I've been getting along with my men most of the times and having fun at the same time. Stress does come in once in a while when the workload piles up but I guess its just part of the job.
I guess it gets stranger when men start calling me "Sir" for the reason of the "bamboo stick" that I have on my shoulders. It becomes apparently uncomfortable when men in their 30s call me that too.
I went for an outfield exercise for 4 days with a battalion of very brave NSmen; some who have not touched a rifle for close to a year and sport pot bellies of incredible proportions. Others have established families and careers whom I can label were much more financially sound than mine. It was such an eye opener to see men as mature as them pick up their rifles and fight just like they did years ago when they were still active NSF.
Marching along in a mish mash of formations along the road, they carried the loads on their backs as if they carried bricks of steel; clearly exhausted and lethargic. Many fell out, fainted and wheezed as their counterparts chugged along towards the objective. It was simply through sheer determination that they were willing to walk on in the sheer darkness of the jungle.
Their lethargic bodies eventually took the form of the soldiers they once were a decade ago when they took siege on the their enemies as adrenaline rushed through their aged veins. Testosterone seem to fill their bodies as they fire their rounds away at their seemingly aggressive targets.
It was an insightful experience, knowing I would someday be like on of them in future be called upon to serve the country for 2 weeks in the year, to fight for the nation. In a term known as reservist,it is set to be the next phase of army life that I will have to encounter in the next 15 years of my life.
I would remember an occasion when one of the men asked me a question enroute to the objective through the woods that reminded me that I was an officer of the SAF.
Rifleman: Sir, do you know how far away are we from the objective?
Myself: You people walked faster than I imagined. We're only about 1 km away (reluctantly smiling)
I knew that we had longer to walk, but to raise their morale, there was this much that I could do. Facing many a dilemma on many occasions, this job is only getting tougher as the days pass by.
Anyway, a kudos to the other umpires of Alpha Coy who have helped out in some way or other in the evaluation. Here's the picture guys!
These men who answered the call of the nation are the very men some refer to as brothers or fathers for some. It is definitely heartwarming knowing that they take training so positively, if not for them, the country would not have enjoyed peace when they served their due a decade ago. All I can do, is to serve this nation the best I can in my best capacity. Till my first reservist call up! :)Other pictures!
The long march..
Slacking in the training shed
Picture using Night vision goggles!! Cool stuff!
