Almost at the 2 year (ORD) mark

One by one all the guys in my BMT batch are ORDing and finally reuniting with their PINK IC. Just want to wish them CONGRATULATIONS for completing 2 years of NS! It's definitely not easy considering males do not have a choice in serving NS and which vocation they can choose.

On a side note, I've received numerous emails from many of you and I'm really glad to be able to answer your questions and hopefully allay some of your worries. It may seem lonely and scary at the beginning stage as females but trust me, in the end you will get to meet a whole lot of other females walking this same path as you :)  Here are some of the emails I've received (hope the senders don't mind me sharing). Continue to keep those questions coming! I only apologise if i take some time to reply ><

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Hello Cherie! :-)

Chanced upon your blog a few months ago while researching on joining the air force and I would like to thank you for recording your experience online for all of us ladies who are considering signing on as well!

I have just graduated from JC and will be entering uni this year (unless all goes well and I do manage to sign on). I received news that I've passed my COMPASS test and will be going for my aeromedical next week. I do have a few questions that I hope you may be able to answer in your own time since replies on forums are mostly from male NSFs, and I figured that their experience would vary greatly.

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Hi Cherie,

Hope you see this email, I've just passed the interview stage for C3 and was asked if I wanted to join Air Traffic control or Air Defence control! Which are you currently in and how is it? Was hoping to get a better view of it from someone inside :).

Thanks much

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Hi Cherie!

Chanced upon ur blog and saw that u did your compass test. Do u still remember what is the compass test all about and the various sections??

Thank you and looking forward to your reply soon!

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Hi Cherie!

I have came across your blog and have a few questions to ask you about joining RSAF!

I understand that you might be busy and my question would seem rather repeatitive. But i really hope that i could talk to someone like you about my questions and doubts.

I look forward to your reply!! ((((:

Thank you!

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Hi Cherie,

I am :) , a female who is considering to join the RSAF. I have gone for the compass test and medical test at CMPB. The next step would be the aeromedical test, but i have yet to book the timing for it. I passed the compass test for WSO FTR and C3. I would like to find out from u the life of a C3. How is the environment like over there? From what i heard about the fighter sqn, they usually scold very nasty things at you, vulgarities etc till one feels really demoralised. Is C3 environment the same? Have you ever regretted joining the air force? And do u think that u r treated unfairly compared to the overseas scholars, SAFOS and SMS?

Thank you so much! God bless!

Warmest regards,

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No one knows how far I'll go

Recently caught the new Disney film "Moana" and I could relate so much to this movie! Although it's more of the sea instead of the air but the main gist of the movie its just taking that first step forward, not knowing where I'll end up.

For the longest time I've always wanted to sign on to the military but life events and persuasions kept me walking on the beaten path of a "normal" life. But like in the movie, it kept calling me back. I struggled to convince both myself and those that cared for me of this bold move, knowing that it'll be a huge risk to leave the comfortable private sector and venture off into the "line where the sky meets the sea".  I'ts been almost 1.5 years out at "sea" and it isn't smooth sailing (haha, pun intended) but there has been no regrets. I hope that those who are reading this and still contemplating whether to sign on, well, "there's just no telling how far you'll go".  :)

See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me

And no one knows, how far it goes

If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me

One day I'll know, if I go there's just no telling how far I'll go

Happy Total Defence Day!

4 months

So I've survived 4 months in my new squadron and I must say the transition from AFTC to live environment is quite steep. From what I can recall, the first "orientation" week in my new squadron was rather disorientating. I had a hard time finding who was who, where was what. Everyone was so busy doing their work. It seemed like a hive of bees to me and there I was, trying to find where I fit in. And just when I thought that I've finally graduated from C3 School, the real TRAINING begins. From what I see, training never ever stops and I guess that's what I love about the RSAF. There's always something to learn, and another level to progress to.

Some milestones I've conquered along the way include getting qualified to be able to man solo and getting my own callsign at the "welcome party". The thought of it seems rather daunting, there's a real life out there in my hands. I guess that's where I have to trust the system and all the training I've been through. It definitely wasn't easy to get qualified to be able to man solo. We have to go through loads of on the job training with an instructor and finally a qualification test to see if I am able to handle alone. No doubt there were some failures and I was really disappointed in myself since I felt that I did put in the effort but sometimes I don't achieve my goals. Things are never dull and mundane here, and everyday brings a new challenge. :)

Right now, I consider myself being a Primary 1 in this big place and it's going to be a long long journey of training and studying. The bar keeps rising and I'm gonna just be gaining experience to level up. If I ever think that I can't conquer whatever is ahead of me, I only have to think of how far I've come - literally, how I wanted to give up so badly during all my route marches but I told myself that each step forward is one step towards becoming a C3 Officer.

101/15 Commissioning Parade

Wow it's been almost 2 months but I've yet to blog about the milestone of every officer's journey, the Commissioning Parade!

The long awaited day, 26th June 2016, came and our batch of 101/15 finally commissioned! The parade training has been tough with long scorching days and aching arms. When it was time to march onto the parade square, everyone was really excited and the thought kept running through my mind, "Is this really it? Is this for real? Finally 9 months long of training is concluding on this parade square.." Next thing I know, we are marching onto the parade square with thousands of spectators on the grand stand and SHIT JUST GOT REAL... I'll never forget the moment though, when my mum and dad looked so proud and pinned on the rank for me. My dad rarely smiles but let alone see his teeth when he smiles.. I'm glad that my family supported me in my decision to sign on and they're proud of me coming this far :)

So right now, 2 months on, I'm in squadron and back to being a trainee >< The transition from simulated to live is another steep learning curve coupled with numerous secondary tasks to attend to. Well, thing's cant get any worse so I'm sure in due time things will only get better :)  In the mean time, my hard-earned officer sword on display at home will remind me everyday to just keep pushing on and why I'm training so hard in the first place :D

02/16 RCGC

2nd June marked the day we officially graduated from our respective vocation training and it was definitely an eventful day. It was like a dream come true for me to get my very own sword with my name engraved on it. What's worth it was that it was through a lot of hard work that the sword was earned, and not just bought off a shelf. 

Also, now I can don the AWO wing! Somehow at times I still feel like I'm dreaming. Have I really gone this far? It seemed like just yesterday that I went to an open house as a civilian and admiring all the blue no4 uniforms. Now I'm part of the big RSAF Tribe!

Come this Sunday 26th June, I'll be back at the SAFTI MI parade square for the commissioning parade. I always love watching the RSAF news and watching the parades, batch after batch, year after year. I never thought I'd really be there, marching in as part of a contingent. But here I am, through with all the parade rehearsals and ready for this Sunday as the batch of 101/15. 

Parade rehearsals are definitely tough, standing still for ages under the hot sun. Perfecting and executing sharp drills and making sure not only my contingent does the drills together, but the WHOLE 101/15 batch. A relatively large and heavy 4 kg SAR 21 on one arm is also a huge challenge, Counterpain does the post rehearsal remedy :) 

I'm still on this journey though, understanding what it means to be an Officer in the RSAF. Wearing the rank doesn't make me automatically a leader.