Endoh’s Dungeon

I have since covered the devils in National Service, but SAF is not entirely bad too. No doubt 80% of the times we complained about serving NS as a waste of our times, deep inside each and everyone of us we know Singapore cannot survive without us. Being NSmen, we are going to be one of the first few soldiers who are going to be deployed when war strikes Singapore.

Before I go on to talk about the 5 angels in NS, there are some stuffs I would like to clarify. Firstly, some of these experiences are not encountered by me. You can say it’s the top 5 most common categories encountered by NSmen during our active days, good or bad.

Secondly, I understand that we come from different eras. Hence, when I say NSmen I meant “reservists” and not the enlisted NS boys literally. When I say “active” days, it meant our times being full time NSFs. I believe in the past, ORD meant the end of our reservist term but nowadays, ORD is only for NSFs. NSmen use ROD instead.

Here comes the 5 angels of National Service…

1. THE GOOD SAMARITAN
I don’t mean soldiers who always give out loans like loansharks in camps. I meant those who are always willing to lend a helping hand when needed. There are specialists and officers who doesn’t believe in the stand-and-command attitudes. They are often seen helping to prepare for exercises, like packing stores or checking weapon systems. They care little about ranks, as long as they sit on the floor and get dirty with their men.

There are also ICs, CSMs or OCs who are never stingy about paying for group outings, knowing our allowances are unlike what the blessed NSFs get these days. One of my NSmen shared that his OC footed the bill for the entire ORD chalet during his times, and that’s less than 1/4 of his monthly salary as a Major.

2. THE FRIEND
I like these group of soldiers personally. Apart from getting missions completed as a team, they take the effort to make small talks and get to know fellow comrades around them. That includes understanding the family background of each and everyone, and I came to discover some of these “ah bengs” can make really great friends. As for specialists and officers, some of them break the ice by just being - a friend.

For chimneys like myself, a friend indeed is a smoke indeed. Hahahahaha…!

3. THE EDUCATOR
These are the group of people who often discusses and encourages NSFs to plan for their future. Instead of concentrating on talks about military discipline, they often share information which will help NSFs prepare for life out of army. Afterall, green uniforms and M16 were all we know back then.

I was personally a beneficiary of such educators when I applied for my part time Mass Comms studies in my final months. My understudy was learning really well and fast so I have no worries. My CSM gave me problems when I requested to change my nights off to days I have night classes, when I am not even asking for extras. My OC came to know about it through casual chats, and gave me the green light to go ahead. I asked about CSM’s approval and he said… “Go ahead because I say so, I will take care of that old man! I will be more than happy to have soldiers who can spend their time preparing for their future instead of watching TV in bunk every night.”

Previous OC approved… hand over to new OC… new OC enforce. Bingo!

4. THE COUNSELLOR
Be it leaders or just the average soldiers, they lend a shoulder whenever they can. They are always there to listen, whenever someone is troubled. Occasionally, they offer advices and check on each other’s progress. They are also perfect for situations where a soldier is being discriminated in some ways. For those who are often “aimed” by CSMs and such, the counsellor type of comrades are also good in easing tension or any unhappiness.

5. THE SHIELD
Previously, one of the devils are those who volunteer for tasks unnecessarily. In return, there are also people who are willing to shield the arrows and how much we love them so. There are indeed people who are able to protect and stand up for their men whenever necessary, even against another who is higher in rank. They take time to reason out and cannot stand their own people being taken advantage of.

The best experience I personally had was going through exercises with Indonesian soldiers at War Game Centre. I was arrowed when I haven’t been sleeping for the past 16 hours, monitoring supply troops movement on screen. Major Lee, who’s my commander in my cell, turned to the LTA and pointed to 2 guys seated in the command post… “I see two of your guys chit chatting away, why don’t you get them to do it instead?”

Damn… how can I not laugh?

===============================================

Have you met any of those guys I mentioned above? I think these are the people who truly make NS life worthy to live through. What I like most about their mentalities is, you serve the country but you’re not here to trade your life to the devil.

If you have anything great to share other than the above 5, feel free to drop a comment.