anyway, to answer your questions broadly
1. when you first enlist, you will go through BMT. that is in the
general sense. what it means in greater resolution is physical
training, learning soldiering skills, picking up on discipline via
drills and other lessons, etc.
2. living conditions will depend on the camp you go. for starters,
BMTC, where one will likely go through his BMT, has rather a good
living environment with new facilities. if you get posted to a
unit, it will largely depend on the age of the camp. older camps
may have older and lesser facilities, but of course, are liveable.
as for training, facilities are definitely available, and in good
condition. training is certainly tough too but of course
manageable.
3. when one goes to NS one of the first things he learns is to be
independent, and to live and work with his peers. that means
firstly to be able to take care of himself, and secondly to be able
to work with peers to achieve the required. so needless to say one
will need to do cleaning of his area, his clothes, maintaining his
belongings, etc. yes there is no aircon - we do not want to pamper
our kids THAT much do we? soldiers are trained to fight wars and
wars to do occur in airconed shopping centres. and we certainly
require our soldiers to be able to take care of himself and his
peers, and not rely on maids to do that. perhaps your friend would
learn not to complain about the seeming lack of luxuries that he
probably has taken for granted. in the end what he is learning will
benefit him.
whether its the initial or middle or the final stages of NS, what
matters most is one's attitude towards it. not everyone likes the
military and certainly even less are cut out for it. but even then,
if one is able to maintain a positive attitude, take it seriously,
adopt an open mind and be willing to learn, he will definitely not
think the 2 years is a waste of time. many have gone through it and
came out a better person, many more have found out eventually that
NS was not that bad afterall, most will have forged friendship
bonds that last beyond the 2 years. hope these will apply to you
too.
