balance

Alright, I finally have the time now.

On 8th of January, I have officially been “PRIVATE-ised” at the Marina Floating Platform after a long wait of 17 weeks in Tekong. That moment when I felt a sense of achievement as I tossed my cap into the air was ‘tasty’!! I don’t really know if it’s a good or bad thing to finally not be a recruit anymore since our OC had been telling us that recuits are the King of Tekong and we are protected and free of regimental duties and such.  Ok, that might be over-thinking it a lil too much since everyone has been anticipating this day for a very long time, especially us from 04/10 Eagle Coy batch! When others only have 9 weeks, we have 17!! Well, I guess it’s only natural that we always look forward to the next chapter installed for us, getting to POP and ending a phase of our NS life is definitely something to congratulate for since we have transformed from civilians to trained soldiers. We are moving on! and that means being closer to the 2 year mark for most of us.

I wouldn’t say that 17 weeks of training have been all that bad since I got a lot in return as well. I got to know my section/platoon mates, my fitness improved by so much, and i definitely got to realise to cherish my family so much more. Now that all of us have passed out from BMTC, gone are the times when we joked, laughed, gossiped and had fun in our bunks, going through the trainings together, sleeping together and doing basically everything together!

As I was marching out to the platform on Saturday, moments of my 4 months in BMTC were scrolling through my head. That was when I realised it really hit me that it has finally came to an end and things would change. Even though we are from the leadership batch, all the other 17 coys that POP-ed also looked like leadership batches as well! (ok la, other than hawk and ninja coys). So basically, our chances of meeting each other in command schools would lesser already unlike other batches when there were fewer coys graduating and ended up having the majority of the platoon going to SCS.

Anyway, I am not sure yet if I am looking forward to the days ahead since I will be posted to either OCS or SCS, and that means more outfields ,route marches and all those infantry stuffs that they can possibly throw at me! I would be glad if airforce accepts me now but I know the application process takes forever so I wouldn’t be too optimistic. IF all goes wells, I have decided to sign on as a WSO(FTR) if I manage to pass all the test and get offered a contract. That is like a 10 year bond but I am willing to take a risk. That is the closest thing to flying an aircraft since I already wished my pilot carrer in the airforce goodbye as I have sadly failed my pilot section of the COMPASS test. If I don’t do it now, I wouldn’t know when I would get to do it ever again. After my degree? But that would be in 4 years time and that’s pretty long! If my application to the airforce fails, then yes, I would just have to suck my thumb, go through infantry training, ORD, back to studies, get my degree and apply to SIA. If that fails, omg, then back to the lab for me.

For now, I am going to enjoy my block leave and wait for my posting!

I will miss my Eagle 04/10 P4S2 mates.