Tuesday 27 November 2012

Field camp

For the whole week, I have been watching the weather like a hawk. There isn't much I can do about the weather, really, but YK is out doing 5-night field camp. Today is his final day!

The worst thing is I have no idea what he'll be doing except that he'll be eating combat ration and going without shower for 6 days. Desperate for information, I trawled the internet. This video called Every Singaporean Son is very telling but what I saw also depresses me.

During field camp, they push the recruits to the limit, challenge them and punish them until they reach their breaking point. When things can't get any better, they bring out letters from their families to boost their morale. This will leave the entire platoon of recruits crying openly in the jungle, tears streaming down their mud-caked faces. I cried along with them as I watched the video.

Knowing that they will be building and sleeping in a small basha (tent) during the first couple of days, my heart sank when there was a huge thunderstorm on his first day. What a horrible way to begin the exercise. The weather turned for the better after that. I hoped for light drizzle when he was digging the shellscrape as wet ground might be easier to dig. By the third day, his body must be itching like mad from the sweat and mud, so I hoped for some rain so they could get a quick shower.

A mom's job is to encourage them when they need support and rejoice at their accomplishments. Also, being a mom, we can't help but worry. When I saw YK's good friend Andrew that day, that poor guy looked visibly scrawny. Already a skinny guy by nature, he lost 5 kgs within 2 weeks of enlistment because he fell ill. According to YK, it's a cesspool of virus there. The boys live, eat and train together, and they infect each other too.

I think YK will come back looking scrawny today. I just hope he doesn't fall sick.

6 comments:

Charlie Hotel said...

It gives you an appreciation for a soft mattress, hot cookhouse meal and showers.

Petunia Lee said...

It'll help him appreciate Mom more! That's a good thing!

Petunia Lee said...

I hope YOU dun fall sick.

Blur Ting said...

haha, no I won't.

Celine said...

YK must be with you now and you are feeding him lots to make up for the 5 days....!

Blur Ting said...

Celine - Unfortunately he doesn't get to come back until Friday. I thought he could be back right after field camp... anyway, he said the camp was tough but ok for him :)

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