MiZ in Weekdays 10: ATEC Stage 1 and Beyond

25 Apr 2005
No company run on that day. Basically, there wasn't anything much to do for me on that day, except maybe to do a bit of stoes. Let's proceed on to the next day.

26 Apr 2005
In the morning, we collected some TES sets for our FTX 2 and ATEC stage 2. Well, after that, we helped out in some stores.

Later that day, we were being arrowed by the CSM to help him to do some stuff for ATEC stage 1 (all because the "train" LOVES to collect arrows from anywhere... well I supposed the arrows are free...), but before that, we collected our field rations for FTX 2 and put them in our bunk. After that, we went to RSM store to carry some stores to the multi-purpose hall (MPH). Not only that, we were also asked to help to set up the place in preparation for ATEC 1. After doing so, we quickly went to the canteen to hide. At the same time, we bought ice-creams for ourselves as well.

After I went back to bunk, I was unfortunately asked by someone to help to carry the field rations to S4 branch. Hmm... didn't know that there is a vegetatian there. Well, I also looked a bit on the menu as I was a bit curious what they had for field rations.

27 Apr 2005
We were asked by the "train" to draw arms early in the morning because he said that the CO want us to do so. SJ and I also had to set up the PA system as well. Well, we were supposed to go to MPH for the CO talk based on what the 4 stripes had said, but the RSM told us that we were not supposed to be there as our ATEC Stage 1 was a day later. After the CO talk, we were told to send back the arms as we did not really need them. HUH? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? We woke up so early JUST ONLY TO HAVE A TOUCH WITH OUR RIFLE and BREATHE THE AIR IN MPH? Don't we have a lot of chance to do so in FTX 2 and ATEC 2 for rifle, or during some other speeches to be in MPH?

Later that day, we went to the store and practise for our ATEC stage 1. Well, for the line team, we tested a bit of the line stores and also revised what we need to do for ATEC 1 as well.

In the afternoon, there wasn't anything much to do, except that the radio team were asked to go to store to practise more. That left only HJ, SJ and me.

At 5.30pm, we decided to go to the cookhouse to eat as we did not really know whether they would be a nights off. After we went back to bunk, we were told that there was nights off given by the BSO for all of us. Initially, we thought of going out to buy drinks, but we decided to do so on Friday after we booked out of camp when we could go to Carrefour at Plaza Singapura, where they had more variety of drinks there (and it's on our way home as well). Since we had our dinner, there wasn't any point for us to go for nights off.

After those people went out for nights off, JH suggested to go to 42 SAR canteen to had dinner there. I decided to join them for dinner as I never been to that canteen before, although I had my dinner already. Well, there were 6 of us going to that canteen (JH, WQ, WH, SJ, JR and me), I had my Chicken Cutlet rice there. Hmm... the food was somewhat ok to me... After the 2nd dinner, I went back to bunk to rest.

28 Apr 2005
We had to draw arms early in the morning for the ATEC 1. After that, we brought the necessary stores to the SOA accomodation block where our ATEC 1 was held.

After finishing the stores, we went to the MPH for the CO speech and I went to help out the PA system. Well, I wasn't selected for ATEC 1 (SJ and HJ were selected for the line tests), which was a relieved for me. Those not selected were asked to go back to bunk and wait.

After most of the tests finished, we went back for the briefing and keep some stores before that. Well, our platoon got a high redcon 1 of 96.2% for overall, which was considered very high for signal side.

After that, we continued keeping the stores. While I was at the signal store, the "bus" flare up at me, saying that there were more stores back there, in which there were no more stores back there to keep. I supposed he was angry that I did not help him to carry the tables, and he don't like me (it's ok, since I hated him A LOT MORE than he did to me). Hmm... I think it's time for me to tone up my attitute generally. Well, when it's enough, I really means enough...

Later in the afternoon, I helped Daniel to mount the radio sets for M113 and BV206. While mounting the set for M113, I was sweating profusely as there wasn't much ventilation inside the vehicle (even though the back cover was opened). I wondered how do many people could stay inside such vehicles for a long time. There were also a lot of grease on the vehicle as well, and I had to clean my hands a few times because I accidentally touched the grease. After that, I helped him to set up the radio set for BV206. Even though there were more things to put on, the work seemed easier for me as the set was somewhat near outside, which provides a lot more ventilation than the one for M113, where the set had to be mounted inside. After helping out Daniel, I went back to the store and played "Ghost" with the people there.

Later in the afternoon, while we were about to go for dinner, it rained very heavily with lightning and thunder. I was very scared to go to the cookhouse because of the lightning and thunder which strikes the place quite near to where we were, so I had to close my eyes almost fully, cover my ears and run to the cookhouse. While going there, I almost ran into a deep drain near the cookhouse as I did not really see where I was running. Well, luckily I opened my eyes at that time and managed to get to the correct path on time (my heart was beating really fast).

While in the cookhouse, there was very few people eating there, and I supposed it was because of the heavy rain. While eating, the lightning striked the parade square at HQ Armour, which gave a very bright light and a tremendous loud sound, which almost choked me when I got a great scare from that. I told HJ that I dare not ran back to 46 SAR HQ block and I had to wait for some people to go back with me after finishing my dinner.


A thunderstorm occurred when we were about to go to the cookhouse to eat. I was really scared...

After that, we sent our arms at about 8.30pm. The armskote man was very busy in the afternoon, so we had to wait until so late to send our arms. As he was very tired, he decided to let us in the armskote room to put back our rifles ourselves and consolidate the bayonet on the crates as well.

After sending my arms, I went back to bunk to bathe, and then went to sleep.

29 Apr 2005
No company run in the morning. Well, I volunteered to go to 40 SAR with HJ, PSQ, Daniel and Stanley to draw some CVC helmets as most of the people need to be in camp mounting their vehicular sets. Well, there might be a line tonner for us to load, but anyone could help us to load the tonner easily.

When we reached there, we waited for the storeman to come. Well, as they faced certain problems there, we decided to go for a canteen break first.

While going to the canteen, HJ asked Andrew (who recently posted to HQ 8 SAB) to join us for the canteen break as well (and also return the black duffle bag to HJ as well). After that, we request Andrew to visit his bunk, and he agreed. Well, there were only 4 beds in that bunk, and out of the 4 staying in that bunk, 2 were stay-out personnel, which means there were only 2 people sleeping in the bunk. How nice... I really like to stay in a bunk with very few people... Well, there is also a TV there (which isn't working based on what Andrew said) and 2 armchair as well. There were also chairs, a table, coiled beds (like the one in BMT), larger cupboards than ours and also boots cupboards. Isn't that great? There are so much better and more items than what we have there... Well, for your infomation the signal bunks are just very near to Andrew's bunk, and there are a lot of signal bunks because they have a company of signallers there. Hmm... why can't I get posted there?

After visiting his bunk, we went back to test the CVC helmets and intestine. We moved the helmets and intestine from the line store to the radio store as there are air-cons in there. We finished at about 1pm and had our lunch at the canteen. Too bad Andrew could not join us as he had to attend the roll-call.

After lunch, we were asked by our storemen to go to Army Logistics Base (just beside Keat Hong Camp) to help them to exchange stores. While we were there, we saw some ants moving a much larger insect to their nest. We noticed that the ant kept moving the insect from one point to another and back to the same point. After some investigation, we realised that the ant actually could not bring the large insect into any of the small holes at the staircase so they kept moving here and there. We also realised that while there were many ants around there, only a few were helping out to move the insect. Well, it reminded us of our very own signal platoon, where our commanders did not really know what to do and how to control us, and always kept requesting all of us to helped out when only a few were needed to do the job, leaving the rest to do nothing much except to look at them helplessly. Hmm, if I had a video camera, I would definitely take the video out of it and show it to you people.


There were only a few ants helping out to carry the dead insect. The others were just running about, doing nothing much.

Anyway, we went back to 40 SAR after that to put the CVC helmets and the intestines into the tonner (as well as the NVD stores) and returned back to camp. When we reached camp, we put the stores into the QM signal storeroom. After we finished our job, we went to help the rest of the signallers to mount their vehicular sets. We only get to book out quite late as we only managed to finish in the evening.

Well, before we could book out at about 7pm, it started to rain very heavily. Luckily, HJ and I brought our umbrellas to camp, so we shared the umbrellas among the 4 of us going to Plaza Singapura (HJ, SJ, PSQ and me). Luckily, when we walked out of camp, there was a bus going to Choa Chu Kang MRT station waiting outside the camp. As there was only a few people inside the bus, we were asked to transfer to a smaller mini bus to bring us to Choa Chu Kang. As we were going there, we noticed that some of the roads were still very dry. ZL, who managed to get into the mini-bus, said that it was actually a "natural confinement" for us, in which I agreed to that statement.


A heavy rain occurred when we were booking out. Luckily I had brought my umbrella along. Shared the umbrella with PSQ.

After we reached Choa Chu Kang MRT station, we decided to take a taxi to Plaza Singapura. We only managed to reach there at about 8.30pm, just on time for SJ to look at his saxophone at Yamaha Music Plaza. HJ went to Park Mall to buy the poker cards that he wanted to get, but could not do so as the shop had already closed. PSQ went to eat first and went back himself. The 3 of us then met at 9pm at Burger King to had out dinner.

After dinner, we went to Carrefour to look for drinks we would be getting for FTX 2. We bought some can drinks and packet drinks. After paying for the drinks, each of us carried some of the drinks back to our home.

MiZ Speaks
Well, my sister just came back from a trip in Shanghai. She had taken some photographs there, and I will show you some of the pictures taken there at this blog.


Agricultural Bank of China


A scenery there.


The city taken at night.

Anyway, for some time, I feel that I talk way too little that some people think that I'm an unfriendly person, or I'm that person that can be bullied easily as I don't really voice out. Well, the thing is I don't really know how to talk to people actually, since I don't know what should I talk to them about (well, I like to listen to people talking or chatting). Hmm... maybe I should learn to talk more often to more people, that is if I know what to talk about.

Ok, the blog is not really finished yet actually as I had not put the pictures in yet. Will be adding quite soon once I'm free.