ICT 4

Unbelievable. 

The last time I posted in this series was 2 years ago. Ok I have to admit I was unmotivated. But ok, here we go again. Let's do this. On the 25th anniversary of my enlistment, I will post this blog post!
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Yes. I was enlisted on the 13th of June 2000. Time flies. It was 25 years ago. But no. I don't want to go through it all over again. Never. No.

I also realised that I am forgetting more things about my NS days. Just like what I have mentioned before in my previous posts. I must document them before I forget everything.

Ok so, the last post was about reservist cycle 2 and 3. I remember how much I hated the lack of sleep, the shortage of manpower and we had to double up our roles. I remember I was the platoon commander during the 3rd ICT. Before we ended ICT 3, I was told that I would have to attend a Platoon Sergeant course and be promoted but I told them I would never attend a course as an nsman. You could do it during active time but not as an NSman. So I told them I would defer my remaining In Camp Training until they have changed their mind.
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So yes. I deferred my unit's ICT 4 and 5 

I deferred my ICT 4 in 2007 to do this. Gentarasa 2007. Hahaha still firing guns.

I deferred my ICT 5 in 2008 to do this. Kallang Roar 2008.

ATEC 1

This ICT is ATEC 1. 

To read about ATEC, click here:
https://www.anwarhadi.com/blog/exercise-wallaby-again-part-1

Or you can just google it.

Just like during active days, the unit will have to go through "tests" to assess their combat readiness. I think it was a 14 days reservist. Roughly like this, 

Monday: In process / Revision
Tuesday: Revision
Wed-Fri: Proficiency Tests
Sat - Sun : Book Out
Mon: Revision
Tue-Thurs: Mission exercise
Fri: Reorganise and Pack up
Sat: Book out.

I think it was like that. 

JURONG CAMP 2

It was my first time here. Remember the previous ICT 1-3 it was at the old Tanjong Gul Camp. But for the 4th edition onwards (which I deferred) it was held at Jurong Camp 2. I prefer it here over Tanjong Gul. It is more accessible. It's near the HDB estate. Even our bunk windows were facing the Jurong West HDB blocks and corridors. It feels less depressing. I found out recently that Tanjong Gul Camp has been demolished. So ok yeay Jurong Camp! A cleaner and better camp. I would like it here. 

REVISION

We went through the normal routines to revise our SOP during battle. We also had tests for our technical handling. I was happier now as I can concentrate on my own tasks rather than doubling / tripling up for other tasks. It was much more enjoyable. It was fun also to meet old friends. I remember we had a lot of fun going through the revisions with the camp trainers. We are on our 6th year so they treated us better. Or maybe too because they have heard that we were quite a difficult and "garang" bunch. I remember snapping at these "hentak kaki" regulars in the last In Camp Training.

ICT 1 https://www.anwarhadi.com/blog/first-in-camp-training
ICT 2 & 3 https://www.anwarhadi.com/blog/ict-2-and-3 

Soon we had our proficiency tests. I think we nailed it. 

MISSION EXERCISE

God.... I forgot how depressing it is to go through mission exercises. It was so tiring and depressing. I remember sleep walking through the night and cursing due to sleepiness and how drenched I was in perspiration. The nights were terrible. Clothes drenched in perspiration due to the hot and humid nights but we were also freezing when the wind blew because our clothes were wet. It was two extremes happening at the same time. 

And also, being out of action for two years, I was unfit. My combat fitness was terrible. I was gasping for air. Breathless most of the time. My new friend, Sergeant Andy who just took over Section 1, a top up personnel who I have never met before looked at me and shook his head, "waaah sargeant... your combat fitness damn jialat sia..." But ok la. I didn't die.

I remember this experience too. It was quite cool. 

We had to walk past the Lim Chu Kang cemeteries. We took breaks there too. It was nothing new to us. Some of the top up guys were scared. A number of them talked to me and said, "is this normal? to walk here at night?" I said it was normal and just enjoy the view and experience. There were some things we did that I cannot mention here. You can meet me and ask and I will share if I can remember. 

FINAL MISSION

This was the most memorable. I was max tired already. "Shagged out" as the army would say. 
The mission was to capture a build up area in Lim Chu Kang. So meaning, it would be buildings and not some forested hills. I was happy when I got to know this, meaning, when we manage to capture it, we can rest in the buildings instead of digging shell scrapes to hide in and protect the area. You see, once we capture the objectives, we will be required to protect it from enemy reinforcements or counter attacks. So if it is a hill or roads or something, we would have to dig holes called shell scrapes in the ground to take cover while protecting it. But in build up areas and buildings, we didn't have to dig. Just stay in the buildings and rooms facing possible enemy reinforcements.

So yes, high morale heading towards the build up area.

Then suddenly, I was given a separate mission.

I would be the 2IC (second in command) for a "Block Force"

Alamaaaaaaakkkk......!!

What does this mean? 

So as the whole unit attack the build up area, my GPMG team, Section 1 and an 84mm mortar team will be formed into a separate task force called the "Block Force" headed by the Company 2IC. We would skirt around the buildings and walk further ahead to set up a block to prevent an enemy counter attack. Walaoweh.... so had to walk further and cannot rest in the building. Shit....

And so we walked further and planted ourselves in the forest facing a road leading to the build up areas. 

We could hear our unit fighting in the buildings behind us but we were not in the firefight. Ok la. Maybe it's not so bad. At least we don't have to fight. But... I actually wanted a firefight. I mean, since I was already attending reservist duties and already walked for kilometres, might as well fight right? 

So we didn't fight, we just waited there in case of any enemy reinforcements. 

The dawn attack turned to day. It was bright daylight and we were in the vegetation and imagining our unit in the comfortable buildings. Sian...

I cannot remember why but our Company 2IC wasn't there already. Maybe he was attending to something. So I was left in charge of 1 section of 7 men. 1 team of 84mm mortar made up of 3 men and my GPMG team of 2 men. 

And then I heard in the comms that the enemy was coming back to capture back our objective. Ok la! Block Force it is our turn to fight! We got comms from the recce team that the enemy will be facing us head on. Ok fine, bring it on! We were told that we will be facing an enemy force of 1 apache helicopter air strike, a platoon of soldiers and unknown number of tanks. What the Hell????!!!!! I mean it's not real but still......how to fight siaaaaaaa....

So this was funny. The airstrike came first. I remember seeing the helicopter flying overhead. I commanded my team to hide like really hide until cannot see. The helicopter flew past and did not "open fire" because they couldn't see us. Hah!! So one challenge down. 

Next came the ground force of a platoon and tanks. So I played and commanded this bluff. I placed my team in separate parts of the vegetation facing the road. I told them to man their communications sets and listen to my instructions strictly. The usual SOP was to take the enemy head on and slow them down and we die because we were outnumbered anyway. How to fight tanks siaaaaa...

So I made everyone hide in different areas so much that they couldn't be seen but of course we can see them la.

Once they entered our range of fire, we didn't fire at them. We let them come even closer past the killing zone and within our hiding area. Remember they cannot see us. I remember Sergeant Fardlie did this trick in Thailand. Now it is my turn. 

They came near and we started firing at my command. But we didn't blast everything. They were listening to my comms via the signal sets. So it was... "Section 1 group 1 fire! Group 1 stop. Group 2 fire! Group 2 stop! MG fire! Mg stop! 84 fire! 84 stop! Law gunners fire! Law Stop! Group 3 fire! Group 3 stop! MG fire!!" Repeat a number of times.

I remember I had fun orchestrating this random firing sequence. I mean it's not real but we used blank bullets and it was the sounds that matter. The enemy was surrounded by incessant sounds coming from around them they didn't know how many people were shooting at them. It was just non stop surround sounds around them and the random flashbangs to simulate 84 mm mortars and Light Anti-tank Weapons. And since it was orchestrated, our rounds were sounded non stop as if we had hundreds of men around them. Hahahhahaha! It was funny. They then retreated and I heard over the comms saying "Enemy retreated. Enemy firepower too strong!" Hahahhahaha. They lost to sounds of explosions and gunshots around them played by 12 men! Soon after we were told to come back to the build up area.

The 12 of us reached the build up area welcomed by our officers like heroes! They congratulated us saying job well done by the block force! I remember they were shaking our hands for preventing the air strike and tanks. It was so funny! And the moment we entered the buildings, they declared Exercise Cut! ATEC 1 ends!

The Atec commanders looked for us and congratulated us for stopping the counter attack. I am smiling as I type these. It was funny receiving congratulatory handshakes by so many people. They really believed that we planted a lot of men in the block force and it was a success. The 12 of us just laughed amongst ourselves but ok we were happy that it ended.

At the end of the ICT ceremony, our unit 662 Battalion Singapore Guards were given Redcon 1 status, the highest achievement for ATEC. The Block Force was commended and I received a good service medal. 

So ok. ATEC 1 ended. It wasn't so bad. Good memories that I can remember till today so far. 

We left Jurong Camp after that looking forward for ICT 7 (ICT 5 for me) ready for ATEC 2! Bring it on!


Categories: The Army Series

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