Moxie: Hey man mind me asking what vocation do you belong
to?
Arty/Technical Assistant. By the new millenium, though, much of
my vocational skills were already made redundant, when the SAF
upgraded to new technology & weapons.
During active, I basically carried the PRC-77 signal set for the FO
(a 2LT/LTA) or FSO (a CPT) whenever attached out for infantry
exercises. Can honestly say I've followed every SIR, Guards, even
the Commando unit out to the field before - even spent 5 weeks
jungle-training in Brunei (with 6 SIR).
Not bad for a ex-PES C1/Cat C soldier, eh? I was part of the
overweight platoon in Tekong, but under the old BMT format where we
got extra runs every morning whilst other companies were doing
area-cleaning. Lost 30 lb. when I passed out 3 months later.
Last 6 months of my active stint was spent with the Arty Training
Cadre, instructing a mono intake.
I got smart come reservist, upon being posted to an IHL unit &
finding out my appointment was with the recce team. The job is
vehicular-based, with a lot of autonomous mobility (as we hunted
for deploying grounds, & also makan stalls) & also,
technically, a 155mm howitzer BN isn't frontline troops ~lol~ The
scheduled Ex Starlight trips were very attractive too.
The 3rd part of what I was trained for at SOAY - calculating FD
data - is something I "si-amed" all the way. I absolutely abhor
working with numbers, to the extent of volunteering to follow
infantry when I couldn't even pass my BMT SOC - as my then-BC
pointed out during our 1st unit interview. Came to "regret" that
decision many times during the NSF, not just for the physical
exertions but also the burnt weekends out on attachments (&
then expected to follow the Arty exercises during the week).
Compiled over 40 off-in-lieus days as a result.
