Monday Blues?

On leave~~ Still got 10 more days of leave, still unsure on how to clear them but I've got a rough idea on how to clear it. If only NSFs were allowed to bring forward the leave... =/

9 Div Family Day

Today was 9 Div Family Day. It was held at P.Tekong. Started from 0930 to 1300h. Mainly is for regulars but the NSFs went anywayz. Went there but it was kinda boring for me, so I went to find my OCS frens who were posted to BMTC for a quick chat. Later on, they had a lucky draw! And for once in my entire life.. i won something.. it's a..... mp3 player! Not bad la.. got FM. By contrast with today's space available in all mp3 players.. it's a pathetic 256MB only. Still it's sufficient for me. =)

As in life, when u gain something.. you lose something. Y/N? Law of balance ba. So what did i lose? $5 and lots of sleep! Went to my S4's house for an overnight mahjong session. But sleep can be recovered and $5 can be earned..

Random Entry

以下是性向分析說明：

‧ 真實生活中你會被什麼性格的人吸引：
羊 － 善體人意有如溫暖的陽光的人最吸引你。

‧ 在被追求的過程中，什麼方式讓你最無法抗拒：
蛇 － 欲擒故縱、忽冷忽熱，讓你摸不著頭緒。

‧ 你最希望留給情人的印象：
馬 － 樂觀的。

‧ 你最不希望在何種情況下和情人分手：
鱷 － 無情的、冷血。

‧ 你希望和你的另一半建立何種關係：
鳥 － 你考慮的不止是現在和他(她)的關係，而是未來能共同成長。

‧ 你對感情世界腳踏兩條船的看法：
人 － 你在乎社會的看法，婚後你不會有越軌的行為。

‧ 你對婚姻生活的看法：
恐龍 － 你極度悲觀，你不認為有快樂婚姻的存在。

‧ 你對愛情的看法：
鴿 － 你認為愛情是雙方面的承諾。

Yawnz...

Days worked this week: 4
Days with meetings: 3
Average time per meeting: (4.5 + 4.5 + 3.5) / 3 = 4 1/6

Crazy. Now I know why my S1 dun like meetings..

Took a run recently.. and.. I've deproved!! Mainly is I've not did a good run for quite awhile already.. but the haze messing up my runs! (v hard to breathe really) pls rain in Indonesia~ Wind pls change direction.. blow the haze away!! For now.. can only go gym run the threadmill.. hai..

Check this out. Damn cool. Maybe we can try one day. haha

Dim Sum Buffet~

Had a simple gathering with my OCS pals today after handing over my DO duties. We went to our usual hang out at city hall for a dim sum buffet. And as usual, we had a hard time clearing the food. Guess we aren't as starved as we were during our cadet days. Talked about their happenings for the past 1 month. Quite alot of catching up to do. And it's only 1 month! Most of them clearing leave in the next couple of weeks. Same as me. But I've only managed to clear 2 days out of the 8 days available. zzz... my S1 is on course so can't afford to clear too much during this period. hai... the sad story behind staff officers. Work is never-ending one. Everyday got chunks of email to clear and issues to follow up. Internal audit is coming soon.. tempo going to up alot over the next month and hopefully... i can clear my leave. =D

Some food for thought...

Was having this UIP (Unit Induction Programme) for the past few days. Yesterday was one of the more interesting lectures. It's about doing DO(Duty Officer) duties. And before entering the topic.. S3 built up the atmosphere by getting us into a dialogue. The few main questions are:

1) From my RSM (Regiment Sergeant Major) who went to the states for a course, he mentioned that the US Army is widely loved by the public. But in SG, why is the SAF not so loved by the public? Both armies does basically the same thing which is the defence of the nation. We discussed and came up with the following factors:

a)SG does not have enough overseas mission unlike the US.
b) US is a superpower.
c)People take SG's security for granted. Or rather the public thinks that SG will NEVER go into a war. Even if SG was to enter a war, sure gone case cos it is so small!

2) So we asked ourselves, what can the SAF do to project a better image? And again, we came up with:
a) Giving all servicemen a positive army experience.
b) Educating servicemen about their roles and responsibilities. For eg, if you are a clerk by vocation. Don't compare with others who go outfield! why? mainly most clerks are NOT combat fit. So it means you are weaker and hence unable to endure the tough challenges that normal riflemen endure during outfield trainings. Each has their own roles. No doubt being a clerk is slack. Everyday 8 - 5. Maybe even can stay out. But like i said, different vocation different experience. Hence, DO NOT go around saying that ARMY is slack! IT IS NOT SLACK. IT'S YOUR VOCATION THAT IS SLACK! It is because of these servicemen, that the army has a rather negative image of the SAF.

End of the day, the main point is that each has their individual roles and responsibilites regardless of vocation. And that we must be proud of it, be it a clerk or riflemen. Also, we must carry out our roles and responsibilities to the best of our abilities.

So what are your impressions of the SAF? I'd really like to know. =)

A busy day

Been coming back home the past few days. Went to Court Martial Center today as a defending officer. What's a defending officer? According to the directive, all accused have the right to defend themselves. They can either hire their own lawyer or choose a defending officer. In the event of neither, the unit will choose the defending officer for him. Fortunately or unfortunately, it was me.

Prior to the hearing, as the defending officer, I'm suppose to interview him to find out the factors leading to the offence. In this case, since it was Absence without Leave (AWOL), I'm suppose to find out what were he reasons for going AWOL. Usually the family background, financial stability, personal (girlfriend) problems are dug out. After consolidating all the facts and factors leading to the offence, the defending officer is to write out a mitigation plea for the accused. In the mitigation plea, you are to state the factors leading to the offence and plead on behalf of the accused for leniancy for sentencing. So end of the day, my job is to write out the mitigation plea and during the hearing, read it to the President of the jury.

The jury would consist of a President and 2 members. President so far I've encountered are LTC and the members were CPT and/or MAJ. Each case would be heard first. After which, the hearing would be adjourned while they deliberate on the sentence. This usually takes about 30mins or longer depending on the cases brought up. After the sentence has been read out, your job as a defending officer ends.

An interesting case was presented today. Someone who refused to take the oath of allegiance was being charged today. Apparently it was due to his religious beliefs. Didn't stay long during the hearing bcoz it was taking soooo damn long. Now do i know that you can be charged for not taking the oath under the Enlistment Act.

Saw quite a number of familiar faces today. At the court martial centre saw Haoren. At the nearby canteen saw Jeremy, Ziyi and Derek. At Mowbray camp saw Kerwei. Last but not least, stopped by at CMPD and paid the DXOs at AFRC a visit. Been a long time (almost 1 yr) since I last saw them. Had a nice chat with all of them there. Though most of them couldn't remember me, but slowly their memory were refreshed as we talked. Really quite fun talking to them about the times when I was at AFRC. Coincidentally my upperstudy was once an FEP like me! hoho.. so got quite alot of catching up to do. The new FEPs there said it was too slack?! haha.. but soon they will adjust to the life there.

End of the day, didn't return back to camp at all. The hearing took up the entire morning. Afternoon was going Mowbray camp and CMPB to collect some docs.. Rather busy day!