~JcZw

Just got back from SJ camp yesterday, now can start studying....

The last 3 days was a great reminder of why I missed the division so much after graduation. They really performed admirably for the most part... The image of the glowing fireballs and flashing lightsticks on the second night is an image that I have seen before (Jovin's batch had 3 fireballs) but not one that I will forget easily.

Listening to Benjamin's "We few, we lucky few, we band of brothers" I smiled to myself that night. At the start of 2004 I was lazing in my parents' room saying "Tomorrow the sec. 1s are coming in! What things should I tell them?" and my father brought down this book and read that very quote. I didn't use it though, fearing it would be too lengthy.... That batch in question was Squad 3 '06.

I recall my first sec 1 camp when I was heartily traumatised by the bunk checks and all. The rain was an irritating drizzle as we dashed out to the parade square and back again, falling down, picking ourselves up, skidding on the frictionless floor, mentally cursing the heartlessness of the seniors. The experience rendered me permanently claustrophobic, crammed between, I remember, Xuan Cheng and Jarrod (now I hate being trapped in small spaces, cos the windows that time were opaque plastic, not the glass used now. Being stuck in a dimly lit classroom smaller than the present ones was a scary experience). The fact that the bunk check was taken by WenHao sir didn't help. It also caused me to fear my seniors greatly, that still exists today even though i myself am one.

I recalled that when xuan ming and I conducted the bunk check for the ambulance. This time the classrooms were brightly lit, bigger, with less members. Really, I felt quite jealous, although its sadistic for me to say that. I know Wei Song n Melvin did their best, its just that you can't think of everything when you're under pressure. Xuan Ming and I didn't really have the heart to confiscate many things....

Second, its RIDICULOUS to wear squad shirt n uniform bottom and take PT. I was severely irritated by our attire throughout the day. The fact that my shirt was too small and the embroidered part was very itchy grated on me. I'm sure it wore my chest into a concave shape. Heh...

I had the honour of doing Topo with Morion, their facilitator being Benjamin. Hoyan, Melvin, Crystal, James, WanYing, Angela and Jun Cheng, the latter 3 being some of the new sq. 1s. They left a lasting impression... haha... Walked from AH to ECP and from there to Parkway Parade. I knew the area quite ok, it was around VJC.... when we walked past I ran a little way into Marine Vista to see if I knew anyone there... For the first time in my life I fell asleep on my feet. Benjamin was talking to them at Expo station. I was leaning against the railing but a grand total of 9 hours sleep over 2 nights took their toll n I fell asleep, whacking my shin against the railinh. Of course, I woke up after that at once.... Yup quite fun =) Brings back memories of old days, Melvin being from Sadaukar in Sq. 3 and Crystal being in Lipan in Sq. 4.

Missed Tekan on the third day cos I was at school for chinese lesson. Came back in time to witness the promotion and handover. Haha... Guess who wrote the speech for promo =)

Handover took a long time to come, but it was worth waiting. I wonderhow everyone felt, wonder how Boon Kai felt. A couple of years back I was very tired and irritated, wanting to just sleep n forget about St. John after being COS IC on the third day. I watched my squad mates get their posts one by one. My heart sank when Si Hui got Squad 2 IC. Hey, I'd wanted to be PDI or squad 2 IC. I was lagging when it came down to me and soo yee. When Soo Yee got Vice-OC I was shocked. Soo Yee said that when they announced mine my face turned white. I really felt very faint. Thats why I dropped Siu Lun's file during the handover, that raised a great "Orh hor!" from the crowd.

It was hard to read Boon Kai's face from the distance, but I'm sure he was happy... His actions were happy. I was happy for him. When I was still an NCO, during comp training, he would come to me and wei quan, ask us about first aid things, ask us about NCO life etc. Wei Quan and Joanne were very proud of him from Harconan, his first aid ability and so on. I think the division is likely to be in capable hands. Hannah was also a good choice for vice-OC, abeit she's kinda small.... Hmmm.... But she seems capable of keeping discipline and order in the division. THey are the classic image of OC and ViceO. Last time when I had Soo Yee, she was bigger sized than me... hey, I felt quite intimidated myself at times.... Cos sometimes I didn't know the right things to say to scold people and all that.

Congrats Boon Kai and Hannah, and the rest of Squad 4 '06! It has been an honour to watch you all grow from Squad 1s to now. You all have really done us proud!

I watched the berets fly at the end of the parade (when I showed my brother th video clip he asked why are they throwing grenades into the air) just like they have done at the end of every squad's run in St. John. On each one glowed the proud silver insignia of St. John's, just visible in the mid afternoon light. It was a moving sight, with the yells of "S-J-A-B St. JOHN!" ringing in your ears.

Camp was always a fun experience, although I used to quail at the thought. Thus was that of Camp 2005. Well done, all of you! I, we, are proud of you all! You are Fire!

NB: For camp pics, go to our squad blog