Purple light, In the valley

That is where, I want to be

Infantry, true companions

With my rifle and my buddy and me.

Wow, 17 days. It has literally felt like forever.

I remember day one, in the bunk, Ulysses Company, Platoon 4 Section 3. 16 strangers brought together from all corners of Singapore. It was a humid day, and the rotating fans overhead did little to move the sluggish air around us. No one particularly felt like talking. We sat in silence around two rectangular wooden tables put together . The importance of teamwork and buddies was hammered into us from ferry and possibly before up till now. As we all looked around the table, taking in the wary faces and blank looks, brotherhood and unity looked very far away. Several stabs of standard conversation were offered: name, school, cca, etc... But I was left to wonder how we would become an inseparable family in the weeks to come.

17 days later. Book out day. Friday. We all had pet names for each other, knew each other's temperaments, strengths and weaknesses, we had added each other on facebook and swapped phone numbers. We idly swapped stories about how siong the PT was, and how hard SOC is, and how strict the sergeants are as we crammed our laundry into our field packs, excitedly talking about the first thing we'd do when we got out. Some even said they would miss each other's company. Laughing, I pointed out that we would unfortunately be reunited very soon. We were a family, brothers in arms.

17 days. An eternity.

BMT has many interesting things. The days feel like they go by quite fast. Wake up at 5am, First Parade, Physical training, and before you know it, lunch. Soldiering lessons, lectures, learning to handle your rifle, and before you know it, dinner. Routine Orders then admin time. Do laundry, call home, and sleep. Rinse and repeat. I guess it feels fast because your day is broken up into timings given by your sergeant. Time now is 1230. 1-2-3-0 We chorus. I want you to eat lunch, and fall in by 1250. 1-2-5-0 We chorus again. Our lives are literally being dictated to us, and we hang on the commanders' every word. It becomes a habit to constantly check your watch, lest you have to drop 20 when you get there.

Some people can't take it. The regimentation, the sergeants barking orders at you. But I'm finding myself adjusting quite well. Could be the Uniform Group training before this, or the fact that I'm already quite familiar with the Army and how it works on the inside. When you understand why they order you around and give the punishment they do, it seems quite reasonable. Anyway, I'm actually finding it quite enjoyable. Bed's soft, food's good, toilets are clean and we get paid.