Crew Phase

Food poisoning sucks. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that. The type that doesn't kill you most likely makes you wish you would die. Delirious with fever, sitting at home on a Monday morning, I've decided to update my blog. Because why not.

BMR! Basic Main Range! At once the most fun and most stressful time of my life. I was the Leader Platoon Sergeant, who's basically the guy who runs the shows, analogous to LSM in SCS or CWC in OCS. Anyway, I started off on the wrong foot with the Range Sergeant Major in charge of the preparation, and he looks like the type who murders people. For BMR prep, we had to prep three tanks for live firing. It was 2 hectic days of everyone running around everywhere. Being a tankee, you learn very fast how to manage manpower. With over 17 different things to do, multiplied by 3 tanks, and only 24 people, you have to learn very fast indeed, or run out of hair to tear out. Oddly enough, the prep went very smoothly and I managed to keep track of where everybody was and the progress accomplished.

The next day we woke up around 4.30 for BMR. We loaded up everything remaining and ourselves into the 5 tonner. As LPS, I had the privilege of sitting in front in the cab, hehe. About half an hour into the live firing area to an undisclosed location, we reached BMR. I don't think I've ever said this about any military installation in Singapore, but it was absolutely beautiful. We were situated on a big bare plateau overlooking a huge valley. The valley was at least 2 kilometers wide, offering an amazing view. That far up, there was an almost constant breeze that fought the baking sun. Sitting atop a tank and looking through my binos, it felt heavenly. After the conducting brief, it was my turn to relax for once, as the conducting officer took over most of my job scope. We sat in the air con briefing room awaiting our turn as the steady crash of the main gun and the staccato fire of the coax kept us from falling asleep. Unfortunately, terrible weather kept us from our night shooting, and we packed up early.

After that, was the hard part. We reached back camp around 1am. Everyone was tired, but mentally prepared for what was to come. I was running the show, I had to be at 100%. I also remembered that I had to be at Gerlynn's BBQ the next day, and that was my driving force. Just like the 2 days of prep, but in reverse, and in 4 hours this time. It is difficult to command your peers, even more so when everyone is tired and cranky. I am therefore thankful that most of my coursemates are clubbers who are used to staying up really late. Anyway, we all worked until 5.30am and slept till 8.

I learned a few things about leadership that day.
1. Cooperation is key
2. Don't make them do extra work, do it once do it right.
3. Don't jump in and do work yourself, step back and think about the big picture and timeline.
4. Always be answerable for manpower and progress.

Crew phase next. We've learned all aspects of the tank as parts, time to work it as a whole.