Hello all. I just came back from my Ex. Spade yesterday.
Today is Good Friday. Anniversary of Jesus' death on the cross. According to the Gospels, Jesus was put to death on the Friday before Easter Day. Since the early church Good Friday has been observed by fasting and penance. In the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Anglican traditions, the celebration of the Eucharist is suspended; liturgical service involves veneration of the cross, the Passion narrative from the Gospel of St. John, and communion using bread and wine consecrated the previous day, Maundy Thursday. Other forms of observance include prayer and meditation at the Stations of the Cross, a succession of 14 images, usually on wooden crosses, depicting Christ's crucifixion and the events leading up to it.
Back to Ex. Spade. It is the most difficult and shag exercise I ever had. First day first night, we have to did a Shell Scrape each and Fire-trench in buddy level. We dig and dig and dig and dig and dig for the whole night till next day afternoon. At last, we managed to finish about 90% of the Fire-trench by about 12pm. The only thing which needed touching up is the width of the trench and the Fire Overhead Protective Cover aka FOPK. What can get better than 2 of my instructor used my exercise buddy, Say Yei, and my Fire-trench to demonstrate how to build a FOPK because our trench is one of the better ones among the whole platoon... hee... They help us to widen our trench and build the FOPK but of course we did help out in removing the Clay soil and filling up the sand bags.
That will be 1 night with out any sleep. It is a important factor not to sleep during Ex. Spade because we will get either extras or confinement or both. In the end, fighting with Z monster is very much a difficult task; very physically demanding. During the first night, a few were caught sleeping. During the second night, the number increases and by 3rd night, it is also getting worst. The number who got caught in the Wing is as much as a platoon size. But that isn't the worst yet. Rain is a nightmare during this exercise. Soil is soft indeed but clay isn't. They are wet, sticky and heavy. Worst, it floods our Self-scrapes and trenches. My trench was covered with yellowish water from the clay. Slowly, I leveled myself down to find out what is the water level and it turns out to be above boots level, which means water will definitely flow into my boots. Say Yei is lucky as his side of the trench is higher than mine so I got all the water instead. Therefore, I used a bag to scope up the water like a pail for a well. But it is very time consuming. In the end, I gave up and jumped into the water. Inside my boots was only a bit wet, but now, it is flooded. The moment of time i jumped into the water, my mind could only think of the rotting feeling of my feet and the number of days to end of the exercise. My feet felt crumpled and wet that night that even when I change to a new pair of socks and poured a lot of powder in my boots, it is still bad.
Second night was nothing much than touching up our Shell Scrape and Fire-trenches. As our trench is already completed, we went out to help out with other trenches. That was the night when Wing Commander came around to approve on our trenches. It will be either pass or fail. Those who fail will have to dig again during Ex. Dumping. Until now, I still do not know when Ex. Dumping is. Of course, Say Yei and my trench is approved and it is completed thanks to the help of my instructors.
I must say that it is the dirtiest camp I ever had too. Also, it is the most irritating period to get heat rash. It is quite bad during the second night.
Third day evening, we had a change of appointment. From a non appointment, I became a GPMG gunner. I was demoralized but also excited. I have to carry a over 10kg GPMG but got a chance to fire blanks rounds on a GPMG. It is a good opportunity and best of all, 250 blank rounds. That evening, there are 2 turn-outs. There are actually a lot of turn-outs during the past 2 nights but this 2 turn-outs are the worst of all. Say Yei is my GPMG Assistant and Jason Koh, also non-appointment holder from another trench, became my GPMG Commander. The GPMG trench, which is luckily prepared for us, was so far up the knoll and so far away from the Platoon Rendezvous Venue, RV (did I get name correct? I think so). During turn out, Beep Beep, 2 whistles, Full Battle Order, FBO, to assemble at RV. Not to our surprise, we were the last to be out there. My neck is breaking; slinging the gun around my neck with so many other accessories to carry. Say Yei's job is not easy either. He has an over 10kg tripod to carry too. The second Turn-out is in-fact due to Cat 1, Lighting hazard. Therefore exercises have to be cut and to head for shelter. But that night, there is no rain. Lucky, I do not want a wet GPMG trench for the last night there. We did rehearsals and also we had 2 missions to complete. First mission was to assault platoon 2 sector. Lucky for the exercise there are 2 GPMG teams. I am part of team 1 and team 2 is just a few meters away from the RV. Therefore, team 2 volunteered to be part of the assault mission as the mission only requires 1 GPMG team attached to 3 sections. So my team stayed in our trench and took turns to sleep.
That night was the longest night. We waited and waited for hours. We never even realized the assaulting team in my platoon went to assault until one of my platoon mate came to get Say Yei to GPMG team 2's trench to look after their tripod. After the assault, we waited and waited for platoon 3 to assault us. At last, when they started their assault, I had the satisfaction to fire at will with the GPMG. Half-way through the firing, I felt slight pain in my ears all because of the loudness GPMG produces. Jason even had to use ear plugs as the fire is tilted nearer to him. It is a sensation to fire GPMG.
After the mission, it is time to pack up and cover up every thing we dig. Not to forget, my heat rash is getting worst. By the time I reach camp and took off my top, my whole body was covered with red rashes. Some of my platoon mate thinks it is too disgusting to look at, so you can imagine how serious it is. I did not have a very good lunch in camp. Only ate the chicken wings and wedges. I could not finish the rice as the rashes keep irritating me. It is not itchy, it hurts. In the end, I went to report sick for heat rash. I was expecting an Att C but only got a excuse uniform for 5 days. Sucks.
Cleaning the weapon in camp is also a physically demanding. People kept falling asleep as they clean their weapons. Surprisingly, I did not but was laughing all the way when I look at them slowly falling asleep as they were cleaning. Now I realized how I look like when I fell asleep while I cleaned my GMPG yesterday during CAT 1 at Serria Wing's training shed. Opps...
I could not wait to go home that evening. By 5.15pm, I booked-out. Rushing for book-out, I forgot to bring my wallet home. Never mind, as I am not taking public transport. I slept in my dad's car so soundly that it seems a second had only passed when I saw my dad entering the carpark of my estate.
I was waiting for my mom to be back home to cook dinner, but she was not home yet. I ate a slice of Swiss roll and some bean curd. Later at 7pm, I felt so tired that I lay on my bed without switching off my computer. Immediately, I fell asleep, so exhausted that I slept till next day 8am. I have never felt so tired even when I am in Poly doing all my projects and burning midnight oil.
What I had learned from this camp is that a team has to work as a team. Everyone has their part to do. Everyone has to help each other. Every single mistake, the team has to bear the consequences. It is about determination, endurance, commitment, fighting spirit, team spirit, contribution, selfless, attitude and discipline.
tata...
