Saturday, March 8, 2008
Reflections for NCO camp 08 - Chanel's
30/01/08...
On the first day of the camp, the first thing we did, was bag check. We "pour" out all our things from the bag within 10secs and pack it all in again within 20secs. W keep repeating it for more than 5 times (because we were too slow).
After it, we were having our basha building. We had only 20minutes to pitch a basha that can let us sleep overnight. Although we spent quite a long time to pitch it, but the basha was really not stable but it did make it through the whole night till the next day. It was fortunate that it didn't rain or all of us would become drenched.
After finishing building the basha, we had our situational test which is also know as scenario-based test. The instructors gave us some equipments and asked us if something were to happen, using the equipment, how are we going to solve it? This sscenario-based test is basically moulding up our teamwork and sense of urgency. For each test, we had only 20mins to finish it. We only manage to pass 1 test out of 4. But although we failed, it bonded our teamwork alot compared to the starting of the camp. The most fun test was the last one. All of us were able to "play" it. When we finish having fun, we have our debrief. Saying alot of things that we feel in the first day of camp. Then we had our relaxing time washing up and lights out.
The next morning, our basha was being destroyed by our CIs (turn-out) just to wake us up. Everyone rush to pack up and also keep all the logistic for the basha. For the morning PT, it was really memorable because it was really tiring. We had to pick up all our "barang barang" and run around the Netball court until the instructors told us to stop.
After the morning PT, all NCO trainees agthered around to share our breakfast. Then we had our briefing for hiking. Discussing with our group which way to go. After we decided, we started on our way to Sembawang Park. Everyone was shocked when we know that we will be hiking to Sembawang Park because it is really very far from our school. On our way there, we motivated our group not to give up. I tried to motivate my group to go faster, but I also feel very tired after some time. So the group went quiet before our lunch. Once finish lunch, we felt energetic and continue our journey to the park. We started running when we saw Semabwang Park because too excited. Again we had to check our logistic for the basha building and started pitching it as soon as possible. After that, we had our obstacle course there. So fun, we enjoyed the obstacle course. It's like a game, where we have to finish all the obstacle as fast as possible. We all felt very glad that all of us manage to finish the whole course. We had dinner there, sharing our food. After that, we had our own debrief. Saying what we gained on the 2nd day of the camp.
Then we thought that we will be enjoying and relaxing after the lights out but only after about 30mins of lights out, we had to unpitch our basha and was told to jog for 12km to another area to sleep. Felt so shocked and tired. But it was only a lie. We only jog to a bus-stop with our backpack to take a bus back to school. Felt so happy to reach school. As I reported sick so I didn't know what exactly happened when I was sleeping in Command Post. But I heard that our squad was being punished and had changing parade. Felt very guilty knowing that as we are squadmates, one for all, all for one but I was not allow to join them as I was not well.
The next day, which is the last day, after our breakfast, we had our MOI campcraft where we had to teach our squadmates how to tie knots and alshing and what is it used for. Before the MOI campcraft, we had our project-based test. We built a chair which looks not stable but it could hold 3 full 1.5litre water bottle making our squad feel so proud. Then was our area cleaning and followed by debrief. Debrief was basically explaining what was the purpose of this camp and how to become a NCO.
Finally, what we had been waiting for, dismissal. Collecting of NCO tshirt. Feeling so relieve that I and my squadmates had make it through this camp. In this camp I learnt that we cannot work individually. Whatever we do we have to be together with the squadmate, and to care for them.
