27
Nov
Office work — R & D (Regimentation and Discipline)
I have not had interest in blogging for some time now. Two weeks to be exact.
It is probably just fatigue, because you can’t really have time for yourself when you are out there doing other stuff.
I experienced first-hand being a clerk at one of the staff branches in camp. There is a lot more freedom than being in the combat side, where my every single move was monitored constantly, and I could take short breaks as and when I liked without the risk of being accused of malingering. I also like the shredder in the office: especially how it takes pieces of paper and turns them into little christmas confetti with a menacing growl.
But nothing beats sleeping-in back in bunk, going for the occasional run to up-keep my fitness, and then gorging myself on expensive mess food to satisfy my stomach — but I get along. I am convinced that I have a morbid obsession with the shredder, especially since I managed to shred a box of old documents within the time it took the sun to set on Wednesday.
No matter what, the fact remains that I do one of the detested job of the battalion, assisting in the charging of defaulters, and sending them to the Detention Barracks, ceremony and handcuffs: the works. Not only is there plenty of paperwork to do (it is rumoured that 50% of the entire army’s charge records came from my battalion), I come face to face with detainees as they enter the bane of the entire service: detention.
I see the obvious fear on their faces as the Military Police started them on their strict regimentation right from the start.
Now if you have not seen what happens to the detainees in the DB, here is a story by the Straits Times (posted on a local JC forum board).
Here’s a piece of advice to all 18 year old boys doing, or about to do your National Service: please don’t break the law, either by being Absent Without Official Leave, or by stealing, etc. It hurts you and your parents the most. Paperwork is but a small matter which I can handle, but it is the thought of having to send somebody to the lock up that hurts me the most.
on November 28th, 2005 at 9:00 pm
Is nobody excempt from military service? What about conscientous objectors? Are there allowances made for them?
Just wondering…
on November 28th, 2005 at 11:01 pm
I still dun get it why ppl like to AWOL. Refer to my entry “Think It Twice”. Sometime I really detest my job, it is crazy and does not give me a chance to show my compassionate side, though someone did mention that I did help him get a lighter sentence. Well, he changed for the better and I am glad that I did help in a way. Sometimes our job is crazy but in a way gives us a chance to help ppl to change their mindset. yada yada yada…I dun exactly know what i am typing here but ya…
on November 29th, 2005 at 11:13 pm
we do have a place for conscientous objectors, its a nice place where they can polish the bars and carry sandbag called mowbrey camp aka kranji chalet
on December 2nd, 2005 at 10:34 pm
To Badaunt:
National Service is a serious thing here in Singapore.
Here’s a letter sent to one of the local newspapers
The pianist stirred quite a hornet’s nest after he was let off lightly for dodging National Service.