Much has happened since the last post. Mostly because I'm too lazy to write posts, what with the little time I have during bookouts. I find myself more prolific during the week itself, and my written journal will probably be more revealing, should I chose to take the time to transcribe it onto this blog.
Anyway, got my driving license! My armoured driving license anyway. Got 85% on the driving test, making me the high score in my crew. But no cigar, cos someone else managed to get 100% haha. Driving is pretty much about situational awareness, knowing the terrain and how much clearance you have, because its 65 tons, 10 meters long and 4 meters wide, is probably most important so that you don't hit anything. One close call during driving though. I was the acting Vehicle Commander on the tank and my buddy was the driver. We were about a kilometer from the training shed, when my instructor (also on the tank) asked if we ever went through mud puddles at high speeds before. I said no, obviously, since you're supposed to take mud puddles at 1st gear. Oh and when I say mud puddle, its not something you can imagine children splashing around in. Its a huge pool, about waist deep, space for 3 people to lie down in, side by side. Anyway, our instructor made us accelerate to max speed at the closest mud pool, which turned out to be right next to the training shed we were resting in. We closed in at about 60km/h and created a huge wall of mud as the tank sank down instantly. From waist up, I was exposed from the commander's hatch and turned brown instantly. My buddy driving, wasn't so lucky. His periscopes were covered with mud and couldn't see. I realised we were still driving on a straight course toward the training shed. I screamed desperately for him to stop, and he jammed the brake immediately. Right beside us, looking up at us in a pale face of shock, the medic sitting in the OUV, 3 meters to the left and we would have hit him with a 65 ton tank. Another 3 meters forward, vegetation and the bloody reservoir. I don't think our leopard can swim. Close call. Now we take mud pools at 1st gear haha.
Anyway, after driving was gunnery! I love gunnery. I've always been deeply in love with weapon systems, and the weapons systems on the Leopard are absolutely fascinating. The first few weeks was learning all the systems of the tank, which meant a lot of lectures. While many in my course are repulsed by lectures, I actually find them really interesting. They put it down as me being "NUS High" but I'm quite personally passionate. Two other sergeants share my passion, 3SG Ayron and 2SG Sebastian. They can describe every tank and tank development from world war 2 till today. Amazing people, much fun talking to them.
So this Saturday is going to be burnt. Sigh. Everytime SAF burns my weekend, I end up doing something awesome. So I love it and hate it, in a way. The last time they did it, I fired a live grenade launcher and matador rocket launcher. Awesome. This time, I'm firing my tank. Awesomer. Rhienmetall L44 120mm Smoothbore Gun. Commandos may wax lyrical about jumping out of airplanes, but this is my high. Too bad Gerlynn's BBQ is on Saturday too. Despite my above description, I would infinitely rather be at Gerlynn's BBQ. Looks like I'll be losing friends over the next few months. Then come 2014, it will probably be my turn. Ah well. So ist das Leben.
Oh and I'm trying to learn German. Because why not.
And I'm decided what I'm going to name my tank:
Χείρων
Ch ei rh o n. Chiron.
The legendary Centaur of Greek mythology. The swift and powerful body of a horse, the legendary accuracy and speed of the Centaur's bow and arrow, and the grey bearded head of a human, representing wisdom and knowledge. A fitting name for my tank.
2 more weeks to Crew Phase.
4 weeks to STBC, aka Hell Week.
6 weeks to DTBC
7 weeks to Combined Arms Term
9 weeks to Ex Wallaby
13 weeks to after Wallaby
15 weeks to passing out.
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