahas..=] Lastly, I leave you with something that's taught to us in the leadership lessons:

Watch your thoughts, for they become your words;
watch your words, for they become your actions;
watch your actions, for they become your habit;
watch your habit, for they become your character;
watch your character, for they become your destiny.

Yet another time to look back..

Hey people..It's been awhile since the last decent post, so yea, I guess this should suffice. Last thursday was the Armour Certificate Presentation Ceremony in which cadets will receive a certificate congratulating him for his successful completion of the Armour Officer Cadets Course (AOCC). Thinking back and reflecting, I had strong feelings for a couple of things...

The Scroll I received

Above was what I received that day. If you look closely enough, you will see the rank 2LT (2nd Lieutenant) printed instead of the usual OCT (Officer Cadet). Strangely, I wasn't as estatic as I should be, but I was relieved that I made it through this arduous course.

Not to put the other formations down, but I felt that to pass out from the AOCC as a 2LT was tougher than to do it in any other formations. Sleep was practically non-existant whether in-camp or outfield. Both our mental and physical faculties were pushed to the limits whenever we return from a day's exercise to be greeted with servicing and maintenance of our vehicles. Furthermore, for me undergoing the Tank Officer Cadet Course (TOCC), multi-tasking on the tank was of top priority. You will have to juggle with 4-5 things at any one time. It was very challenging and the action was high-tempo to the max! Therefore for me, to pass the course was an achievement, to don the black beret brings me great pride.

This course has taught me many things about myself and about people. I learnt a great deal about myself under different situations that I was put through. How I reacted to immense stress and pressure to perform, how I treated my fellow course-mates, and the different methods I used to complete a task given to me. These traits I discovered about myself were at times shocking, and at times insightful. This course has made me realise that there was still a long long way to go on the road of life, and I still had loads to learn from. There were definitely things I wish to change, and things I wish to reinforce to make better. I am still a novice in the area of living the life I am supposed to live.

Secondly, something that really affected me was that my fellow course-mate went Out of Course (OOC) a day before the certificate presentation due to poor performance in TOCC. He was a person who gives his best in every training session, lectures and tests. However, it was his lack of confidence and poor grasp of the basics that resulted in his failure. I felt very sad that day that he wasn't with us receiving the certificate. I thought to myself that I was not going to let anything like this happen in the next course. This notion is going to be the sole motivation for me to push myself in training the next batch of cadets, as most probably I will be posted as an instructor.

Lastly, I was really glad that the course has ended because I felt that my Tankee course is seriously pretty screwed up. Relationship problems between us trainees were bad, and there was no unity at all. It felt so different from my BMT and Service Term experience. I guess Tankees are just wired that way, we are individualistic and plain selfish, caring for only ourselves. Comparing ourselves to our Armoured Infantry fellow cadets in the Armoured Infantry Officer Cadet Course (AIOCC), things are very much different. They are really united as one. To pass out as a Tank officer is of more pride as compared to an Armoured Infantry officer in my opinion, but the bonds you forge are definitely much weaker. I would gladly trade such pride for better bonds within the course any time.

Well, everything's been said and done, and all that is left is just the commissioning parade. I guess I would just concentrate on how to make things better for the next batch, and look forward to a new chapter in my NS life..

Pictures!

My ROC Training Pass

A typical Taiwan street

 At the LEOFOO Theme Park

This LOST WORLD station was like the lamest thing I have ever seen in my entire life! You literally get lost inside! Ahh..It's like a maze with dinosaur models inside. A serious waste of time..

A dolphin passing a basketball to its trainer

 The beauty of nature

Eroded rocks

An eroded ground that looks like a heart

Blink

Hey people! I'm back!!! Woohoo, the whole Taiwan training seemed to pass in a blink of the eye. Perhaps it was due to the rushing everyday that made it seem so short. Training was tough, sleep was rare. I did not sleep in the last 2 nights before R & R due to the cleaning of weapons. It was really an experience which I think once is good enough.. =]

Talking about training in Taiwan, most would relate to the 'Xiang Ji Pa' and 'Zhen Zhu Nai Cha' almost immediately. I had my share too, devouring them after a period of tough training really helps to boost morale. Furthermore the drinks vending machine in camp rules! 50 Singapore cents could get you a drink. The selection of drinks there are outrageous too! hahas..

Ok, zooming to R & R!! Woohoo, the highlight of the trip. Our first stop was the LEOFOO theme park where I rode on 2 killer rides with my heart in my mouth. Other places we visited were scenic places and shopping points. Educational places visited were the CKS Memorial Hall and the Martyr's Shrine where we witnessed the elaborate change of duty by the guards. Guard shifts change every 30 minutes, but the change of duty 'ceremony' takes 20 minutes, you do the maths on the amount of time the guards have before they embark on yet another 'ceremony'..

Shopping was seriously mad for me. I literally brought Taiwan back to Singapore..hahas..Shilin night market was a shopping heaven, but it is so big that one could not finish walking it in a night. Ximending where my hotel was located is also a killer shopping ground. At night, the place is lighted up beautifully, and we shoppers prowl it's streets. =] All in all, shopping in Taiwan is really superb.

That's all for my training trip to Taiwan, pictures will be posted up in the next post when I upload my photos, for now book in is beckoning..out to you people..

"Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane..."

Time will fly by so quickly..I'm believing in that phrase! It' s just 19 days to my R & R in Taiwan! By then my course is more or less over. All I have to do is to wait to be commissioned. Seriously rocks.. But well, the training in Taiwan ain't going to be a walk in the park. Tough times are ahead of me, but I'm placing my faith in the Lord to once again pull me through this ordeal. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life". I am also looking forward to this trip because I believe that God will use this tough training to impart in me a certain lesson. This is my sole expectation for this training trip. I shall be changed by the works of His hands.

This is a verse I read sometime this week and it really got stuck in my mind. Hope it will help you in your quest (if you are on it) to bless people instead of saying bad things about them..

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." - Ephesians 4:29

This verse will inspire to be a blessing machine! Meditate on it, and be conscious of the things you say daily. I'm currently doing this in my quest to bless and not curse. Take care people, I will post again when I return from my training trip. Photos will be guaranteed! Stay connected..Ciao~

Here to tell the tale..

I'm back!! It's been a week of mad-rushing for me again (what's new?). I came out my Tank Platoon Battlecourse alive! For 5 days 4 nights, we were challenged both mentally and physically. Sleeping 2 hours each day, and working the other 22 hours proved to be quite a challenge. Nevertheless, God kept me strong and pulled me through again. It's now 3 weeks to Taiwan! That is the last hurdle which I have to clear. Time sure flies..

Anyways, this week outfield strongly solidified my belief that God has put me in Armour for something. Nothing can change me as much as this experience I have in Armour training when I get out of it. As said by my instructors, they will break you down and then build you up. I have already undergone the first phase which started a few months back (remember the lollypop incident?), and I believe I am into phase two now. Looking forward to it with much anticipation. =]

Next week, I will be embarking on training with the Armour Infantry dudes. It is so going to rock man. Tanks and Armour Infantry collaborating is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I have to scoot off now, just to motivate anyone who is feeling stressed or anything, your problem is not going to last forever, but the character and values you develop from it will be with you forever! Take cares people, out to you.

A turning point

Training's been getting tougher and tougher as the weeks go by...6 more weeks to Taiwan! How fast is that? Before I know it, it will all be over..hopefully =] One thing that I learnt this week is about myself. There is alot for me to do before I can be the type of man God wants me to be. I have areas in my life that desperately needs to be altered, and I am depending on Him to give me the strength needed for such a change.

To love someone like I love myself stills proves to be quite difficult for me. Some people are just so..so..argh..=[ However, I will obey His command. It's obedience that will change me. Therefore, currently my goal is to become a better person, hahas..This coming week is Single Tank Battlecourse. I will be going for my first outfield in Armour for 3 1/2 days. Next up will be Basic Main Range in which I will fire off the tank's main gun! Woohoo, I can barely wait..

The flipside to this week - no bookout! I will be going back to my BMT days where you get confined for 2 weeks before they let you out. See you guys again in 12 days! God bless you all loads, and take good care of yourselves..

I see the light..

Another week has past by! This week has been quite relaxing, which is seriously a rarity in Armour. Anyways, I made use of my free time reading and finishing Witnessing Without Fear. I now know what I am commanded to do. It is actually so simple!

"Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leaving the results to God. " - Bill Bright

It is so beautifully summed up in this sentence. I have been reading this book for the past 2 weeks, and I have learnt loads from it which really enlightened me. This book made me want to live my life differently and walk closer to Him to be sensitive to all of His promptings. Several positive incidents have happened, and I hope you will be encouraged by them as I share them with you.

On my book in day last week, the book was in my hands because that seemed to be the only time I am free to read. I was supposed to take the bus then the MRT and then the bus again to my desolate camp, but I somehow decided against the idea, and hopped onto a cab instead. After telling the uncle my destination, I focused my eyes on the book. Suddenly, a strange prompting came to my mind - why read, do what you have learnt so far from this book. I closed the book and took in a deep breath. I wanted to witness to the cabbie but I did not know how to start this conversation, and I was a little embarrass to bring this topic up. I immediately prayed and asked for guidance from the Holy Spirit. After around 7mins of mind-fighting, I blurted out, "Uncle, have you heard of this person called Jesus?"

To make things harder, the entire conversation was in Mandarin. Before you jump the gun, I wish to clarify that I can speak fluent Mandarin, but the problem was that I have never witness in Mandarin before. This was a first. I stepped out in faith and I believed that God will honor that and bring me through this sharing process. Throughout the witnessing, I kept telling myself that it is not of my own strength but His. I was amazed that the uncle was quite receptive to my sharing! Praise the Lord! As we talked, I realised that his brother was a Christian. However this uncle never really got witnessed to by his brother. Upon reaching my camp, I told the uncle to get more information from his brother regarding this matter. I left him with the 4 Spiritual Laws I shared.

Earlier this week for my book in, I took a cab again. This time I still had the prompting to share the Gospel with the cabbie again. The usual mind-fighting begins, but this time it took a shorter time before I asked the uncle how he spent his free-time, and suggesting that he could visit a church. He was yet again very receptive! Amen! Apparently, his daughter-to-be brings him to church but he hardly understands a word spoken because his first language is Mandarin. I shared with him again, and even suggested that he visited my church for the Miracle Service on saturdays. Upon reaching my destination, uncle assured me that he will do just that when he finds the time. On both occasions, I walked into camp smiling from ear to ear. I was just so happy and filled with joy. Witnessing was indeed simple if you just obey.

I really believe now that people out there are receptive to the Gospel, it is just that no one has approached them to reveal this wonderful present that is readily available to them. Matthew 9:37 depicts this as "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few." Therefore people go out there with your harvesting bag and axe and claim what belongs to our Lord!

I depended on Him..

This week has been a can of sardines - it was packed to the max! Basically what I went through was the driving package. I learnt how to drive the tank and how to maintain the different parts of my vehicle. I learnt how to strip the tank's tracks, what to do if my tank breaks down and the basic maintenance that will prevent such incidents from occuring. I also obtained my tank driving license! Woohoo, it is official! I can drive!

This week is not just about driving, I also had my IPPT test on Friday. The rule is simple: no gold, no bookout on Friday night and remedial training on Saturday morning. My only problem was the standing broad jump again. I had to hit 234cm in order to qualify for the gold award and the $200. It seemed seriously impossible to jump that far, and I have never really actually hit that distance before. I prayed.

Throughout the week I tried to train for my jump, but time was very limited. We return from driving classes and after-driving maintenance very late everyday. I only had the opportunity to train once in the entire week. I just had the faith that God will see me through this obstacle that seemed so massive to me, but is so insignificant to Him. On Friday morning, an hour before the IPPT test, doubts crept into my mind, screw the devil. I rebuke it straightaway, and prayed for God to give me the belief that through Him all things are possible. My faith was never stronger. I just knew that I was going to bookout that night.

When I came to the SBJ station, I knew I was going to jump 234cm. I muttered a short prayer before tossing myself into the wind. Upon landing I hit 234cm. The next few tries even see me hitting further distances. I could not believe myself, and I thanked Him repeatedly. It was seriously not possible for me to do what I did, I know it for sure. Just like my SOC few months back, God has helped me overcome my obstacles. It is written in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please Him. Therefore people have faith in God for He is almightly and nothing is too big for an alreadly so massively big God.

New experiences..

Well..my first week in the School of Armour had been pretty ok, all praises to God! I prayed for the initiation to be less torturing, and God answered my prayer. It is a custom that if you are new to a unit, you have to undergo initiation. On monday, I had my initiation. That night, we had happy hour at the mess, and guess what? Every cadet had to down a mug of Tiger Beer! I was scared stiff because I do not drink. I looked to the Lord in prayer again, and He pulled me through. After drinking the beer, my face was the reddest amongst the cadets, this caused quite a commotion. However, I felt quite ok other than being very tired. =]

This week was also very hectic. We had to rush from place to place. Furthermore, it is all just the tip of an iceberg. What is to come will be worst. I am looking forward to it though. Learning new things and all. This coming week I will be learning how to drive a tank. I will get my license by Friday if I pass the driving test. Hahas..I will definitely pass it because I have an almightly God!

Lastly, something which I read this week : A man who kneels to God can stand up to anything. Beautiful isn't it?

The road less travelled...I guess...

After returning from the 10 days training at Brunei, I was seriously dead beat! Looking back at the things I did, I could hardly believe I overcame the training. The climb up Mount Biang was the ultimate killer experience. One would be faced with a slope almost close to 85 degrees to the horizon, climbing up such 'common' slopes required one to be on all fours, any slip proved to be injury-causing if not fatal. To top it all up, the route up and down the mountain was not as direct as it seems. It was full of ups and downs for the ascension and descension, causing you to wonder whether or not have you progressed up the darn mountain.

However, inspite of all this, everyone looks forward to 5pm because it is then when we settle down at a suitable harbour site to rest. Hammocks sprout up like mushrooms after a rain, and bonfires were a frequent sight. For me, I derive great joy in cooking Maggi Mee when I harbour. The feeling of surpling down warm noodles and sipping hot soup was the ultimate killer concept. Temperatures at night and in the early morning was cool. It was like being in an air-conditioned room, just that the air-conditioner was too cooling that most of us shivered loads.

A lesson that I have learnt from this trip was that water is seriously precious. We had to collect river/stream water because 3days 2 nights of walking and climbing took a toil on our personal water supply of average 4litres. The water collected was cooling to the max! Just seconds after filling your bottle, you could see water droplets forming on the surface of it. Of course, Puritabs were added to the water to kill off any bacteria present, making the water potable. It was truly a cool experience...literally.

Now, back in Singapore at Sungei Gedong Camp, I am undergoing an extremely packed and vigorous training programme. Being selected to be a tank officer-to-be, I am excited yet apprehensive toward the training that is about to occur. I will learn how to drive a tank and how to operate the main gun of the tank in the coming week. Sounds like fun! I hope I will be able to survive another week in the School of Armour. God will pull me through. I believe!

Platoon Field Camp

ATTACK

Taking cover before the strike.

Smoke out! We commenced the attack.

Enemy taken down..

DEFENCE

Setting up of defense site

This is where the action is...

Defence site fully up...

Nostalgia

I believe that many tend to cherish something more the moment they lose them. They take the things dearest to them for granted most of the time.

"I can't wait to get out of this screwed up place!" was the sentiments of many cadets when the training in OCS got a little tougher. I was one of them; to think that I expressed interest in getting into OCS. However, now that I am really leaving SAFTI MI due to my Professional Term posting to the Armour Training Institute at Sungei Gedong, I cannot bear to leave this 'screwed up' place. Furthermore, the many bonds forged will be tested when we all go our separate ways due to the different postings we receive. Looking back at the wonderful moments we spent in Tango Wing, I seriously struggled to hold my tears back.

Being part of the Video Team in my wing, I was tasked to produce a video of our life in Tango Wing to be distributed to every Tango cadet. Whilst doing the project, looking at the various clips of our training, fond memories flood my mind. Although I had very little sleep, staying up till the wee hours in the morning to meet the project deadline, I felt it was worth it. Looking at the end product gave me tremendous satisfaction.

Thinking of all the obstacles which I faced during training and the family and friends who were there to motivate and encourage me to carry on, I feel very blessed. Thank you to all of you out there, you know who you are!!Hahas..Therefore, for these people out there I will hang on during the tough times, and get commissioned eventually as an Armour Officer.

Take care peeps..Over and out.

Divine Intervention

The low wall has always been my problem for SOC since the BMT days. My momentum will be hindered by it due to me having to clear it more than once. I thought by passing my SOC back then with a timing which even qualifies for a pass in OCS, everything will be fine. I was wrong..

During one of my OCS SOC training, I suddenly slipped down the low rope even though I had coiled the rope tightly. This caused me to fail the training. I was stunned because I never had any problems with the low rope. Having cleared the low wall, I believed I have cleared all my problems, but this had to happen! This problem was erratic; it happens only sometimes. Having failed my trial test due to the low rope, I was feeling very low because the actual test will be in 6 days time.

I immediately looked to God for help. Prayer on this item was brought up in the days prior to the test. I visualised myself clearing all the obstacles in the actual test and claimed it with the name of the Lord. I believed in Him, and had faith that He will definitely pull me through. I drew my strength from Him through Matthew 21:21-22. I knew deep down inside He was going to help me pass this test, I just knew.

The day of reckoning came, and I prepared myself for the test. I prayed before I left the bunk and before I knew it, I was running down to the low wall. I cleared it in one shot and proceeded on to the next few obstacles. I then came to the low rope. Believeing with all my might, I jumped and grapped the rope, coiling my body and twirling my legs around the rope, stepping on it to make it firm. I then straightened my legs, and I did not slip! Touching the top, I shouted "YES!". The next few obstacles posed no threat. I completed my test 1 min earlier than my personal best. The best thing was that I did not really feel that tired. I knew this was not of my own strength, but of God's. It was a killer divine intervention!

'Normando'

Could not really think of any title, so hence the killer moniker.. =] I think it sounds really fierce! Sublime! A smart inference you can make now is that I am still alive! I have survived the 2 field camps in 2 weeks back to back. First, it was the section field camp, lasting 4 days 3 nights, in which we were taught how to fight and move as a section in a fire movement. Next was the patrol field camp, lasting 2 days 1 night, in which we were given 4 missions to complete - 2 day missions and 2 night ones. The total sleeping time for patrol field camp was 5 hours in 2 nights! I was literally a zombie on the third day (thankfully it was bookout day!!!).

Coming out of these 2 field camps, I feel like a different person. Perhaps more mentally tough and more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. It rained for both my field camps and we slept with wet clothing, on wet ground which seriously caused our morale to dip well below zero. The creepy crawlies which swarmed the undergrowth at my harbour area in patrol field camp made me think twice about sleeping that night. Anyways, I did not have to make a decision because the moment I lay down, I was knocked out. The Zzz monster won! Missions were continuous, giving us little or no time to rest. Battle stress was taught to us in this manner. Inspite of all these, I somehow feel that both field camps were realistic simulation of wartime scenario. It was good training..seriously..=] I learnt that it really took character and tons of fighting spirit to overcome these field camps (small picture) and to be commissioned as an officer (big picture).

One interesting thing to share was that earlier this week, I suddenly felt very negative about everything. My postive attitude seemed to have deserted me. I felt very down and sianz in camp. I prayed. It came to a point that I could not take it anymore, so I SOSed for my mum's advice. Speaking to her before my 7km run in the evening made me cry (she did not know), it was tears of sianz-ness. Maybe all the rushing in camp has taken its toll on me, I do not know. A famous saying of army is that of "rush to wait, wait to rush". Cool yah..=] Back to the topic, after putting down the phone, God somehow planted a thought in my mind asking me to use this 7km run as a landmark in my life, in which I ran into a new life, one that is stronger, it was as if the run was designed to help me abandon the sianz-ness I was feeling. I ran as if the devil was chasing me that day. True enough, after the run, I felt lighter and a little bit more positive. Things changed for the better from then on.

The tightness of the training schedule in camp also made me temporarily forget about my birthday! How killer is that? Anyway, it was a very quiet birthday I spent in camp, celebrations were done before I booked in earlier this week. I am 19 already..time flies..I am an oldie now.."There is one thing you can't recycle, and that is wasted time". So i guess one of my goals this year is to try and make full use of whatever time I have to the fullest. Time indeed is precious.

To end this post, I wish to share a quote I saw today on TV Mobile: The absence of flaw in beauty is itself a flaw. I hope this will set you thinking a little bit..

Killer architecture

The tower of SAFTI-MI

Upon going up this 60m tall tower, 3 viewing windows can be seen, each showing a view with their own significance. I cannot help but be amazed at the location of this tower, capturing those 3 views. The first thing that came to my mind was that the planning process took loads of time and effort. This is the ultimate killer concept! Below are the 3 views with their respective significance. Enjoy...

Signifies our past - the undeveloped Singapore

Signifies the developing Singapore in her manufacturing era

Signifies the homes ( HDB in the background) we pledge to defend after getting commissioned on the parade square ( foreground)

Pictures!!

Madness in the bunk

Taurus march pass

This marks the end of my BMT days as a recruit, something which I treasure now so dearly..

Metamorphosis..

Due to popular demand by Shafy, here's the 3rd post!! Sounds so pathetic..Anyways, after going through around 3 months of NS, I feel that I have matured alot..I have learnt to treasure the things I take for granted back home, to self-reflect more and think things through deeper before diving into the various tasks. However, most importantly, to depend more on God for strength and guidance. I personally feel that NS is the best time to get intimate with God, to hit that spiritual high and to be able to maintain it. My entire BMT was walked with Him guiding each step I took. I have never felt so powerful in Him before. This rocks..

My dearest Taurus 2 Section 2

The tents we slept in

The BMT phase past by so quickly, and before I knew it, it was POP (passing out parade). It was really the tough times in training that we remembered most, and also talked about most. My heart ached when I had to leave Tekong for greener pastures (almost literally).

OCS was the next hurdle to cross. Comparing the living conditions, food and infrastructure, SAFTI-MI trashes BMTC hands down. However, all this comes with a price..The training in OCS is really a killer concept! You can say that BMT was a stroll in the park..I learnt that it is very tough to even be commissioned as an officer, you could go out of course very easily!! It has been 3 weeks already, and I thank God that He has pulled me through so far..There are 35 more weeks to go, and a section field camp coming up next week in Tekong (woohoo, hometown!!) It is going to be 4 days of outfield..I WILL SURVIVE!!

Time seriously flies!

Well...I've finally been to town yesterday after like two and a half months!! To think about it, town's really nothing much actually...=] Had lunch at Seoul Garden with some peeps from the mugging gang and some juniors at Taka for like 3hrs? Hahas..really ate our money's worth man! The talk we had later was even cooler!! Topics discussed include 'why do guys watch porn?', 'the mindsets of guys and gals' and many other rather sensitive issues. It's really amazing hearing opinions from the other sex, like their stand on certain issues like premarital sex. One thing I came to realise after many of such conversations is that guys and girls are essentially the same. We both think that the other sex is weird and incomprehensible... So to wrap things up, I actually spent the whole day in town, woohoo! But yah, I still maintain my stand - town is really nothing much...

Today, we had a heritage tour courtesy of the SAF. We visited the NEWater plant at Bedok, Changi Chapel and War Museam and the Johor Battery. My favourite site was the second place we visited - the War Museam. The countless amounts of artifacts and historical information was overwhelming. We were reminded of the Japanese Occupation, and the numerous amounts of hardship and mental torture the POWs went through. It reaffirmed my desire to serve my remaining term in NS the best I can. Because by doing so, only can I be assured I will have the ability to protect my loved ones and country in times of war, if it occurs. The picture above is taken at the site. Observe the cross, it was handmade by a POW, and improvised from an artillery shell. The candle stands were also made from pipes!! The chapel was built using whatever material that was available at that time during the occupation. It was heartening to know that people still depended on our Lord for strength to pull themselves through such tough times. One's heart would go out to those people who suffered during the occupation, and could only stand in solemnness when hearing about their plight. I do encourage anyone out there who has not yet been to the Changi Chapel and War Museam to visit it and be truly humbled and enlightened...

Finally..

One thing I've learned from this blog-making process - never procrastinate!! I've wanted to create a blog for a very long time already, but it's just that I've never really gotten down to do it..When I finally did, it was actually very easy, maybe because most of the work is done by Jesselyn!! Please clap!! Without her, this darn thing wouldn't even have seen the daylight..Not forgetting Danielle and Wei Lynn a.k.a Sir Bobby who helped with the beautifying of this rather dull blog..hahas!! =] Anyways, just glad that it is finally up and raring to go..So please tune in for more exciting news coming your way..Seriously, this is helluva killer concept..