BMT Briefing and equipment fitting (females only)

12th June: Reported in the morning at CMPB and it was a comforting feeling seeing there were so many other females too on this unconventional journey. I didn't feel so alone anymore. There were approximately 40-50 females across the 3 service (Army, Navy and Air Force)  but most were from Army. A chartered bus came to take us to Army Logistic Base for equipment fitting. Phones were locked up so no pictures of what happened. We took about 2 hours to try the different gears and finalise the sizes before we headed back to CMPB.

Had lunch at CMPB and then went for the BMT briefing. They handed to us the enlistment letters and also the list items to pack. There was a short talk conducted by a guy and I must say it was rather amusing session cause he seemed pretty stunned at the questions we asked him.


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GUY: "Please wear black spectacles."

GIRL 1: "Um my specs have abit of red colour, is it ok?"
GIRL 2: "Um my specs got silver colour thing at the sides, can?"
GIRL 3: "My specs frame quite big kind, can?"

GUY: "Err...  Just GENERALLY black specs."

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GUY: "No contact lenses allowed."

GIRLS: "HUUHHHH?!?!?!"

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GIRL: "Can we bring bobby pins?"

GUY: "What's a bobby pin?!?!"

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GIRL 1: "Does toiletries include sunblock and facial mask, toner etc?"

GUY: "I don't think you'll have time to do facial."

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GUY: "Please pack a dark coloured one piece swimming costume."

GIRL 1: "My one got abit of polka dots, can?"
GIRL 2: "Mine got stripes at the side can?"

GUY: "Err...  as long as the base colour is dark coloured."

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GUY: "No earrings or ear sticks allowed."

GIRLS: "HUUHHHH?!?!?! What if the ear hole close??"

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GIRL: "Can we buy pads at the e-mart?"

GUY: "NO! NO! NO! PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN."

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Well... Shit just got real man. Gonna start my new job soon :D

Sealed with a kiss

4th June: Went down to sign the contract with my mum! They briefly went through all the terms and fine prints. And as usual my mum would bombard them with questions... I have a really protective mum >< 

I'm elated and excited to have finally signed this piece of paper after months of waiting and tests. However this is just the beginning of a new journey ahead filled with more mental and physical challenges. And honestly, I'm still trying to prep myself mentally that I'm going to BMT, and then OCS.  After all, this off the unbeaten path and I'm treading uncharted waters.

Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Thank you God for bringing me thus far!

Post Interview

14th April: Reported at 0930 but interview didn't start till 1030. There were a total of 28 male and female candidates ( 8 females) and OH MAN I WAS FIRST IN LINE. When my name was called, I just took a deep breath, muttered silently "YOLO" and went into the interview room.

LTC Lau Mun Leng greeted me with a warm handshake and seated me down. Basically started with asking me more about myself and then I rattled on about my current job, why I wanted C3 and before I knew it, he asked if there were any questions for him. I asked what is the progression like for C3 to which he replied basically the more proficient the controller gets, the more planes he controls, ultimately would be supervisory/management level. Just like that, he ended the interview in about 15 mins and parted with  "Hope to see you in the force soon!" which made me really happy!

Apparently it was a really busy day for AFRC so I only got the official phone confirmation that I passed interview the next working day. WHEE~~ 

What's left is for AFRC to finish vetting my certs (O lvl, A lvl, Degree cert and transcripts), equipment fitting, BMT briefing, letter of offer and contract signing. I dont know even know exactly when is the enlistment date in July. 

Btw this came in the mail today, more forms to fill up!

Honestly it hasn't really sunk in yet and I don't exactly believe I'm going to TEKONG ?!?!?!?

It's a Date!

Got THE missed call from AFRC on the 27th of March in the morning. I was delirious and immediately went out of office to return the call, to which they told me my C3 interview date, venue and more details. My heart was pumping so fast, I kept saying "okay, okay" but I didn't really register most of the conversation. I had to call back once I was more composed just to reconfirm all the info.

The interview is scheduled for this coming Tues 14th April at CMPB, 9.30am. As the day draws closer, the excitement level just gets more intense. It's finally the last hurdle after all the previous tests. Technically I've been waiting for almost 10 years just for this day hence the pressure I put on myself to perform and do well is pretty high. I want to get in. What's even more exciting is that the results (whether I get in) will be known ON THE SAME DAY itself. Apart from all these excitement, of course the rational part of me kicks in and I start worrying as usual:

Am I SERIOUSLY going into the military??!?!?! Am I going to fit in? What if I'm not physically fit enough? What if I don't like the military lifestyle? I will have to leave my relatively comfortable office job in the bank and there's definitely going to be resistance to change. Am I going to regret this?

HOWEVER, I keep telling myself this: I'm not getting any younger, If I don't try now, then when? And if I don't try, I will always regret it. Next time I look at a fighter plane (or hear its roar in the skies), or go to an army open house and my heart starts pounding (as usual), I'm definitely going to regret not trying. I don't want to be behind the computer screen forever watching the videos and looking at the pictures. I want to be there physically and be IN it. I want my own uniform and my own name tag to be proud of!

I'm sure that after all these years and I still feel THIS excited.. it isn't "puppy love" right?

2010 Singapore Airshow

 2011 RSAF Open House

2014 Singapore Airshow

NAFPA - Pass

Female NAFPA test is only conducted every 3rd Wednesday of the month @ Toa Payoh Stadium, which is pretty inflexible especially if the candidates are already currently working.

Background: from Primary school to JC's NAFPA, I've gotten GOLD every year without much trouble. Not boasting or anything but I really did not have to put in any extra effort other than the normal PE lessons.. My best timing for 2.4km run was 12mins. 

So naturally, I would think that for this NAFPA test I would able to ACE it right? WRONG!

Without those school PE lessons (in university as well as my past 1 year of working life), it really does make such a big difference in my fitness level. For the last 1 year, I've been sitting down everyday at work, going home late for dinner, sleeping in on weekends. As a result I put on a whopping 7 kg  since I started work. I felt like I was doing NAFPA with a mini field pack..  Needless to say results were as follows: (LEFT SIDE)

please check your results, they initially keyed in my shuttle run timing of 122 s (right) instead of 12.2 s (left). They also spelt my name totally wrongly but they said it didn't matter as long IC number is correct. 

It's a BIG wake up call. Since the results,  I've been TRYING to go for jogs after work once a week. Hopefully it will slowly tune my up fitness and shed those pounds.

Oh, another thing to note was, surprisingly a PASS for NAFPA would suffice instead of SILVER, so I've "cleared" NAFPA test now and waiting for the C3 interview which I'm told would be sometime in April 2015 (last stage!)

Well I'm really counting down the days to my interview and apparently on the same day I will know if I made it or not. Yes those jitters are coming but I trust God that He will decide if this is the vocation for me. Finally, after all theses years of waiting, (since sec/JC time), I'm finally at the interview stage. At least the next time I go for an open house, I can tell myself that I tried and there's no regrets anymore.

I'm pretty stoked I'm finally chasing my dreams!