Let's talk about NS... good memories or nightmares?

[Cosmicclaw]

Lately, talked with a bunch of young chaps and the word "RPL" came up .. they were like "WTF is RPL ?"

 

 

 

Wah RPL !!! This look much bigger than the ones that used to ferry recruits from Commando Camp Jetty to the old Tekong  jetty. This was long before the current modern "cruise terminal" outside the Cargo Complex.Was there another version where the sides were lower?

 

In fact, I still remember way back mid 1980sand before (long before many of you were born   ) Uncle here took the RPL during my BMT days and when it arrived in Tekong Jetty, it had to be at the right time so the RPL can dock alongside the Jetty terminal and us blur recruits with our heavy backpacks will have to climb over the sides.

 

There were some occasions when SAF got the timing wrong or RPL was delayed and we litterally had to be pushed above so we can climb onto the jetty.

 

But the end of my BMT days, they had built a ramp and RFP could then open its "door" when we arrived.  We could then walk on to shore gracefully before embarking on my march to the old Camp 1.

 

Ahhhh such wondefulr memories of a different time  

 

 

[mersaylee]

Lagi worse off - 3km moody march in to camp 3 singing those stupidest songs which sounded so nice during book out, then another 6 floors up to the penthouse to only drop the bags to go down for briefing and night snacks.

 

Every one was like XYZ!!! 那里吃得下!?

[Ictruall]

peng kang hill... cheong ah!!!! [dead]

 

 

 

 

Ha ha,...heard this was also called Good Morning Hill

.........me from RSN so not I say one, my brother NCO from SAFTI say one

[Kelvin303]

Cannot be. It was 1989 year end, confirmed, cos i was about 100 m behind the 'C' Coy 2IC vehicle that overturned. It took a wrong route as it was tactical movement with 2IC leading the column to largar site...

Hi, I know this reply is very late. But can u share why was it a wrong route? You know any info on it?

[Atrecord]

Hi, I know this reply is very late. But can u share why was it a wrong route? You know any info on it?

 

Wow, this msg was in 2013... But i guess it must be related to the fatal accident just a few days ago in wallaby...

 

Basically, the 'C' coy had finished the exercise for the day at that time. As in normal armour movement, the coy 2IC is supposed to lead the whole company to the company largaer (till now dunno how to spell, but it is the armour version of the infantry 'harbour' word) site.

 

The 2IC, who is not involved in the actual fighting like the rest of the troops led by the OC, should have recced the largaer site beforehand and should be familiar with the route before leading the whole company there.

 

And when it was time to set off, this 2IC vehicle (callsign 38) moved first. It was on a hilly area and everyone was supposed to take a road that is already there by the hill. Unfortunately, it was still in the middle of a 3 (or 4)-day exercise, and this was merely a tactical halt, not full exercise cut. So the protocol was to drive on tactical mode, and the whole company was supposed to convoy using only the tactical light, and not the full headlights. If you're familiar with armour, it means can't see the roads much, and will have to depend on night-vision devices (NVD) and night-vision binos (NVB), which the vehicles are equipped with. But these are straining on the eyes, and troops/drivers often choose not to use them if they can still see (if there's some moonlight, for example).

 

On that fateful moment, 38 vehicle instead of taking the normal established/existing road, went on a wrong road that is not flat, but instead going on a slope, and got narrower and narrower. The rest of the vehicles were following a short distance behind.

 

The upslope narrow road/path that vehicle 38 took, unfortunately was not meant for vehicles and when the vehicle went further forward, it was already about maybe 5-7 m higher than the flat ground where the normal road was, and the vehicle overturned when the road/path narrowed till it wasn't wide enough for the M113... so 38 turned turtle onto the normal/correct road that should have been taken in the first place. 

 

The CSM screamed for all medics from all vehicles to go to the front (we were travelling in a column), and there were some Thia workers there with their heavy plants, and everybody switched on headlights. 

 

I was a distance behind, and initially didn't register what had happened, but later realised a vehicle turned turtle...

 

We were shocked...

[Evillusion]

Wow, this msg was in 2013... But i guess it must be related to the fatal accident just a few days ago in wallaby...

 

Basically, the 'C' coy had finished the exercise for the day at that time. As in normal armour movement, the coy 2IC is supposed to lead the whole company to the company largaer (till now dunno how to spell, but it is the armour version of the infantry 'harbour' word) site.

 

The 2IC, who is not involved in the actual fighting like the rest of the troops led by the OC, should have recced the largaer site beforehand and should be familiar with the route before leading the whole company there.

 

And when it was time to set off, this 2IC vehicle (callsign 38) moved first. It was on a hilly area and everyone was supposed to take a road that is already there by the hill. Unfortunately, it was still in the middle of a 3 (or 4)-day exercise, and this was merely a tactical halt, not full exercise cut. So the protocol was to drive on tactical mode, and the whole company was supposed to convoy using only the tactical light, and not the full headlights. If you're familiar with armour, it means can't see the roads much, and will have to depend on night-vision devices (NVD) and night-vision binos (NVB), which the vehicles are equipped with. But these are straining on the eyes, and troops/drivers often choose not to use them if they can still see (if there's some moonlight, for example).

 

On that fateful moment, 38 vehicle instead of taking the normal established/existing road, went on a wrong road that is not flat, but instead going on a slope, and got narrower and narrower. The rest of the vehicles were following a short distance behind.

 

The upslope narrow road/path that vehicle 38 took, unfortunately was not meant for vehicles and when the vehicle went further forward, it was already about maybe 5-7 m higher than the flat ground where the normal road was, and the vehicle overturned when the road/path narrowed till it wasn't wide enough for the M113... so 38 turned turtle onto the normal/correct road that should have been taken in the first place.

 

The CSM screamed for all medics from all vehicles to go to the front (we were travelling in a column), and there were some Thia workers there with their heavy plants, and everybody switched on headlights.

 

I was a distance behind, and initially didn't register what had happened, but later realised a vehicle turned turtle...

 

We were shocked...

no wonder so many cars turn turtle nowadays......must be armour......once armour always armour.....

[Atrecord]

no wonder so many cars turn turtle nowadays......must be armour......once armour always armour.....

[Evillusion]

That was what I called the Armour Curse, ingrained on the back of the SM1's backside outside the armour complex. You only see the majestic front when approaching the camp entrance.

 

But when you are inside, and going to book out, you'll see this curse... that's when you know wanna siam or geng, is not so easy

 

Looks like many armour troops went to drive PHV...

hahaha.....not oni armour lar! My unit also have turtle incidents. 1 unimog flipped while transporting Bravo Coy troopers in Pulau Tekong. I taiwanese 5 tonner rolled 3 times down a cliff with A coy platoon 3 inside. The Platoon Sargeant (Jackie Kwok) refused to board any tonner for that exercise as the route was over steep embankment and cliff. He walked all the way eventhough the men coaxed him but he refused saying he dont want to die in Taiwan.....exercise was at night and after daybreak we found out how high the embankments and cliff were as we were quite high up in the on the hill.....

[DaviddeGea]

Hahaa, where got more laojiao than you

But y u run ard? Indeed, the camp is so new like a holiday chalet!

(hehee, your son follow your footstep)

 

Heard of Loh Seng Hock but forgot where he's from liao, maybe trainer side.

Tan Swee Seng and Ong Kim Piao still ard and are trainers now iirc

in fact they're now under vtw (vocational training wing) housed at the cec (combat engineer company) building, conducting the engineer commander course, do you happen to know how theyre like in person

Edited October 6, 2018 by DaviddeGea

[Blackmore]

in fact they're now under vtw (vocational training wing) housed at the cec (combat engineer company) building, conducting the engineer commander course, do you happen to know how theyre like in person

 

Wah Loh Seng Hock already 50 still inside ah ? This bugger failed in his book selling business and came back SAF to work. Many still remember him as Mad dog for booting a reservist off a barge literally.

 

OKP another quiet fella; he already 52 now; last time I always mix him up with Tan Kian Boon as they almost look identical.

[Othello]

LKY still around ? 

[Davidklt]

Loh Seng Hock left long time ago.

 

When he was OC boat, he kept on charging people like siao.

 

Tan Swee Seng has also retired.

 

Wah Loh Seng Hock already 50 still inside ah ? This bugger failed in his book selling business and came back SAF to work. Many still remember him as Mad dog for booting a reservist off a barge literally.

 

OKP another quiet fella; he already 52 now; last time I always mix him up with Tan Kian Boon as they almost look identical.

 

[Scion]

amazing... after 5+ years still see my thread active

[DACH]

amazing... after 5+ years still see my thread active

 

People like @Eviilusion will forever keep this thread alive. 

[Ash2017]

Given the current times with advances in military and the use of AI, we should take a look at our NS.

 

 

 

[Angcheek]

Given the current times with advances in military and the use of AI, we should take a look at our NS.

 

our NS can use escooter .... not bad also ma 

[Evillusion]

People like @Eviilusion will forever keep this thread alive.

No lei.....i oredy forgotten about this thread. But to read other nsmen experience is a good way to reminisce our younger days......old people like that wan...

[Stevle]

a picture of our gathering this year after almost 40 years of service. anyone here recognise anyone on this picture - pioneer of 46SAR