Just had a 4 day long exercise at one of the many SAF training areas we have in Singapore. Although it is only one day longer than the previous FTX i had, it seemed an awful lot longer. The missions were challenging, the routes travelled unfamiliar and long, the enemy play more realistic.
I'm glad i was able to finish all the different missions to my best. I'm also glad i did not "hollan" or "go to holland village", lucky i had my GPS, my all-reliable 1:25000 map, and my prismatic compass.
What really makes this BPT special that provokes me to post it here? Hmmm, i guess it is more so because it is indeed my last oufield in my NSF days. Reflecting, i think i realli had a great NSF experience that if i wrote about it in an essay, it darn well could win the Chief of Defence Force of Chief of Army's Essay Writing Competition. I had many great defining moments that i realli wanna share, to put a different perspective on the readers in the military.
Also, this BPT really marks the transistion of the men of my Armour battalion into an operationally ready fighting force. Our ability to fight the typical missions in battle in advance, deliberate and quick attack, deliberate and hasty defence, delay and laager, sure did not come easy. It was developed over the months, through several outfield exercises, after-action reviews (AARs), painful discussions on standard operation procedures (SOPs), etc. I'm very proud that my men now do know exactly what is expected of them as a tank crewman in a tactical and hostile environment. More so, my 24B, 3SG Sean Ang, is indeed now very proficient as a cub commander and can follow me well in the missions. As my understudy, 2LT Raymond Ang, commented, we have the "mo4 qi4", the close sense of cooperation, that i can even give commands to him with hand or flag signals and he understanding and executing them perfectly. It's a great feeling.
And after this BPT, all i have to do is to conduct an Advance Trainfire Package 300m range for my battalion's newly posted in officers, specs and some men, and then i'll ORD. Of course, not forgetting the irritating ACCT i have to clear, dental and medical FFI, then that's it.
Here are some photos i took during this outfield. I did have to be selective, for fear that MINDEF could sue me if i publish some that are considered too classified in nature to the public. Oh, come on, as if "Redland" don't know enough about our fighting capabilities by now...
My cub commander 24B, 3SG Sean Ang, and myself. Nothing beats ORD.
Both of us with my OC, CPT Woo in the middle. We had nothing to do really except wait for the warning orders, and time to move out.
The bastardy Jamen Loh, trying to mess up my ORD. wonder why he's so sour, after all, he voluntarily extended his ORD to get those extra wages and go to Taiwan again!
Myself with a can of Chunky soup. Nice and filling in an outfield environment. Yum!
Myself with Nicholas, 46's scout pc. My section mate in Sierra Wing, OCS, and then course mate in OTW, SOA.
This amazingly small ladybird came to visit me while i was waiting for link up with the dismounted troops.
My OC talking to the company and this is a snapshot of most of my tank platoon listening.
My disgustingly wrinkled feet after being wet and soggy since day 2. Worth remembering.
Coincidentally, all the tank gunners from my platoon are here! From left, Zhengyong, Yueyu, Alwyn, Harris and Charles.
