EX TRYOUTAnd it just rained.. Over the few horrible days of our deployment exercise it just poured buckets.. While we never managed a full deployment, and the whole thing could be called a disaster, there were many take aways that I gained in the exercise. Skidding tonners, stuck tonners, horrendous waiting time, zero sleep, loads of harrassing from our commanders etc.. But it was really fun!
1. Inter-personal relationships
Working (or rather talking) with the men that were under me was really interesting. The drivers and operators all had their different views and idiosyncracies. We had much laughter and fun and I think we got to know each other pretty well.. We worked together just fine and I have a lot of respect for these men. They are now happily passed out while we are still dumb trainees btw..
2. Experience
The deployment was really an experience we can never forget as the mistakes and lapses in consideration cannot be forgotten. I believe that when SUMMEX comes we'll be much more prepared to take on the challenge. Being the detatchment commander for the FCE really opened up my eyes to the deployment on the whole. Drifting tonners,
3. Tolerance
After near zero sleep for the past 3 nights I think I'm going to get quite used to it. But the after exercise stoning is crazy.. The train ride back home was nothing but an unstoppable Z-monster.. SUMMEX will be worse..
4. I hate rain
The cause of it all.. The darn weather.. Due to the rain which poured like mad and never relented, we couldn't do anything and our deployment ground turned into a mudpool.. Somemore so cold.. I was really freezing!
But then again, finally reaching back to camp, I realized what made us feel human again.
1. A bath
2. Dry feet
3. A bed
4. Hot food
5. Sleep
6. Talking rot
2 more weeks and I'll finally be able to relax! 1 more month and I get my sword! muz push on..
Looming ShadowsIts coming.. EX TRYOUT is coming.. This will be the first real test of the 8 gunners. I'm not too enthusiastic about it actually, cos there are so many thing that could ruin the whole show. The horrible weather, the men under us, our inexperience, my good fren (haha) and so many others. I know this challenge is all part of the training, and I'm not about to shy away from it either..
Looking back at Tech Deployment, I still think we learnt anything really valuable in relation to TRYOUT. In Tech Deployment we were just fufilling our operator role, perhaps a little bit else, but the large proportion of details are shrouded in the shadows.. To say the truth, I hate uncertainties, cos I love to think about them. End up I only get a little worried about the outcome. Haven been able to think very positively about the coming exercises..
I pray really hard that it doesn't rain.. then won't only be the skies crying le..
These few days I've been really tired.. Nothing really seems to help, not even double espressos >< But then again, I'm really happy at the same time.. Cos I know theres someone there with me. Thanks so much..
I'll pull through!
Friday, January 06, 2006 @ 11:59 PM
Technical Deployment
Technical DeploymentRawwr!! We had our first real deployment on Wed where we went through the procedures like loading of stores, sending out the convoy and guiding the vehicles into the deployment ground. It was not very easy as we were still not too sure of ourselves. Whats more, our CO was like watching us mere metres away lor! Stress..
When we finally moved the stores up the tonners (which weigh like dunno how much in total), we hooked up and moved off! Yup it was a nice feeling to be finally doing the real thing. But it was hard.. With just 8 of us deploying half a Fire Unit, it was madness!! Really tired out after all that.. Learning how to camo the equipment, build the different points ie. sentry point, learning how to emplace etc etc.. It was really hard and tiring.. The time we finished? 4 plus the next morning.. goodness.. eyes really closing.. the rain didnt help things at all lor..
We had our share of mistakes and funny moments (running after tonners lol) and I think we all learnt a lot this time.. But at the same time I got a feeling of dread. This deployment was 1 day.. Summex is 4! Think we will all be switched off by the 3rd day.. lol now we're speculating on whos the CPC for Tryout.. haha..
3 more weeks to the end of all our suffering! Gambatte!
