Platoon Field Camp

Every field camp, the atmosphere in our wing line is always filled with sadness and sianess. It had been a norm from every field camp as it consists of getting urself dirty, wet and tired.

Monday (28 Nov)
Day 1 of field camp. Reached Marsiling camp site @ 0830. For the programme of the day, it consists of Exercise Skylight and Exercise NightBird. Both exercise were navigation exercise. For the day navigation, we used Air-Photo to navigate to the 4 checkpoints and log points. For the night, we used compass and a normal map to navigate.

Tuesday
Day 2 of field camp. Start of the platoon based training. We had practical lessons on how to deploy firebase and quick attack on enemy as a platoon. Normally, the GPMG team was deployed as a firebase and the rest will be deployed either as point section, charging or reserve section. We also had training on crossing danger area in a platoon-sized manner. The instructors also taught us harbouring drills. This harbouring drills was meant to formed a triangle with all round defence formation. It was also the place where we were going to sleep on.

We also had night quick attack during the night and it rained during our way back to HQ. Morale was low by then.

Wednesday
Day 3 of field camp. I felt bad. First, I had not enough sleep; next I am the section commander. We had training on breaching enemy defense line. We were thought the concept and the drills behind it. It also involved weapons require to breach the enemy defense like corcentina wire. We charged up quite a number of norn during the training. Later in the late evening, we set up our harbouring area using comstoch to tie up the perimeter.

Thursday
Day 4 of field camp. Nearing the end of the field camp. We had Battle course where the appointment holders will be evaluated based on the deployment of the platoon during an enemy attack. We had a total of 4 contact points where we were required to overrun the enemy regardless of the terrain. The whole course was quite XIONG and exercise was cut at 7pm. We were tired and shack but nevertheless we were going to head home soon. But that was not all, we had to stay up the whole night till the next morning planning ops order and planning attack and route of advancement for Friday’s Exercise Zebra.

I was fighting the Zzzz Monster for the most of the night and not concentrating on what was going on. Haiz.

Friday
Morning came too early. A few hours before, it was still Thu but now is Fri. Time really files fast. We had Exercise Zebra (Breaching mission) at 0800hrs. We bashed through the thick forested area in Marsiling area and it was really a tall order as the norn was dammed high and steep. After bashing for half and hour, we reached the Form-up place (FUP) where we saw our enemy. Next, everything comes naturally. We were breaching their defence line and we were soon attacking on the enemies. The movement was really smooth and we managed to overrun the enemies in 7 minutes.

And that was the point where our spirits was lifted as it was the end of the platoon field camp or should I say the last field camp for this year. By afternoon we were back in our wing line. First thing for sure was to hit the showering area immediately. After settling all the admin stuff, it was time for book out. Book out @ 1045pm. Yahoo!!!

What a month it had been. From Exercise patrol, Exercise Spade to Platoon Field camp, it had been a month filled with agony and happiness. At least I had completed all the field camp for this year. No more getting dirty or muddy for the end of this year.

Heading towards the end of the year, my mood is now in a festive state. 3 more weeks till the end of Service Term in OCS. Tomorrow I have to be back early for guard duty by 7am. Feeling sianz but feeling good as well, as I am heading towards the end of service term. Gabata!

Cheers!