Monday, January 14, 2008
As the first day I am enlisted in NS, I feel it rather compelling to share with all of you my unique experience. I think it will be a bit different from other guys. My enlistment time is at 8.30am at CMPB today (exactly the same as Ni Chuan). However, due to some delays, I only managed to get to CMPB at 8.40am (2nd time late since I returned from China). In the end, I was told that the first round of Oath Taking has already started so I had to wait for the second round. (That's perhaps the reason why I didn't meet Ni Chuan today). So I waited patiently for the second round. When the parents and relatives of first batch of enlistees come out, I entered the Oath Taking room and they took away my NRIC. Then I was told to be seated in the first three rows and I was seated in the first row. Then they play some videos to allow time for others to arrive. At the same time, we were issued SAF cards. When everyone was seated, they started the Oath Taking exercise. They just asked us to rise and repeat after the officer. It was completely a mess in the first part of the Oath as we were asked to say our own NRIC and name. But the rest was in one voice. Then we were asked to sign the Oath form. After that, we have 10 mins of interaction with parents or friends. Then the officers saw I am alone so they began to accost me and try to console me for being alone. I also feel quite left out during that point. Luckily, it's just a short period of time. After that, we were being brought to an auditorium and they show a Hollywood movie for us to kill time. Then the Military Police Command officer came and brought me to the Mowbary Camp. That's the most ironical part. I had to rush to CMPB which is at Tiong Bahru early in the morning and they are bringing me to the Mowbary Camp which is just 20 mins of walking distance from my house. Anyway, I only realised that after I went home. As for the rest of the day, I was being told to read some general rules and meet the officers there. Most of the time I was idling cos everyone is too busy with their work so no time to entertain me. But I do have some chit-chatting with the people there and get to know quite a lot of people today. From today's experience, I realised that I am going to be one of the slackest soldier in NS:) My job scope is just to do administrative work in the HR branch. My working hours is from 7.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays and get to rest on Sat and Sun. I think that's the same as schooling. Furthermore, as I am the direct enlistee there, I don't even need to go Pulau Tekong for a week of Residential Induction Programme. Guess I am going to stay where I am for the whole of two years.
Rihui
attacked at
5:27 AM