May - July Update
Before I launch into 2 months worth of forgotten updates, I do apologise to anybody who visited this blog for the lack of updates. I also welcome any new people who found my blog, especially my friends from MP Command - you know who you are. ;)
01/05/07
Labour Day was spent at Funan with my parents. We were getting a new desktop PC for my elder brother whose laptop (at least 7 year old) finally got defeated by age. We finally found a nice Acer destop PC with a flatscreen monitor. Am I jealous? Maybe. I'd love a flatscreen monitor. Windows Vista somemore. (Though I have heard negative reviews about Vista. :P)
05/05/07
My first guard duty at Mowbray Camp turned out OK. Missed Culminatio though. (Culminatio is the prelim showcase by the J2 DEP students.)
12/05/07
Another DEP outing. This time it's a picnic at Fort Canning Park as we enjoyed SRT's performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Really enjoyed the performance alot, especially with the actors running all around the place.
14/05/07
I decided it was pretty late, so I decided to email MOE regarding a scholarship interview.
Week of 14/05/07
The second last week of the MP Basic Course was filled with a lot of tests. Well, one test a day seemed like a lot. But the most significant pass of it all:
17/05/07
IPPT!!! I passed my first IPPT with 6 chin-ups!
18/05/07
Finally received something from MOE regarding an interview.
19/05/07
Tonight's show was Theasthai, the monologue and duologue showcase by the J1 DEP students. This year's show didn't have any metal frames like last year's; the stage was simply separated into 4 sectors by masking tape. The programme this year was also organised better, with 7 themed movements grouped into 2 acts. I enjoyed the show a lot; some of them did really well too.
22/05/07
MOE scholarship interview confirmed to be on the morning of 29 May. Unfortunately, because that is the last available slot for interviews, I'll have to miss the ATP shoot next week and do it another time.
24/05/07
We have endured 9 weeks of the MP Basic Course, and we're finally going to become MPs officially. Out of the 63 who were posted in at the start, 54 passed out today, and thoughout these 9 weeks, the 54 of us (and also the others before they left) went through a lot. A couple of circumstances resulted in us having a Passing Out Ceremony today instead of a Passing Out Parade tomorrow. So anyway, we're all decked out in our new No. 3 uniforms (though some in need of alteration due to its late arrival) and gathered in the auditorium. Our Best Trainee is Shafie (fellow thespian) and the Best Shot for P226 was Jeremy (fellow ACSian). The video was nicely done, and even though we thought the music was inappropriate (Simple Plan's "Welcome to my Life" and "Untitled"), CPT Jenny later commented that she and other guests found the sounds very meaningful. Talk about perspectives.
The rest of the day was spent ok. There was a TSR test after the ceremony and the photo-taking session (long overdue) for those who were attending the ATP shoot next week (so naturally, I did not have to take it). After lunch, we had an AAR cum dialogue session with CPT Jenny regarding the course in general. After that we got our nights out - perhaps a fitting reward for passing out as MPs.
25/05/07
The highlight of the day was the Cohesion High Tea this afternoon, organised by Shaun and co. The venue was some cool lounge in The Chevrons, where the walls had a space theme going on, what with black lighting and all. The food was nice, but I didn't eat a lot, knowing that our section performance was coming up first. Abel and I did an ok job on our first song, "An Jing", while the rest of the section also sang "Truly Madly Deeply", albeit a little messy. That didn't matter, we got our performance out of the way, and I could truly enjoy the rest of the day. And enjoy I did, singing along to every song I knew and clapping my hands.
I have never enjoyed myself so much back in BMT, and this group of people whom I've spent the past 9 weeks with have just been wonderful. Thanks for all the great memories guys, and I'm sure we'll meet up again another time in the near future.
26/05/07
...Well, maybe not this near. But MP Command's monthly out-camp run was held this morning near the Esplanade. While this was meant to be a NE run, passing through some significant buildings and monuments like the Raffles Landing Site and the Parliament House, it perhaps scored on the NE criteria and failed in the 'run' category. Why, our guides even mixed up some of the memorials and information.
Afternoon - NUS GMS Final interview. I was a little surprised to find Kelvin still waiting for his turn when I arrived about 20 minutes before my interview time. The interview probably wasn't as successful as the one a month back, but again, I was being myself.
Night - Out at SRT again to watch a show with the Madams. This time it's Shakespeare's Macbeth, performed by The Stage Club. Rae and Mr. Barry Woolhead were acting in it too, and from what I could see, they were probably two of the few people on that stage who knew what they were doing. Loved the Witches too.
28/05/07
Spent the morning in MPTS with Aaron while the rest went out for their IMT. I also found out that I've gotten a scholarship from NUS - the NUS Undergraduate (Merit) Scholarship. Hope I have more luck with MOE.
29/05/07
MOE Scholarship interview went ok in the morning, though I was a little clumsy with the stuff in my hands. Slacked the rest of the day in MPTS alone, since CPL Yeo went to Pasir Leba Camp with the rations. The rest of them came back quite late, past 12mn.
30/05/07
Got to spend the afternoon and night with the rest at the range at Pasir Leba Camp, doing sentry duty. Booked out close to 10pm.
01/06/07
1st day in our new posting. For me, it's the Law Enforcement & Ceremonial Company (LECC), and the platoons in this company do stuff like GOH parades, law enforcement, raiding of camps, Silent Precision Drills and guarding the Istana. Nothing much happened today, though we were delivered the bombshell of guard duty tomorrow, which I've been chosen for.
Month of June
Basically, during the weekdays we ("we" being the 21 newly posted MPs to LECC) would be having Orientation Drill lessons with our SAR21 rifles when we don't have any other programme. Passing this phase is a requirement in order to be posted to any of the platoons in LECC and begin really doing the ops. In the meantime, we're treated like so-called "trainees" again, which of course lowered the morale of many and see OD as torture. And it's not easy, especially with the extremely high standards required - MPs are supposedly the benchmark in the SAF when it comes to drills. Somewhere in the second week of June, there was a switch; Desmond & Swee Yan got posted to Gombak (see the big grins on their faces), and Bok and Beng San got posted back to LECC (hear their complaints).
Throughout June, we were also called for SAF Day Parade rehearsals. For the 21 of us, together with some seniors in LECC, we were deployed for security ops, which basically mean that we had to make sure security was present. Though the job may be a little bland, most of us welcomed the opportunity to escape OD every time there was a rehearsal and travel to SAFTI MI for the event.
09/06/07
I was able to get this Saturday free to participate in a photoshoot for ACJC DEP Programme's publicity. The venue was a wasteland at Linden Drive, and because we were in the open, the hot weather got a little unbearable. This was my first photoshoot since the one for The Golden Country, and it was pretty enjoyable.
16/06/07
Another MP Command out-camp run. This time it was at Labrador Park, and the run was literally a run. Even the little NE information related to Labrador Park was all delivered before the run, so that we could concentrate on the run. I had some reservations about this place, especially with memories from young about the huge spiders hanging over the nature trails in the park. Running with Zheng Kang probably took my mind off the spiders. The weather got pretty bad towards the end of the event, though at least we were all back from the run before it began to rain heavily.
22/06/07
Another relief of the tiring OD lessons was the LECC Cohesion, held at Orchid Bowl at Orchid Country Club. We got to leave the camp right after our breakfast, and gathered at the bowling alley in the afternoon. The IC of my lane was MSG Amber, who injured his right arm a few days ago, but he turned in a great game nevertheless. It was nice to get away from work for a while. Great fun.
23/06/07
Went to the Drama Centre Theatre to watch Mabou Mines' DollHouse with the Madams, Jun and Jud. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.
26/06/07
The OD Test. Unfortunately, only Yingquan and I passed.
29/06/07
Zheng Kang's last day in LECC before he disrupts NS to begin his life as a PSC scholar and go to the US for his studies. Here's wishing him all the best. LECC also got the afternoon off, and there was a briefing for our NDP security ops before lunch.
30/06/07
NDP site recce. It was nice to visit the Floating Platform and check out the place. I came back in the afternoon to catch the Combined Rehearsal and I think the show's going to be great. Can't wait to be involved in the NDP.
01/07/07
SAF Day. Apart from the little fiasco in the morning, everything else went quite smoothly.
02/07/07 - 24/07/07
This few weeks, the 20 of us new guys of LECC, plus one LCP from LECC as well, and a few specialists from MPTS, are attached to 6SIR for POI ops. The first 2 days were refresher lessons held back in Mowbray Camp, and on the third day we moved out from Mowbray Camp to Maju Camp. Living in Maju Camp, I was reminded of my BMT days all over again; after all, it has been about three months since the days we had to sing infantry songs while marching and 'heads out' when we're called. The actual ops went ok.
07/07/07
For today only, we reported for security ops at the Floating Platform for this NDP Combined Rehearsal. For 2 hours from 1400h to 1600h, we stood at our spots and checked passes, all to familiarise ourselves with the job, since the next time we'd be doing this is the Preview on 28 July.
21/07/07
The release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at 7.01am. When I reached Popular @ West Mall at about 6.55am, there was already a queue from the counter to the entrance of the store. I spent the whole day reading the book and I finished it at about 1.45am the next morning. The book was fabulous; an excellent end to a wonderful series that is Harry Potter.
25/07/07
A break from work after our attachment to 6SIR. I also went down to Depot Road to pick up a NDP FunPack which I won from a cyberPioneer contest.
To be continued
01/05/07
Labour Day was spent at Funan with my parents. We were getting a new desktop PC for my elder brother whose laptop (at least 7 year old) finally got defeated by age. We finally found a nice Acer destop PC with a flatscreen monitor. Am I jealous? Maybe. I'd love a flatscreen monitor. Windows Vista somemore. (Though I have heard negative reviews about Vista. :P)
05/05/07
My first guard duty at Mowbray Camp turned out OK. Missed Culminatio though. (Culminatio is the prelim showcase by the J2 DEP students.)
12/05/07
Another DEP outing. This time it's a picnic at Fort Canning Park as we enjoyed SRT's performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Really enjoyed the performance alot, especially with the actors running all around the place.
14/05/07
I decided it was pretty late, so I decided to email MOE regarding a scholarship interview.
Week of 14/05/07
The second last week of the MP Basic Course was filled with a lot of tests. Well, one test a day seemed like a lot. But the most significant pass of it all:
17/05/07
IPPT!!! I passed my first IPPT with 6 chin-ups!
18/05/07
Finally received something from MOE regarding an interview.
19/05/07
Tonight's show was Theasthai, the monologue and duologue showcase by the J1 DEP students. This year's show didn't have any metal frames like last year's; the stage was simply separated into 4 sectors by masking tape. The programme this year was also organised better, with 7 themed movements grouped into 2 acts. I enjoyed the show a lot; some of them did really well too.
22/05/07
MOE scholarship interview confirmed to be on the morning of 29 May. Unfortunately, because that is the last available slot for interviews, I'll have to miss the ATP shoot next week and do it another time.
24/05/07
We have endured 9 weeks of the MP Basic Course, and we're finally going to become MPs officially. Out of the 63 who were posted in at the start, 54 passed out today, and thoughout these 9 weeks, the 54 of us (and also the others before they left) went through a lot. A couple of circumstances resulted in us having a Passing Out Ceremony today instead of a Passing Out Parade tomorrow. So anyway, we're all decked out in our new No. 3 uniforms (though some in need of alteration due to its late arrival) and gathered in the auditorium. Our Best Trainee is Shafie (fellow thespian) and the Best Shot for P226 was Jeremy (fellow ACSian). The video was nicely done, and even though we thought the music was inappropriate (Simple Plan's "Welcome to my Life" and "Untitled"), CPT Jenny later commented that she and other guests found the sounds very meaningful. Talk about perspectives.
The rest of the day was spent ok. There was a TSR test after the ceremony and the photo-taking session (long overdue) for those who were attending the ATP shoot next week (so naturally, I did not have to take it). After lunch, we had an AAR cum dialogue session with CPT Jenny regarding the course in general. After that we got our nights out - perhaps a fitting reward for passing out as MPs.
25/05/07
The highlight of the day was the Cohesion High Tea this afternoon, organised by Shaun and co. The venue was some cool lounge in The Chevrons, where the walls had a space theme going on, what with black lighting and all. The food was nice, but I didn't eat a lot, knowing that our section performance was coming up first. Abel and I did an ok job on our first song, "An Jing", while the rest of the section also sang "Truly Madly Deeply", albeit a little messy. That didn't matter, we got our performance out of the way, and I could truly enjoy the rest of the day. And enjoy I did, singing along to every song I knew and clapping my hands.
I have never enjoyed myself so much back in BMT, and this group of people whom I've spent the past 9 weeks with have just been wonderful. Thanks for all the great memories guys, and I'm sure we'll meet up again another time in the near future.
26/05/07
...Well, maybe not this near. But MP Command's monthly out-camp run was held this morning near the Esplanade. While this was meant to be a NE run, passing through some significant buildings and monuments like the Raffles Landing Site and the Parliament House, it perhaps scored on the NE criteria and failed in the 'run' category. Why, our guides even mixed up some of the memorials and information.
Afternoon - NUS GMS Final interview. I was a little surprised to find Kelvin still waiting for his turn when I arrived about 20 minutes before my interview time. The interview probably wasn't as successful as the one a month back, but again, I was being myself.
Night - Out at SRT again to watch a show with the Madams. This time it's Shakespeare's Macbeth, performed by The Stage Club. Rae and Mr. Barry Woolhead were acting in it too, and from what I could see, they were probably two of the few people on that stage who knew what they were doing. Loved the Witches too.
28/05/07
Spent the morning in MPTS with Aaron while the rest went out for their IMT. I also found out that I've gotten a scholarship from NUS - the NUS Undergraduate (Merit) Scholarship. Hope I have more luck with MOE.
29/05/07
MOE Scholarship interview went ok in the morning, though I was a little clumsy with the stuff in my hands. Slacked the rest of the day in MPTS alone, since CPL Yeo went to Pasir Leba Camp with the rations. The rest of them came back quite late, past 12mn.
30/05/07
Got to spend the afternoon and night with the rest at the range at Pasir Leba Camp, doing sentry duty. Booked out close to 10pm.
01/06/07
1st day in our new posting. For me, it's the Law Enforcement & Ceremonial Company (LECC), and the platoons in this company do stuff like GOH parades, law enforcement, raiding of camps, Silent Precision Drills and guarding the Istana. Nothing much happened today, though we were delivered the bombshell of guard duty tomorrow, which I've been chosen for.
Month of June
Basically, during the weekdays we ("we" being the 21 newly posted MPs to LECC) would be having Orientation Drill lessons with our SAR21 rifles when we don't have any other programme. Passing this phase is a requirement in order to be posted to any of the platoons in LECC and begin really doing the ops. In the meantime, we're treated like so-called "trainees" again, which of course lowered the morale of many and see OD as torture. And it's not easy, especially with the extremely high standards required - MPs are supposedly the benchmark in the SAF when it comes to drills. Somewhere in the second week of June, there was a switch; Desmond & Swee Yan got posted to Gombak (see the big grins on their faces), and Bok and Beng San got posted back to LECC (hear their complaints).
Throughout June, we were also called for SAF Day Parade rehearsals. For the 21 of us, together with some seniors in LECC, we were deployed for security ops, which basically mean that we had to make sure security was present. Though the job may be a little bland, most of us welcomed the opportunity to escape OD every time there was a rehearsal and travel to SAFTI MI for the event.
09/06/07
I was able to get this Saturday free to participate in a photoshoot for ACJC DEP Programme's publicity. The venue was a wasteland at Linden Drive, and because we were in the open, the hot weather got a little unbearable. This was my first photoshoot since the one for The Golden Country, and it was pretty enjoyable.
16/06/07
Another MP Command out-camp run. This time it was at Labrador Park, and the run was literally a run. Even the little NE information related to Labrador Park was all delivered before the run, so that we could concentrate on the run. I had some reservations about this place, especially with memories from young about the huge spiders hanging over the nature trails in the park. Running with Zheng Kang probably took my mind off the spiders. The weather got pretty bad towards the end of the event, though at least we were all back from the run before it began to rain heavily.
22/06/07
Another relief of the tiring OD lessons was the LECC Cohesion, held at Orchid Bowl at Orchid Country Club. We got to leave the camp right after our breakfast, and gathered at the bowling alley in the afternoon. The IC of my lane was MSG Amber, who injured his right arm a few days ago, but he turned in a great game nevertheless. It was nice to get away from work for a while. Great fun.
23/06/07
Went to the Drama Centre Theatre to watch Mabou Mines' DollHouse with the Madams, Jun and Jud. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.
26/06/07
The OD Test. Unfortunately, only Yingquan and I passed.
29/06/07
Zheng Kang's last day in LECC before he disrupts NS to begin his life as a PSC scholar and go to the US for his studies. Here's wishing him all the best. LECC also got the afternoon off, and there was a briefing for our NDP security ops before lunch.
30/06/07
NDP site recce. It was nice to visit the Floating Platform and check out the place. I came back in the afternoon to catch the Combined Rehearsal and I think the show's going to be great. Can't wait to be involved in the NDP.
01/07/07
SAF Day. Apart from the little fiasco in the morning, everything else went quite smoothly.
02/07/07 - 24/07/07
This few weeks, the 20 of us new guys of LECC, plus one LCP from LECC as well, and a few specialists from MPTS, are attached to 6SIR for POI ops. The first 2 days were refresher lessons held back in Mowbray Camp, and on the third day we moved out from Mowbray Camp to Maju Camp. Living in Maju Camp, I was reminded of my BMT days all over again; after all, it has been about three months since the days we had to sing infantry songs while marching and 'heads out' when we're called. The actual ops went ok.
07/07/07
For today only, we reported for security ops at the Floating Platform for this NDP Combined Rehearsal. For 2 hours from 1400h to 1600h, we stood at our spots and checked passes, all to familiarise ourselves with the job, since the next time we'd be doing this is the Preview on 28 July.
21/07/07
The release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at 7.01am. When I reached Popular @ West Mall at about 6.55am, there was already a queue from the counter to the entrance of the store. I spent the whole day reading the book and I finished it at about 1.45am the next morning. The book was fabulous; an excellent end to a wonderful series that is Harry Potter.
25/07/07
A break from work after our attachment to 6SIR. I also went down to Depot Road to pick up a NDP FunPack which I won from a cyberPioneer contest.
To be continued
yours truly, tobias at 3:20 pm
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