Served my first high key I-See-Tea (IST) from 13-20 Aug 2018.
To clock a high key and serve only 8 days is a bargain. This, plus no need to spend any nights in camp, is terribly shiok!!! Also I need to thank my pal J for hitching us to and fro camp everyday!
Had been kinda looking forward to the event, partly because work was really mundane and uneventful; and partly because it was like "a week long chalet with talk cock friends", as I described to wifey. I was kinda looking forward to going for tea breaks and relac one corner, blending in with everyone else wearing the same uniform. And since every man is on similar status and share the same entitlements/benefits, there is little or minimal need to bother about politics (being in the good books of your superiors), outlook (so what if my boots are not shined and I'm wearing some overnight stubble?) or behaviour (just honestly use your hands to eat your drumstick without a need to care how carnivorous or etiquette-less you may look).
In camp, nobody gives two hoots about what title you hold at work, how much you earn, or whether you are vertically challenged - the only thing that differentiates is the number of stripes and bars imprinted on your insignia. Yes, one may be 152cm, has poor complexion and suffering from a receding hairline and speaks ah beng English - but as long as the rank insignia on his torso bears a symbol that resembles one or more underwater animals, your neighbourhood hawker centre uncle shall be able to summon the attention and respect of a whole battalion.
On top of the usual admin briefing and conducting of IPPT, the main programme highlights from this IST:
- 3 days of lecture room style refresher training (MY FAV KIND OF TRAINING, for those who know me well); and
- 1 day of shell scrape digging (3 persons to 1 within 100 mins you bet our arms were screaming).
Based on how the activities went, I personally think it's a rather enjoyable high key IST, relatively speaking.
Combat rations? What combat rations? =D
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Some observations I made from this IST:
1) Our soldiers need to be fitter
It has become a worrying trend - men gain weight and become less fit after ORD, and/or after they have kids.
2) You can count on us to be united
Most will know or may have heard that during IST, men adopt a 'slack' attitude. For example, some may chao geng (report sick) while some may appear disinterested during activities. So I was happily surprised when I observed a massive turnout for the most shiong activity of the whole event - the shell scrape digging. Although it was a physically taxing activity, the mood was light and we cracked jokes and some were singing. It was evident all of us would put our best foot forward when the need arises.
3) There are really helpful souls
After completing the digging of our shell scrape, we had to cover it back with soil and level the ground. We were already extremely beat from the digging, so most of us were lacklustre and lethargic during this part of the task. A group of 3-4 men had completed their tasks and instead of heading over to the training shed to rest and hydrate themselves, they went around and offered help!
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Overall, I appreciated the break away from work. And I will never forget the AWESOME nasi padang from the canteen OMG the assam stingray was freakkkking good. The meat was sooooo succulent and tender!
The next day, I returned to eat the assam stingray again, but it was still being prepared =( So I ordered their curry chicken. To my holymoly surprise, the drumstick meat was sooooo fresh and tender! AMAZING!!!
This stall is currently no. 1 on my "Best Nasi Padang" list.
To clock a high key and serve only 8 days is a bargain. This, plus no need to spend any nights in camp, is terribly shiok!!! Also I need to thank my pal J for hitching us to and fro camp everyday!
Had been kinda looking forward to the event, partly because work was really mundane and uneventful; and partly because it was like "a week long chalet with talk cock friends", as I described to wifey. I was kinda looking forward to going for tea breaks and relac one corner, blending in with everyone else wearing the same uniform. And since every man is on similar status and share the same entitlements/benefits, there is little or minimal need to bother about politics (being in the good books of your superiors), outlook (so what if my boots are not shined and I'm wearing some overnight stubble?) or behaviour (just honestly use your hands to eat your drumstick without a need to care how carnivorous or etiquette-less you may look).
In camp, nobody gives two hoots about what title you hold at work, how much you earn, or whether you are vertically challenged - the only thing that differentiates is the number of stripes and bars imprinted on your insignia. Yes, one may be 152cm, has poor complexion and suffering from a receding hairline and speaks ah beng English - but as long as the rank insignia on his torso bears a symbol that resembles one or more underwater animals, your neighbourhood hawker centre uncle shall be able to summon the attention and respect of a whole battalion.
On top of the usual admin briefing and conducting of IPPT, the main programme highlights from this IST:
- 3 days of lecture room style refresher training (MY FAV KIND OF TRAINING, for those who know me well); and
- 1 day of shell scrape digging (3 persons to 1 within 100 mins you bet our arms were screaming).
 |
| Sample shell scrape (source: google image) |
Based on how the activities went, I personally think it's a rather enjoyable high key IST, relatively speaking.
Combat rations? What combat rations? =D
----------------------------------
Some observations I made from this IST:
1) Our soldiers need to be fitter
It has become a worrying trend - men gain weight and become less fit after ORD, and/or after they have kids.
2) You can count on us to be united
Most will know or may have heard that during IST, men adopt a 'slack' attitude. For example, some may chao geng (report sick) while some may appear disinterested during activities. So I was happily surprised when I observed a massive turnout for the most shiong activity of the whole event - the shell scrape digging. Although it was a physically taxing activity, the mood was light and we cracked jokes and some were singing. It was evident all of us would put our best foot forward when the need arises.
3) There are really helpful souls
After completing the digging of our shell scrape, we had to cover it back with soil and level the ground. We were already extremely beat from the digging, so most of us were lacklustre and lethargic during this part of the task. A group of 3-4 men had completed their tasks and instead of heading over to the training shed to rest and hydrate themselves, they went around and offered help!
----------------------------------------
Overall, I appreciated the break away from work. And I will never forget the AWESOME nasi padang from the canteen OMG the assam stingray was freakkkking good. The meat was sooooo succulent and tender!
 |
| Look at the size of the stingray! The belacan was very spicy and good too. This plate only cost $4+! |
The next day, I returned to eat the assam stingray again, but it was still being prepared =( So I ordered their curry chicken. To my holymoly surprise, the drumstick meat was sooooo fresh and tender! AMAZING!!!
This stall is currently no. 1 on my "Best Nasi Padang" list.
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