A little off topic -
but during NS, I remembered we were not allowed to wear any
material that identified us as belonging to a SAF unit, outside of
camp. I recalled on one occasion, we were actually checked head to
toe to ensure that we were in total civvy. And when questioned by
anyone outside - just act blur or say that we are recruits from BMT
school!.
Now in reserves - we have to book out in smart 4 when going
home.
Another thing - I've actually heard stories of guys who failed to
pass the Guards course and were posted out - but were caught in
Orchard Road, wearing smart 4 with Guards beret and tag.
My own experience is with this one guy, and it was 4 years after we
finished our NS. I happened to join this local company and bump
this guy, "Ran" who seemed to look familar. He had been going
around telling people in the office that he was a Guardsman, and so
on. One fine day, I confronted "Ran" by asking the battalion, batch
and company he came from - and his replies were the exact
battalion, batch and company I served in. I told him about it - and
he started to panic. Apparently, "Ran" did his BMT in the same
Guards unit but was posted out before the Guards course.
Didn't earn his beret and tag and he admitted this fact to me -
when I tried talking about the exercises and missions we went on. I
didn't have to say a single word after that.
So wide spread were his stories, that I bump into another colleage
serving in a signals unit supporting our brigade in reserves, he
asked about "Ran" (of course no where to be seen) during our ICTs,
and I had to explain the truth to him.
My point here - why the need to lie about something he never
experienced, years after completing NS? Its been 13 years since NS,
i wouldn't be surprise if "Ran" is still at it.
