12 December 2015:
Yet another batch of recruits passed out from BMT today.
This month marks two significant events in my journey as an NSF. Firstly, I am now a second-year soldier. Secondly, my upper-study has ORDed and I am fully taking over as a training specialist.It’s been a year into NS but frankly it doesn’t feel that long. Yes, my BMT feels a little distant already but I cannot imagine just like that I have served in the Singapore Armed Forces for 365 days (and counting).
Looking back, I did not meet my initial expectation of becoming an infantry specialist and a trainer at BMTC, i.e. the typical sergeant as portrayed in army movies. In fact, what my sergeants told me back then was very true.
Out of the whole batch of recruits, only 30% make it to SCS. Out of this, only 30% become infantry specialists. The rest go to all the other vocations, even in navy or air force.
Furthermore, out of all infantry specialists, most actually go to active units as section commanders. Therefore, very few trickle down back to BMT to become trainers.
Of course, apart from how rare it is, I am unable to go back to BMTC simply because I went out-of-course. In a way, this is one reality vs expectation in my NSF journey.
That aside, I am glad that I am given another posting that allows me to contribute to the making of specialists. I won’t say the job is easy, but at least it’s challenging enough and fulfilling.
And hopefully, I won’t screw-up majorly in my remaining year of service. With pride we lead.
TTFN.