Skip to main content
Hello everyone, i'm back from another book-out, albeit a little late this time.

I've gotten myself a RT...or remedial training.

The reason being is that i stayed at home because of some neural infection...on Monday and Tuesday. I reported sick on Sunday and i felt like crap. Seriously. I couldn't even stand up and walk by myself. My father had to support me on our way to the clinic.

I thought it's just fever, but the doctor said it's something much more serious...to the extent that, if i feel dizzy again, 'rush him to the A & E' the doctor said.

Anyway, i'm pretty much all recovered, maybe with just a little bit of cough but i'll survive that. Let's get on with the topic.

---

Day 1 - 18th May; Tuesday

This day starts at night, because the company COS said to book in one evening, so i had to take the train from EW27 Boon Lay all the way to EW1 Pasir Ris. A 2 station train ride lasting 1 hour and several minutes. Then my dad ferry me to the Ferry Terminal.

It ended up with me waiting one hour for my ferry.

Anyways, march back to company line and reported to COS. But before that, i saw my platoon mates gathering at the company common area for a briefing. I was quite overwhelmed when a lot of them were greeting me as i'm back in the platoon.

Heard from my section mates that we're playing as Advance Party during Live Range the next day. I didn't really thought much of it as i don't know what it means, so let's move on, i just went to sleep.

---

Day 2 - 19th May; Wednesday

Woke up at 4.45am that day, slightly earlier than normal timing because we need to prepare for range. Had breakfast and we, the Advance Party, just set off to the range earlier than the others.

Once we reached the range, we set off to do what the Advance Party is required to do. Move stuff, set up the bullet detectors and target boards for zero-ing in, digging sand for sand bags. It was rather tiring, and i occasionally had that feeling of dizziness, but i just persevere and fought on. I really dislike sounding off to commanders for every single thing, although there's a chance that it might escalate.

Once everything is setup and the company arrives, we started to do our zero-ing. We had 2 magazines of 4 rounds each. My first round of zero-ing was a little disappointing, with 3 rounds grouped together and a miss. My second round, however, is a perfect 4 grouped shots in the area i aimed. Maybe because i was taking my time and all that.

As i'm in the first detail to shoot, what happens next is a really long waiting game until it was our turn to shoot again. We had completely nothing to do until it's our turn, and we are not allowed to sleep. Had a good look around the surroundings. The day was constantly raining, so the environment was quite cooling.

Next up, we had component training, where we shoot snap targets, targets that pop up with no warning and goes down within a time limit. Again, i perfected with 8/8 shots. Then we had to wait again.

It was finally the test, and already it was 2pm. We went into position with 4 magazines of 4 rounds. Everything was ok until one time, when my target went down before i can shoot it. I was stunned, and look around for targets not downed. Apparently, my friend got confused and went ahead to take down my target.

At the end of the shoot, my score was 15/16.

Then it's another waiting game until the night. We started at about 7.30pm where there's no light.

We had chances to train first, and i found problems in kneeling positions. Missed a few shots and i feel that i really had to steady my aim and control my breathing. When the test started, i got through my sitting position (Which was supposed to be prone but i could not due to back injury) with full score, then it's kneeling position...and i missed 2 out of 4 shots. I could explain why, one was that i'm already feeling fatigued at that time, another is that i'm a little nervous. My sergeant kept telling me to relax and be at ease, but i couldn't. My breathing was heavy and my aim staggered a lot.

Then we got to standing shot, which is supposed to be the easiest for me...

...and i missed one because of my heavy breathing again.

By the end, i should tell you that i wasn't feeling good as i'm sitting in a puddle of mud, and my bottom is completely wet for the mud because of the rain.

Then we proceed to Foxhole position and i got 4/4.

My night score totalled 13/16. My total score is 28/32.

I'm glad that i'm a marksman with that score, albeit with a little fatigue and all that, but it's quite worth it. By the time we returned to company line, it's already 1+ am on the next day, so...

---

Day 3 - 20th May; Thursday

From where i last left, my original plans were to sleep on the floor without showering, but as i see more and more people from my section going for shower, i gave in and did the same.

As soon as i stepped into a cubicle, a heads-out was called.

For people who doesn't know, heads out means that we're all required to show out faces and look at the commander standing in front of the building for our instructions.

So, i only had one press of water on me with no soap to use. I rushed out only to find that the heads out was for Platoon I/Cs.

Fudge.

I just go to sleep, at 2am.

Woke up at 5.30pm and wash up. Reported at common area at 6am for briefing. As the CDO said the names of marksman and i'm the first name to be called out, it feels really nice. I can't explain it, but it was wondrous.

People who aren't marksman are made to re-shoot (We later learned that they didn't because they already passed). We marksman are left behind in company to clean our rifles. The whole day was really slacking, as we even had on time own target lights out. Went to sleep early at 8pm because of the really short sleeping time earlier on.

---

Day 4 - 21th May; Friday

Book-out day. Or so i thought.

It's another rifle cleaning day, nothing especially spectacular.

Somewhere in the middle of the day, we learned that i have Remedial Training, so i'm required to stay back for one more day. Terrence join me for the same reason, Junhong because of confinement.

But, i still tried my luck and pack my stuff with the rest. Then during booking-out, our CDO shouted out the names of people who need to do remedial training. I was one of them. As we watched the others left, i felt a little depressed, but it's fine really, and a good experience to have.

The CDO, let's call him Sir ZT, conducted our RT on the night itself as he wanted to let us book-out early the next day. So we had Urban Ops RT, done on our bunk itself. The RT was quite fun really, and it ended really fast within 40 minutes.

2 days of training compressed into 40 minutes, wow. But we learnt everything everyone did, so it's fine, just that we're not doing it in full attire. Went to slept with 3 person in the bunk, which feels a little different.

---

Day 5 - 22nd May; Saturday.

Today. Nothing much to say since it's only book-out. Just one thing to mention, that we had the best porridge since the start of our BMT (Yup, i realise that it's pathetic to even mention about this).

---

Alright, so next week is the last week of our BMT already. We have quite a few activities lined up, with OC's evening on Monday and Recruit's evening on Tuesday. We also have a 10km Route March on Wednesday, which i intend to participate and fulfill my role as the Song I/C for the final time.

Thinking back, it's not been that long since we came in here. From walking, we learnt how to march. From talking, we learnt how to address our commanders correctly...but i think i'll save this talk for the evaluation next week.

Next week ends Thursday, as Friday is a public holiday, so i'd be seeing you people a little earlier. Good luck and have fun, everyone.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

 Day 2...but i will be writing about yesterday instead. I set off early in the morning at 8am towards Tokyo station from my hotel. It was a good 20 minutes walk and with decent, cooling weather as well. I found out that opposite my building is a Konami building (although, later in the day when i return i would find that the building houses their Esports studio and school. I managed to get a Welcome Suica card at the Information Cafe of Tokyo station after a good 10 minutes of looking at the directory. The process of getting the card was simple as the staff was able to communicate in English. After i have gotten the pass, i started to look for Shinkansen ticketing machines. Because i was leaving in a short while, all of the reserved seats are already occupied and there was not much of a choice here. The plus of a non-reserved Shinkansen ticket is that you are free to board the non-reserved cabins anytime, as the ticket lasts for 4 days. I arrived at the platform to mad crowding. The...
 Holy RA it's already near the end of April of 2025. Since the last post i've made a second booking to Japan, been there and returned. The visit this time was less of a rush but at the same time, i spent more time relaxing (idling) in the hotel. Originally i've planned annual visits in October of each year but i kind of felt like going again. So i made a booking towards the end of January. Unfortunately, the timing is not really good this time as the weather was pretty dark and gloomy throughout the trip. The Sun only showed up at the last 2 days of the trip. --- This time, i've visited Shizuoka again for its sushi. Same store. Same taste. I've also went to Enoshima and had "Enoshima Don", a seafood egg rice. I've mistaken "Yurantei" for the "Uomitei" that i wanted to visit. Nonetheless, the food is good. I'll visit someday again. Also, fulfilled my dream of taking the Sunrise Express, visiting Izumo and the famed Izumo Taisha (...
 ...with how tired i was in Japan daily, it was easy to leave out writing. For example, i'm already back in Singapore. Following the previous post, i made my way to Ueno Park, Senso-ji in Asakusa, Shikansen down to Shizuoka and visited Sunpu Castle, took a river cruise around Sumidagawa with Tokyo Cruise and ended a full day trip spending money in Akihabara buying old consoles. I'll think about whether i want to go into the details. The last actual day, Friday 18 Oct, was kind of a waste as i was "kicked out" of the hotel early and spent the day in the Airport instead. The storage was full so i couldn't leave my luggage in the airport and go somewhere else. I also can only check it in only 3 hours before the actual flight. It's a good trip overall, even with all the downtime. I am already looking forward to returning next year. I am also going to go for a Business class seat again next year.