Tuesday, October 03, 2006
today's the last day im a trainee in imos.
I entered this camp next to changi naval base in March this year, and that was more than half a year ago. Initially, i felt lost and puzzled over why I was being transferred from the army to navy, and i knew practically no one else who was with me. At the very first stage, under TCCS, i remembered doing absolutely nothing for the whole day, for almost 2 months, while waiting for the Junior Rating Course(JRC) to start. Those days were really too good to be true, and I couldnt believe the luck i actually had, compared to all my counterparts in the army.
In May, JRC started and we were now under General Naval Training Centre (GNTC). That 2 months made up the less desirable days in Imos, as I personally disliked some of the instructors. But their inflexibility and unfairness, their attitude towards trainees and their so-called 'culture', were to be accommodated for the big number of trainees under them. What i learnt in JRC was really the very basics of seamanship, and, to be very frank, I've since returned everything back to the instructors. Because, I really couldn't care less.
End July, after JRC, i was posted to Navigation and Detection Training Centre (NDTC) for my next training phase. I remembered attending the course opening brief on the first day, and I thought that my choice to choose be an RNS is the right one. Not just because what i would be learning would be more practical, but also because of the care that the TC gives its trainees. I've seen it for myself how understanding the TC instructors were, and how happy everyone was under the TC. Our SI has been one of the more respectable figures i've seen in my NS stint so far. Under him, i feel very much protected. And, together with our understanding instructors, that had really made my days under NDTC the best part over the past 6+ months' stay at imos.
I know that whenever the time comes for a change in environment, there'll be some nostalgia within. This time was no different. Perhaps routine has long settled in, and i've grown very accustomed to what my life in Imos had been. Of course, the friends i've made over the past 6 months had been one major factor. I made new friends at each stage in Imos, but sadly, lost some too, due to the lost in contact after they were posted out one by one. Nevertheless, they had indeed made footprints along my journey and had added colours and spices throughout. Yup, they are the only ones that can truly understand what Navy personnels go through. They are the only people that I can truly relate to, inside the camp. And when my friends outside the saf asks me about my life in Navy, i know that they would not be able to understand when i mention 'colours', 'rounds', 'heads', 'domestics' and too many others, and many times im just too lazy to share with them.
The end of trainee life at imos, signals the start of a more challenging life ahead. Being a qualified rating, there'll be no more excuses that im still a 'trainee' or being 'inexperienced'. Days will never be the same again. No more illegal short naps in class or cabins when instructors are not present. No more spoon-feeding, nor the extensive welfare and flexibility given by the instructors. What lies ahead would be the more rigid shipboard life and plenty of sailings. And being the most junior crew member, it is still uncertain how the other regulars will treat us. ANd that is why none of us wanted to post out.. But still, time has come for us to move on, and we would have to stay positive and look ahead.
I'll just want to wish all my fellow batchmates (whether posted out or still at imos), a good ship life ahead and may everyone shine in their own area of discipline after ORD.
人生是黑白的.
7:37 PM <3
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