SAFRA: Bringing NSmen Closer Together

Whether you are a full-time NSF or ORNS personnel, your dedication towards our nation's defence is applaudable and undeniable.

As part of NS45, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will provide about $100 million worth of SAFRA and HomeTeamNS benefits to more than 900,000 NSmen as an appreciation for their vital contributions to defence.

If you are a male Singaporean or PR who is serving or already done with NS, check your eligibility at https://ns45.safra.sg/Register.aspx. (Registration for NS45 vouchers ends 28 Feb 14 while vouchers are valid until 31 Mar 14)

Exercise Wallaby - R&R Day Two Part II

Capricorn Caves

Just a recap from Part I, we were chilling at Zarraffa's Coffee using their wifi while waiting for the coach to bring us to the Capricorn Caves. 

I was actually disappointed to know that we are going to a cave and not to Keppel Island. I mean, what is there to see inside a cave, right?

How wrong was I!

As I found out later, Capricorn Caves is an ancient geological landscape formed from underwater coral beds over 360 million years ago. 

Exercise Wallaby - R&R Day Two Part I

4am at Farnborough Beach

Just before going to sleep, I set the alarm at 4am so I could wake up in time to catch the sunrise at Farnborough Beach.

I only had a few hours of shut eye as I was watching Top Gear on TV in my room with another friend who did not go drinking at the town with the rest of our friends.

As the resort was just right next to the beach, the seabreeze was howling throughout the night. It is kind of scary hearing that outside your balcony as we hardly encounter such wind speeds in Singapore.

The sky was still dark and very chilly as I made my way to the beach.

Exercise Wallaby - R&R Day One

The warning sign at the sentry heading towards Sam Hill

You know what? This post is six months overdue!

That is how long I have put off writing the R&R bit of my Exercise Wallaby trip!

Refresh your memories here: 

[Exercise Wallaby - The First Week]

[Exercise Wallaby - The Second Week]

[Exercise Wallaby - Base Camp]

After almost two weeks, we are finally leaving Sam Hill. This was my second time leaving here and I guess it is for good. 

It would be very unlikely that I will return here for a third time.

Army Open House 2012 @ The City

For the first time, the Army Open House (AOH) was held outside military grounds at the F1 Pit beside the Singapore Flyer.

This is in tune with the Army's effort to engage the public and showcase NS45 and the capabilities of our 3G Army. 

Exercise Wallaby - Base Camp

Continuation from Week 2 [here]
Read about Week 1 [here] if you have not already read it.

So sorry this post is long overdued!

After two weeks in Shoalwaterbay, Exercise Wallaby is finally over!

It was hard work but friends made the days easier to past.

Just two days before we depart for Singapore, we had our R&R at Rockhampton town (Yeppoon, to be exact) but before I share about my R&R trip, I would like to bring you around Samuel Hill.

North Camp cookhouse

Exercise Wallaby - The Second Week

Continuation from Week 1 [here]

The second week after arriving at Shoalwaterbay, we finally moved outfield for exercise. However, barely ten minutes into the journey, we were already covered with sand...

Exercise Wallaby - The First Week

Pardon me for the delay of this post.

There were tonnes of pictures to edit and I spent quite a bit of time organizing them (from both mobile phone and Camera) and putting them in the correct order.

Then, I had to filter out the "classified" pictures that could not be posted on any social platforms.

I was confused by what I was doing at one point (twice, in fact) and I had to redo everything from scratch all over again which is why it took me so long to dish out this post.

Without much further ado, I will now let the pictures do the talking...

Post Exercise Wallaby 2011

Arvo!

(that's Australian slang for "Afternoon!")

Two exhilarating weeks have passed us by and I have returned safe and sound from Down Under!

The weather has been as unforgiving as it has been eleven years ago; scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night!

I'm at least four shades darker now!

Due to classified and security issues, I will not be able to post much information and photos on this blog.

All I can say is, it was definitely a tiring, siong yet memorable trip with my new comrades.

Outfield is no fun at all but sleeping on the three-tonner (with whatever space there is left of) and going to pee together at night in the wilderness without knowing what is in front of you is quite an experience to go through with your friends.

Of course, there are more pleasant activities like watching the Kangaroos from afar and waking up to the calls of the Kookaburras.

It was pleasurable for me to say the least as these sights and sounds are indigenous to the Australia outback and not anywhere else.

A Mission Down Under!

By the time you read this, I am already at the airport waiting for my chartered flight to Rockhampton, Queensland.

I will be there for the annual Exercise Wallaby with the Armed Forces for two weeks.

It was not my first time there, though.

The last time I was there is eleven years ago during my active days with my unit. As a NSF then, it was an eye-opening opportunity for me to be involved in an military exercise of such magnitude!

Although we do have our own local exercises, what we could acomplish in land-scarced Singapore is very limited compared to what the training area in Shoalwater Bay could offer us!

Training was tough definitely, but we were still able to find simple joys amidst the dull and monotonous exercise.

I remembered how we used to play wrestling in the tentage and even disturbing each other in the bathroom which, I will leave the details to your imagination...

At the end of the day, we would chill out at the canteen and recount our day over a beer and a pop-in-the-microwave burger. 

The Boots

These shall be banished to the darkest and deepest corner of the store... till October.

Six days of training (3 days in June and August respectively) has finally ended. Only Exercise Wallaby in October is left to conclude my obligatory service to the country for this year.