It was a cold and windy day and it was just after Christmas in 1979. It was time for me to stand up and served my country doing National Service. I still remember entering into SAFTI (now SAFTIMI) with my hair at shoulder length (after A level) I was assigned to KILO Company. A Company with all the A Level students. The transition from civilian to military was quite easy for me as I had seved in the NCC (Air) for the last 4 years. Those days the NCC (Air) wore only the Green No 4 Uniform, not like nowdays where the Cadets are given Blue No 3 Uniform. But still we are man of steel. Finally out of the bondage of home, now a man of Independent. An Independent man but still sharing a bunk with 40 other guys, sharing bathing facilities, but importantly an Independent man.
As usual in all Companys’ there is a fair share of a ‘Blur’ King, a ‘Kheng’ King, a ‘Know about everything’ King, an ‘On-the-Ball’ King and so on….. But still we are One Company. I really enjoyed myself, what with meeting new frens.Still remember all the time during the week how we take all the opportunity to catch 40 winks just to prepare for the weekend. From the bunk to the Bus Stop we are off running (all this training was put to good use) also all the running from the Bus-stop to the bunk on the Sunday night, just to be able to sign your name on the line, b4 the clock strikes 2359 hrs. Feels like Cinderella..I am sure everybody can still remember Peng Kang Hill and I think the other Hill Elephant Hill. Those hill felt like mountians. And during the Secondary School days I was still making fun that Spore only had a couple of small mountains not like other countries. Now it is no laughing matter to run uo the Hills. I had the opportinity is the past 2 years to visit SAFTIMI and those hill are still there, I would have thought that they would have levelled those hill and move them to somewhere South of Spore to use them as landfill. I swear, I think those hills are a bit lower, what with all the recruits over the many, many years running up and down the hills.Great were the NS days, where u have the opportunity to carry out live shooting, drop a grenade with a watchful eye of your Instructor, learn so many new ways about blow up things, charging at thing, kicking at things. I really not making any fun I really love all this. So much fun and the 12 weeks of BMT was over. Hooray Graduation was coming and we also getting our posting.Now I can tear down that stupid brown paper in my cupboard and let another poor soul to redo the brown paper, my time in BMT is over. Finally Graduation came, parents were there, all so proud of their sons. Now looking like a slim, mean fighting machine. Yahooooo Graduation and now our posting. Hooray
