and to be grateful for everything I have.
Merry Christmas people! Time to recall my 3 weeks (well-spent)..
In a flash, things ended.
3 weeks of training ended.
On 18 Dec 2010, we officially POP-ed.
As I recall this 3 weeks, I thought, time really flies.
Just before the course, I kept wondering, how am I gonna bear through all this.
3 weeks indeed seemed long and scary.
The process was yet enriching and inspiring.
Made alot of new friends, gained alot of knowledge, got a deeper understanding of things.
Suddenly I was glad that I actually went for the course, aware of the responsibilities and duties that came along with it.
Residential Course 1 - HTA
We started off as 36, unfamiliar with each other.
Still remembered the day we walked into the drill shed, looking at the unfamiliar faces, trying to find the board which supposedly had our squad allocations.
Then, we finally went to fall in, got our allocations.
The first time I realise, I am part of Alpha Squad, together with all my Area 16 friends, and of course, with ky and zhengxiong (these were the few I knew then)
Really happy to be in a squad in which I know at least a few people.
On the first day, Alpha the duty squad, was bombarded with alot of information.
Met Instructors Ma'am LiLing and Ma'am JingHong.
Felt very blessed to have them as our squad instructors, very patient and forgiving Ma'ams.
Met my dearest Bunk 39 mates for the first time.
Other than Liyan, there's Linda (cute and high girl!), Tai-Tai Wei Jing, Sexy Hotpants girl Chun Hui, Grp I/C Jas, Awesome Nurul, Zai Amelia (She's Chinese!) and Thumbs-up Puay Ling :D
The 9 awesome girls totally made my stay in HTA (Y)!
Thanks girls ^^
Polishing boots at night, ironing uniform in the dark became things we had to do every night, but it was quite fun actually, amidst chatting about our day with our individual squads.
Slowly, got to know the rest of the squad, nice people like Syariff, Juliene, Geraldine, Nasuha, Ho Ming and many more.
Still remember how we were the first group to conduct foot drills 1 for the squad.
Thought Ma'am JH was being really lenient, 'cos I thought I kinda screwed up but yup.
Nonetheless, really fun to take lessons with Daniel and Juliene (:
Things got abit rowdy as we got to know each other more and was quite hard to shut the squad up at times, everyone wants to be heard that's why.
Meals at HTA was not bad really, just that portion was really huge, had to share with Liyan.
Thanks to all the people who helped collect food for us over the 2 weeks. (Especially the guys)
Remembered that our goal was to develop a Special Bonding? (Guess we did it somehow) :D
Residential Course 2 - HTA
Had a recharge of batteries over the weekend, spammed the whole world with updates about us.
And yes, we were back, to HTA.
Back to Bunk 39.
It was actually fun, waiting for the duty squads to open up our bunks at night, as we rush into our bunks, grab our stuff and chiong to the toilet down the corridor.
The best feeling comes only when you realise you are the first to reach the bathroom. HAHA.
Bathing at your top speed, afraid to choke up the queue and rushing back to bunks to queue for the iron.
Things were routine yet exciting each night.
Enjoyed the classroom lessons, where we recapped and got deeper knowledge of the hard skills that we have. Got to know alot of things I didn't know of, weird but it felt kinda of nice.
Still remembered the night we stayed up to study for CA2, together with UIA the next day.
Nearly died, adding to that, instructors inspected and made sure everyone was sleeping.
Woke up at 3plus to polish boots, iron uniform and last minute cram in stuff.
Everyone was tired but it was worth it.
The last night spent at HTA, I felt quite emotional.
Thinking that it was the last night we bunked together, last day we spend as Alpha Squad (technically not the case but ya).
All the memories we shared kinda of flashed back and things felt quite sad.
And yes, soon, RC2 came to an end.
Laid infront of us, our final challenge ATC.
ATC - Camp Resilience
At Ubin, when we reached, remembered how we sat around and waited for logi.
After tent-pitching, it was Camp Familiarisation.
It was then Popeyes came into action.
Although quite screwed up here and there but glad that Camp Fam had something done (:
Well done guys! (If not for Cat 1, it would have been more fun I guess)
Team Building Games was fun too, especially Jumping Two-Twos.
Had a great deal of fun, laughing like mad when Dylan with a slip of his tongue, made everyone's day.
Rafting was really fun, got to work with many of Popeyes.
Funny like crazy when we had to point and draw in mid-air and couldn't understand each other.
Unable to talk and without sufficient beforehand planning, really amazing how we could actually make a raft that floats and is really stable.
Although we were all sweating like mad in our dark long sleeved shirts and from all the pulling of manila hemps, it was really enjoyable.
Jokers like Hongjie, Kelvin and Weiquan made it really fun.
Land Exp was cool too, very well-planned out! (By Superman!)
Together we are Super Popeyes woohoo ^^
Went to Secret Garden, a few huts and also Rock Temple and the Pekan Quarry.
Got alot of new knowledge once again and learned alot about motivation and perseverence along the way.
Oh, and the German who owned the fish HAHA.
Nearly died at the last lap of the Land Exp (Marshal thought I was asthmatic .______.)
But had a great feeling, accomplishing yet another 4hours plus of land expedition.
ATC was tough but could have been tougher.
The countless meals of maggie mee, and 少到可怜的canned food together with Popeyes.
Thanks to all the guys who helped us with washing of our utensils and messtins :D
Will always remember the performance item by the instructors: 'Fireworks' by Katy Perry.
The deep meaning behind it (:
Campfire was awesome, thankyou Rangers! :D (Really liked Ranger's performance anyway)
Passing Out Parade (POP) - Unity Square
Was tricked by FI Azli, thinking that our parade was cancelled.
But really glad it wasn't.
Really glad it didn't rain, although it should have rained.
(Thankyou clouds!)
Everything was smooth and we all marched out in White, proud and smart.
It was a day we all waited for, training so hard for 3 weeks.
The day we held the M16, with bayonets, with white gloves, in No. 1 Ceremonial Dress.
It's a pity Alpha didn't pass out as 34, but we were 34-strong in our minds, in our hearts.
As my mum and my sis don the rank on my shoulder, I felt the weight, it was weighing down, as if telling me that hey, it is time.
This was it, I passed the last hurdle, with the help of many out there, thankyou guys.
As JX said, the hardest has yet to come. Now that I have cleared the first 3 weeks, the 2 years ahead is probably the main challenge.
Wanna thank a whole lot of people out there:
My parents and my jie -
For supporting me in everything I do, no matter what. Although I know my dad wasn't really keen on letting me go for it, but him waking up early every morning just to run and train with me for the course showed something. Thankyou daddy (: And thankyou mummy, for cooking delicious stuff for me over the weekend, for preparing me with all sorts of things like sunblock, counterpain ointment, insect repellent, anything you can think of. (: Of course, jie, for being behind me all the time, telling me to jiayou and stuff (And for taking care of my then dying cactus!). Love y'all :D
My squadmates -
Although most of y'all didn't say much, thankyou for the support. Especially for JX, Pris, OM, Oon, Van, Matt and Jovi - for giving me the utmost support, the affirmation, the encouragement, the strength to carry on. And of course, for fetching me from the ferry point, for the pleasant surprise at my door and all the sweet msgs. (: Thanks guys, never would be able to do all this without you guys.
My dearest clique (shyt-c) -
My dear 4 girls, never failed to give me the support and drive I needed, what I felt was never limited to just a msg, a fb comment. It goes a long way and helped me carry on from where I wanted to give in. Thanks girls, for being my continual inspiration and source of motivation (:
Kuanyuan -
For all the things you've done for me, be it in or out of course. You know it, so I don't have to name them. Thanks alot, I am grateful, really (:
Alpha -
For making CIBTC a wonderful experience. Never to forget you guys. :D Thanks for being there, and I'll try to be always around when you guys need me. Thanks for being my support and may y'all soar and excel, as great Sirs and Ma'ams (:
Popeyes -
A really cheerful bunch who made ATC very fulfilling. Went through all the sweaty times, did all the saikang together, shared funny moments. Even had a very original cheer for ourselves. Things will never be the same without any one of y'all so may Popeyes stay close and all the best guys! :D
As the course draws to a close,
I am gonna miss alot of things.
No more marching around as Alpha,
No more running around in white round neck tees,
No more late night ironing of uniforms,
No more studying with light from handphones,
No more anxious waiting for bunk keys to open bunks,
No more running at top speed to the toilets at night,
No more 'Hey, who got deodorant spray, can lend me?',
No more holding 3-4 cups of cordial drinks for the squad during meals,
No more 'Anyone saw my corporate bag?',
No more late night chatting in the bunks,
'cos we are no longer CITs.
D10, we have completed our 3 weeks of training, now it is time.
May all of us work hard and give back knowledge and values we have gotten from the corps.
'Aspire to Inspire before you Expire.'
'Success is not final, Failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.'
Well done Sirs and Ma'ams of D10 (:
