101/15 AFST: Air Wing - A Cut Above The Rest!

It's 0015 now and way past my lights out timing but I just have to put this post up. 7 weeks of Air Force Service Term literally just flew past and now I find myself starting pro-term today at Air Force Training Command, Paya Lebar. 6 months long of vocation specific training awaits me and I really can't wait for it to start! Yes no doubt I worry but I've learnt to just suck it up, move with the flow and somehow, time will pass like it always has and I'll end up at the next check point which is COMMISSIONING. Finally out of the green and into the BLUE!!!

Self imposed reveille at 0600 and setting out at 0630 to AFTC. Can't wait! :D

101/15 OCS: CLM - Train to Fight, Fight to Win!

Entered SAFTI MI grounds on 5th Oct, got posted to Hotel Wing and received my first white bar as Freshman Cadet. Things are much more different now, all the girls are split up and now I find myself the minority in my platoon. There were only 4 girls in Platoon 1 and most of the time we stuck together.

I thought CLM should be OKAY since there were only technically 2 high keys - Tower Run and Confidence Jump. But again I have some problem against all the damn physical elements. We had circuit exercises, route march 3km, endurance run 4km, etc. First of all, the route march was ONLY 3km, but people fail to realise that the girls were practically running all the way for the route march cause our short legs cant stride as far as the guys. They didn't allow the girls to be at the front to "control" the speed. So we had to not only keep up with the guys speed, but also close up the gaps that tend to form cause people dont keep tight. Positive note, guess it's good training to run with load?After reaching back wing line, I thought finally all this torture can stop. BUT NO, we had to HENTAK KAKI until everyone lifted their knees 90 degrees. It lasted for about 10mins.

Other types of "Tekan" that we kenna:
- Holding our full water bottle, arms 90 degrees for 6mins. My arms were burning.
- 150 push-ups everyday to train for ippt, we did it on super rough floor so the girls have abrasions on their knees since we do female push ups.
- whole wing form a circle and do push ups in a wave. Think of Kallang wave.
- alot of random knock it down, crunches change, which seemed endless..

Another annoying fact was that all the girls had to stay elsewhere cause there were no female bunks at Hotel. Army girls stayed at Sierra, Navy girls at Mids Wing and Air Force Girls at Air Wing. Navy and Airforce girls got it lucky cause our accommodations were in the same cluster as Hotel but the Army girls had to walk quite far just to go back to bunk. Imagine after our physical training, they give us about 15 mins to change to smart 4, the girls already take 5mins to go back to Sierra and another 5mins to come back to Hotel, left with 5 mins to change to smart 4.

STILL, I really miss Hotel, especially my platoon and the instructors. It's through all the shit that strong bonds are forged and memories made. And I also feel much stronger now physically! It was quite sad that we couldn't be initiated to junior cadets together. On the last day of CLM, we had to say our good byes and be separated to service term wings. Although it's been a short 2 weeks in Hotel and I was really looking forward to Air Wing, good byes were definitely hard to say. Didn't have much time to linger around cause we had to rush to practice the initiation ceremony in the evening. 4am on Saturday we got turned out by Delta Senior Cadets but most of the Air girls already woke up at 0330 to wash up and brush teeth, awaiting their "surprise." Did force prep, some push ups and stuff but it was okay. After that got initiated as Air Wing and got our 2 white bars signifying the transition from freshman to junior cadets. Met our loved ones at around 8am for OCS Family day.

Check In, Check Out. HOTEL!

BMT: POP LOH!

19 Sept: POP-ed and one step closer.

I guess time is on my side now to finally reflect and pen down some key things during my BMT experience. My thoughts are rather jumbled up so I'll do it in point form. They're random order:

• Don't as feel proud to POP cause I missed out the 24km route march. I didn't feel all the pain, tears and swearing everyone else went through. Bodies are hot they but they're shivering, palm-sized blisters on their feet, multiple abrasions, shoulder and hands numb, breathlessness, headaches, etc..
• Lucky to be in Section 3 cause they accepted me for the crazy and sometimes weird me.
• Thankful for my buddy, we worked well and helped each other when the time came.
• Lost 5 kg. I'm 48 kg now. A SAR 21 weights 3.82kg.
• Expected to perform better and not complain cause I'm a regular. Yes, I chose this path but it doesn't mean I can't express the pain. Can't I cry? Oh I forgot, I'm a soldier now and we're not to shed tears.
• Couldn't cock the SAR 21 (with 1 hand) in the early days. Happy that now I can!
• Got stuck at the top of Apex ladder and cried. I told myself, "One, Two, Three, MOVE!" Nope, my leg just wouldn't move. Frozen. Cramped. Ugh. 
• Cried for ALL my route marches. I really think my breaking point is lower than most people. 
• Bunk on level 5 is no joke.
• Covered the latrine shit-hole during field camp. Just imagine 5 days worth of human shit and army of flies. 
• Thankful there wasn't any rain during field camp. At least our uniforms were dry and not muddy. 
• A random fellow recruit from another formation/company asked me, "You got leopard crawl in field camp? Here and there?", "Got crawl until abrasion in BIC?" (shows me his elbow scab). I showed him mine. He shut up.

I admit, generally SOME guys will think we females have it easier, they will want to compare. Yes, some aspects are easier, like for SOC we don't do with SBO, our IPPT and SOC timings are more generous. However for most parts, everything is the same. Same time limit to dig the shell-scrape, same route march distance, same load, same leopard crawl, same discipline and regimentation. I can simply ignore such comments and let it pass and say well, I signed up for it should just suck it up, but no. After going through all the shit and pain, just cause you were not there to witness it and then make a fleeting comment that "females have it easier", it just irks me.

Those comments are just going to spur me on cause I'm gonna prove to people like you that gender doesn't make a difference. Everyone can do it. With God's grace I will just push on. 

5th Oct I'll enter the grounds of SAFTI to start my long OCS journey. I'm just going to take one small step at a time, with 2 weeks of CLM first. I heard there'll be runs every day. Not forgetting the big jump off a 5 meter platform.. Okay literally ONE STEP (off the platform) at at time. 

Egg-cited! :D

BMT: Post Field Camp

Days have literally been flying past and cant believe that 6D5N field camp is over. Seems just like yesterday that I enlisted and entered Tekong. I'm not sure how I'm getting through the days cause it sure as hell is physically demanding for me. As much as I push myself to always challenge the limit, I know fully well that my personal strength is not physical strength. Adapting to the regimentation and sucking thumb to loads of questionable SOPs are fine with me. The 2 weeks adjustment (confinement) period was okay, except for all the physical training parts.

Route march has been my biggest hurdle of all time. I keep trying not to think about the load and just walk, but somehow I just cant walk as fast as everyone else. I heard a yell, "OPEN UP YOUR STRIDES! KEEP UP. DONT GIVE ME THAT SHAG FACE.". I tried stretching my legs as far ahead as I could, the load just pulls me down and I can feel my knees giving way. I start panting and gasping for air, I get light-headed, my hands starts getting swollen due to lack of blood flow and I start remembering only fragments of the arduous torture. I had to stay back on a Saturday to re route march to complete my 8km and yet I'm still behind the rest of the company, them having completed 12km. I honestly would dig shell scrape again or do another field camp in exchange for ALL future route marches. I shudder at the thought of another route march. 

BMT!!

After collecting my 11B at AFRC on 6th of July, reality more or less has sunken into me. There's no more "What ifs" or "Maybe". It's a 3 years bond and I'm gonna make it count starting right from Day 1, TODAY!!

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.


_______________________________________


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."

_______________________________________


GUY: "No contact lenses allowed."

GIRLS: "HUUHHHH?!?!?!"

_______________________________________


GIRL: "Can we bring bobby pins?"

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

_______________________________________


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

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

_______________________________________


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."

_______________________________________


GUY: "No earrings or ear sticks allowed."

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

_______________________________________


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

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

_______________________________________


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!