Life After BMT

I'm here to share some of my experience after BMT. Do take note that this experience might differ as different people have different vocations and pes status.

As I've mentioned earlier I'm Pes C9L2, so after BMT my vocation was a Technician. 

Hopefully this can give you a rough idea how army is like after BMT.

1) Attend Courses

This is probably a technician thing. 

After BMT, its like you're studying for the next 4 months. 

From lessons in class, hands on to E-Learning.
They even have tests to test you and you have to score well for it.
If you never get at least a certain percentage you will need to recourse another 4 months. 

I'm not a very smart person but managed to get the top 12% in my cohort lah. So i think anyone can do it without a problem. 

After you get into your unit there are other courses you will need to complete.

2) Complete SOFUN

SOFUN is not actually fun. Its a term in army whereby you have to complete your IPPT, go for your range etc.

Range here isn't like in Tekong anymore, you do it in like this big facility where night time is simulated. Don't think you can escape SOFUN because the S3 clerks will haunt you down.

3) Healthy Lifestyle (HLS)

HLS is something you have to do every Odd day of the week. its tiring to exercise early in the morning. but you get to choose to go to the gym, run/walk or play games like basket ball, soccer, badminton etc.

Something to keep you going and look forward to lor!

(Anyway gym & games is depends on your unit have a not one ah) 

4) Bookout in CV

Oh gosh. Please everyone BOOKOUT IN CV. When you're in unit you can bookout in your CV attire.

I know everyone after camp will be very tired etc, want to sit inside mrt right? You want to risk wearing uniform and get stomped a not?

And now you don't have to tuck in your clothes like a nerd anymore, plus you can wear ankle socks as long as the socks are visible to the eye. 

*If you're the less fortunate one that have to stay-in camp, paiseh ah lol*

5) Botak hair is actually not allowed 

A bit ironic but you actually get punished if you shave your head bald.

There's a standard haircut by the army that you have to follow. 

Botak are for recruits & people who go to the Detention Barack. 

However you still have to shave your side burns and the back of your hair. 

*If you're naturally balding, that one of cause no worries lah*

6) Many Celebrations for you to attend

The one big fun part about army is that there are SO MANY EVENTS. 

They celebrate every festival (Chinese new year, Deevapali, Hari Raya, Christmas etc) 

On top of that you get to go on many army outings. (NSF Appreciation day, SAF day etc) 

This is what you can't get when you're actually working outside. 

Parades are also counted as such events and there are normally 1-2 events within a month. 

So this is something that you can look forward to instead of your normal standard routine.

Also, If you're lucky enough you get an OFF day on your birthday too! Well that depends on your superior too!

7) Superiors are actually very nice

I don't know about you. unlike BMT I was blessed enough to have so many nice superiors. 

In fact I think there aren't any superiors that I dislike in my unit. 

They really respect you, and care for you. Most importantly, they trust you.

My dog passed away one month before I ORD. I received the bad news while I was in camp and told my superior immediately.

Without hesitation, he asked me to leave and go back to accompany my dog for his last few moments.

Even after I ORD, they still asked if I was doing alright and how my family was coping. This is something that I will never forget. To have such gracious and genuinely kind superiors, I am truly blessed.

8) Instant Cleaning Sponges

If you're always in the mud, getting dirty or even having grease on you. This is something that you need. 

Better than wipes, this sponge is very durable sia. like forever won't spoil one I tell you. Dirty just use soap to clean it.

What's good about this is that it cleans you off very quickly, okay lah if you're a bit dirty you can actually just use the sponge to clean your face without cleanser. SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME.

Anyway, if you're a technician like me, you often get grease on your clothing and it turns into this dark difficult to wash away dirt. Just use the sponge  with water to wipe it away, the effect is immediate.

Update* People kept asking me where to buy the sponge its here:



CLICK ME

9) You can Trade Blood with Time

I think this is going to sound silly, but do you know that there's a blood donation every 3 months, and when you go and donate your blood in the morning you can get an OFF day straight after it?

I always joked about trading blood with time is worth it, come to think of it, you might help save someone else's time and at the same time you can get an OFF day! 1 stone kill two birds. HAHA (Okay la this one you all want say chaogeng say lah hor haha)

10) Plan your Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Please everyone. Get your wisdom tooth extracted when you're in the army. Don't be a pussy, scared to extract. Its free!!! On top of that you get 16 days of MC (8 for each side of your wisdom tooth)

I would say I went for the MC of cause. (I know people going to KP again, say you geng - please hor throughout my entire unit life i only took MC ONCE + this wisdom tooth extraction)

Moreover, if you were to get your wisdom tooth extracted after army, it will cost you around $700-800/tooth. See you want GENG a not lor *roll eyes*

11) You get to experience things 

One big part of my army career (I would treat this two years as an internship) is that you get to experience many different things that you don't see.

In my unit, I was the media guy, always in charge of anything that has to deal with posters/photos/videos just to make fellow NSFs have a better view of the army.

I will always feel blessed to be part of NDP SG50. Being the Media IC for our maintenance section. Sounds tiring but it was worth it.

For many of you haters who think I PES C chaogeng, wait until you did what I've done for my unit then you come and say i Chaogeng bah. - laughs

12) Before you realise, its over

This got to be funny because we always complain haven't ORD but actually time passes really quickly.

With so many events, course for you to attend, its like hitting milestones every few months which makes your army time fly like free flow one! haha

13) When you look back, you actually enjoyed it

I never thought I would say this. I've always thought that the army is a waste of my time but when so many good memories, the positive has already flushed the negative ones away.

Not to say that army is really FUN. It is the moments you experience are fun. I don't know how to put it but I felt very accomplished back in my unit.

I've done what I wanted to do, and i really thank my superiors for entrusting this task to me and also recognise my efforts for what I've put in for my unit.

I will always remember what my CO told me while he gave me the CO coin.

"I'm sorry but I don't have anything else to give you other than this!" - SIBEI TOUCHED OMG.

Last but not least, I would like to take this time to thank my fellow peers, my S3, DY, OPs Warrant, BSM, Superiors in my Depot for giving me such an amazing an positive army experience.

- I'm like 10months late to say thank you but still, Thank you for being kind and gracious towards me

I've come to the end of this post. I hope this will help people to have an idea of how army looks like. Its not all negative lah, Singaporeans just like to complain, and I know MANY MANY people will kpkb after seeing this.

I only have 1 thing to say to you haters,

If by scolding me will make you happier, then feel free to do so. At least I've made someone happy today.

P/S : PHOTOS ARE GOOGLED Feel free to ask me to take down thanks!

A message to enlistees

I'm CFC Kife wee and in 2.5 months time it will be about 1 year after I've ORD

Just 2 days ago I was being called up for mobilisation and went back to Kranji Camp 2. 

This somehow triggered me to write this entry as it brings back a lot of memories. 

If you're someone that is 'new' to this army thing, this might be a very good guide for you. 

1) Specialist letters works.

Before Army, I've sustained an injury from doing NAPFA test (also known as IPPT) back when i was taking a module in my poly year. 

I underwent physiotherapy at a local polyclinic for a few months and did not recover. (because ligament cannot heal once it is torn)

Even with 3 letters written by my therapist, the medical officers did not believe me and chose to give me a Pes B.

I had to go down to MINDEF at depot road 8 times in the span of 8 months. 

They wasted 8 fucking months of my life. 

At the last straw, I had to tell them to send me to for MRI by a specialist in a local hospital. (Say this because the Army will pay for it, not you)

After which, I was examined unfit due to my a tear in my right ankle and was given a Pes C9L2

Verdict - If it is a legit injury, fight for your rights.

2) Tekong is a Green Zone

Many years ago, you must have heard that you can only bring in non-camera phones to Tekong, that's because back then Tekong was a RED zone.

 So now you can feel at ease and bring in your iPhone 7 or whatever. 

3) Bring a Portable Charger

If you want to use your phone, it is wise to use a portable charger. Although there's a stupid rule that you cannot bring in USB cables, you can always buy cables that are built in portable chargers at any challenger store.

The reason is simple, you cannot use multi plugs in your bunk if not it might trigger a power failure in the company, and there are definitely NOT enough ports for you everyone in the bunk to charge their phones. 

A 12000 mAh portable charger will be good enough to endure the first 2 weeks of confinement.

4) Shave before you go in

Well, If you think a $2 haircut will be good wait until you try and let the auntie shave your head lo. 

I tell you ah, they anyhow shave one, shave until unbalanced and look like shit, and they are quite rough with you. Cos they want it quick.

5) PLEASE APPLY SUNBLOCK

Your peers will definitely call you gay, ah gua or sissy for doing this. wait till they get sun burned on their stupid head and you will see them struggle like hell. 

IT IS FUCKING PAINFUL TO GET SUN BURN ON YOUR SCALP. Because you're botak and your scalp is very sensitive to the sun. apply sunblock everywhere on your skin and your scalp. 

Trust me, I did not have a single sun burn when I was in tekong and you will see a lot of guys with red- skin peeling scalps because they want to be a MAN. - Jokes are on you dumbtards.

6) Just follow whatever instructions even if it doesn't make any sense

Most of the time in the Army, you're bound to do a lot of stupid things.

JUST DO IT and don't get yourself in trouble, don't argue back because your superiors are stubborn.

If anything bad happens it is okay, because its their fault not yours. don't risk yourself getting punished. 

If you're a clever person you will understand what I mean. 

7) You will meet a lot of weirdos 

Army is really an eye opener. You get to see many weird people. 

From the famous people who likes to 'geng' to stupid and childish ones who wants to challenge the system, you name it, they have it. 

If your buddy is like that, good luck to you just remember you probably won't see him after that 2 months so just bare with it. 

8) Don't be an idiot 

When your sergeant tell you not to go to the canteen by yourself, please do not go. Don't be a fucktard and try to challenge the system because when you do, EVERYONE WILL KNOW. 

You know why? Because only recruits are botak. When you see 1 botak guy at the canteen alone - you know what happens next? CONFINEMENT good luck to you.

9) Please bring wipes 

The magic trick to field camp is to bring a packet of wipes. People judge you for bringing such stuffs but end up asking for it. Wipes are super useful to clean your face at night. Don't tell me you want to sleep with a face full of dirt and camou-cream it is fucking disgusting.

9.5) Instant Cleaning Sponges

If you're always in the mud, getting dirty during field camp, this is something that you need. 

Better than wipes, this sponge is very durable sia. like forever won't spoil one I tell you. Dirty just use soap to clean it.

What's good about this is that it cleans you off very quickly, okay lah if you're a bit dirty you can actually just use the sponge to clean your face without cleanser. SAVE YOU A LOT OF TIME.

Some more you just need to deep the sponge with water to clean yourself can already. 

Update* People kept asking me where to buy the sponge its here:


CLICK ME

10) Don't worry if you don't know how to shoot

Just like everyone else, it is their first time handling an equipment.

It was also my first time using a gun, and I swear that i suck at shooting games. I was worried like fuck because I was afraid to fail. But in the end i tell you. IT IS FUCKING FUN SIA. 

I got 28/32 for my first shooting. I did not get to shoot the last 4 rounds because my gun fucked up if not I would probably get full marks. 

Take this opportunity to enjoy, when the night turns dark and when you're sitting with ear plugs on waiting for your turn, look up to the skies. It is amazing. 

11) You won't get fat no matter how much you eat

Trust me, I ate 3 meals a day, plus night snacks everyday. I lost weight in the end. I don't know why also and i don't even exercise that much because I'm pes C. LOL

and don't worry la, the food doesn't taste that bad okay! Morning breakfast normally got can choose kaya/peanut butter/butter bread.

night snacks got cakes one!

12) Mean boys

Just like Mean girls, there are mean boys. They call you names, things that are not appealing to you.

People just have something to say about you and won't shut the fuck up.

Well, I appeared to be more feminine than average guys so people like to call me names thinking that it will offend me. 

Sorry lor, if you think what you say is going to hurt me, You're wrong. because to me, you're just like a kid who i still struggling with puberty. 

So just let them say what they want. always remember, after this 2 months, 

YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE THEM EVER AGAIN. 

13) Unit life is way better

If you think the rest of your army life will be like BMT. You're wrong.

Sergeants in your unit are just like you. Your friends! People that you can count on and not afraid of. 

I was blessed to go to a unit full of people who respects you. So I'm sure it will definitely happen to you. 

I hope this 13 pointers will help you, if you have anymore questions feel free to email me at kife@thedecemberstudio.com 

Also, hit me up if you're keen to know more about unit life! 

that's all for now, goodbye!

p/s - images are mostly googled, if there's any photos you that offended you please ask me to take down via email.