THE ARMY SERIES : ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING

The men of 10th Mono Intake, 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards, Charlie Company, Platoon 8

So we completed our Guards Conversion Course at the same time where the men of 3rd Battalion Singapore Guards 10thMono Intake ended their Basic Military Training (BMT). 

The BMT that they went through were the same as the BMT that I went through and mentioned in my earlier post. The only difference was that theirs was in Bedok Camp instead of Pulau Tekong. Their BMT trainers were from Tekong and they had their best times training recruits on mainland.

Now that they have completed their BMT, we would take over the BMT trainers as their commanders. I was assigned as a section commander for Charlie Company Platoon 8 Section 2. Apparently the syndicates that we were assigned to during GCC was according to our would be company attachments. Syndicate 1 would be attached to Alpha Company, Syndicate 2 to Bravo Company, Syndicate 3 to Charlie and Syndicate 4 to Support Company.

Honestly, I didn't particularly enjoy this period of my army life. It was like, no more school. No more courses. No more anyone else to cover us. Work begins now. No more trial and error. An error means an error. No resets, no trials. 

Honestly too, I was still hoping to be posted out to a non combat unit. Yes I do enjoy the knowledge learnt, the weapons used, the warfare tactics, but... I am not physically fit. I always struggled and had to play catch up to the standard physical fitness and it was very tiring and depressing. There wasn't much regimentation to be uncomfortable about now as we were in an actual combat unit now and not in a school. But I still wanted out. I wanted to go to a unit where I can book out more often. The idea of staying in camp for 5 and a half days a week for the next almost 2 years was very disheartening. Not to mention that there would definitely be moments that we had to go overseas or doing weekend duties in camp. 

Anyway, they said that in the army, we have no choice. “Lan lan”. “Suck thumb”. 

So Advance Infantry Training begins. 

Basically now we had to train the men under us to the skills that we learnt during Guards Conversion Course. We had to teach them rappeling, train them for 10km runs, teach them how to use the section weapons, the section standard operating procedures, the mission techniques and everything else for them to know as a combat soldier.

There was the coastal swim that we didn't do during GCC. We have to do it this time with everyone together. 

I think it was a 4 weeks training and just like us, once they completed the course, they would graduate as Guardsmen. 

I can still feel the dread as I type this. I am not as enthusiastic as when I wrote the other posts. 

The men graduated and then got their khaki berets and shoulder guards tab. When everything was over, basic training was over. Moving on from this Advanced Infantry Training, it would just be tactical training day in day out. As a platoon or a company or as a battalion. On top of that, physical training continues. IPPT, SOC, swimming, target firing, etc. Same old stuff over and over again to maintain proficiency and readiness.

Me briefing my men from Platoon 8 Section 2 before we begin our section assault course at Marsiling Hills.

Awaiting our turn to attempt our 2km coastal swim at Pasir Ris beach.

2 kilometres coastal swim at Serangoon Harbour. 500 metres away from the beach, 1 kilometre swim parallel to the beach, 500 metres back to the beach.

​This post would be the last post for me to write in chronological order. From next week onwards, the posts in this series would be in topics. Well it would still be in some form of chronological order all the way to our ORD date. But do look forward for the parts and more interesting topics coming up. 

I just had to get this AIT over and done with.

NEXT WEEK : OUR COOL WEAPONS

Categories : The Army Series