Oh my, i just found this shit in my inbox.
Reflections for Field Camp
Finally the 6 days of living in the outfields is over and I’m really glad that I’m back to civilization. I’ve heard many stories about this dreaded field camp by my peers and my seniors back then, be it positive or negative views but I took it with a pinch of salt.
Shellscrape digging, basha pitching, out rations etc etc.. I knew all of these before going there and even know about the operation “teardrops”. Even knowing it beforehand, I still uncontrollably let my tears flow as it was very emotional that night and also allowed us recruits who have been enjoying life for the past 20 years to wake up and that we are now soldiers of Singapore.
Nevertheless, I thought to myself that how hard it can be living in the fields except the fact that we aren’t allowed to bathe which is my biggest concern. On Saturday, I can feel the fire burning within and I know I’m ready for this torturous experience but I’m wrong.
The feeling died straight after the route march and the following 5 days was hell for me.
I still pressed on as I adhered to this Chinese proverb 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人. This basically means that man when undergoing pressure, will come out as a better man. Little did I know, like a blink of an eye the whole thing was over.
Getting muddy and dirty was the last thing that I wished for. I’m not used to getting dirty as I always stayed indoors and would take baths regularly when I was schooling. The absence of a toilet also posed a problem to me and for the first time in my life I did it outdoors in the wild. This led me to realize that how precious my bathroom is to me.
Having to stay tactical the whole time took a toll on my body as my knees hurt when I do that but I understand the rationale behind it. However, not all the things we do in field camps are bad. I learned a lot of things like operating in urban and jungle areas. I really feel like a soldier now after going through all these.
How nostalgic.
(back to the top.)
My field camp reflections
Friday, June 8, 2012