SAF Day Special: In memory of L Coy, P3S4, Turret, and BTT61

Happy SAF Day!
I don't really know why SAF Day is always set for 1st July, but hey, it's a great day to celebrate what we've accomplished through NS so far, the most important achievement being making it to this point. Hopefully us NSFs will make it through the SAF Day Parades tomorrow.

I write this post with a tinge of sadness, for after tomorrow it'll start a new chapter in my NSF life. After tomorrow, all the friends who I have met along the way will not be at my unit anymore. Some of them have already been posted to their technician unit, some will be posted tomorrow, and some I haven't met since the end of BMT. After tomorrow, new people will walk alongside me, "i.e. to say" my new friends from TTMSB, where we manage our unit and the new batch of trainees. 

As this chapter closes, it is appropriate I write a tribute to those who came along the last 132 days.

Leopard coy was where my NSF life all began. I still remember riding the dreaded ferry to Tekong on 20 Feb. L coy was where I met the most diverse group of people. Be it from different education levels (JCs, Polys, ITEs, O levels), or different lifestyles (smoking), or even languages, I went through a culture change as I tried to mix around with people all while trying to get used to army life.

But this was where I also met the most supportive people I've known so far in NS, ranging from the L Coy sergeants, to brothers from different platoons, who spurred me on to do my best despite me being slower than the rest. This was also where I met my section, Platoon 3 Section 4. P3S4 was a gift, with efficient sectionmates who are also incredibly helpful. Well, at least most of them. I was glad to be able to know each of my sectionmates before our out-pro on 16 March, and having worked together with them to overcome the stress of being a chao recruit in Tekong.

A special shout out to my loveliest buddy, Ryan Neo, for having tolerated all my nonsense and having helped me out numerous times, despite you having endangered my life a few times ;). Happy birthday too! And will miss you, buddy. :(

Then came OETI, which I was part of the Basic Technician Training 61 (BTT 61) batch, being placed under the Turret platform. My 3 buddies, Xubin, Han Wei, and Darshan, were placed with me in a super small room. It was really small. But these 3 were very efficient and strived to do their best in whatever task was given. In fact, back in Tekong, when I woke up at 0445 I'd be one of the earliest in the whole platoon to wake up. But in OETI, waking at 0445 puts me at 3rd or last in my room to wake up. Falling in was never a problem, for we were always early.

Turret platform was not much different from my roommates. We were always pushing ourselves to move fast and to be the best platform possible. A majority of our platform will fall in well before the fall-in time. I attribute this to the competitive nature apparent in most of us, and also under the leadership of our various platform I/Cs, starting with ME1-T Sean Toh to Matthew, Darshan, Ben, Brendan, and anyone else who took the front spot before. It is with some sadness that I couldn't finish the course with Turret, but I guess this was meant to be. So goodbye Turret, all the best in Gedong, and see some of you for MASCC.

I have met many good friends along the way, not all I can list now. But thank you to Ryan Neo, Martin, Kealeon, Chin Hao, Xubin, Han Wei, Darshan, Ben, Sean Toh, Brendan, Leon, Akilen, Amadeus, Ryan Seow, Shao Bin, Zong Wei, Tim Wee, Michael, Wen An, Fabio, the 4 doctors (Matthew, Tim Chong, Squirtle Wong, and Rama), Shawn Tan, Ijoe, and anyone else who I may have missed. 

The journey in NS so far was not easy, and we have met very, very toxic people. But thank you for being there, and making this journey so much easier.

I will now write this next chapter with new people, but with this old chapter firmly in my mind.

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