End of the Line

This is it

The End of the Line...

The Last Test,

The Final Obstacle...

Our Greatest Fight

Are we ready?

Ready to win the coveted title of 

Best Combat Unit?

To prove to everyone that we indeed are the Elite fighting force of our Army?

To show that we are deserving of the Red Beret...?

Hell yes.

We are going to Thailand.

We are going to face our enemies

And we will fight like the bloodlust-driven demons that we are.

Nothing can stop us, nothing will prevent us from bringing Honour and Glory to the Commando Family.

The enemy has no idea what is coming,

No idea what lurks in the shadows,

Watching his every movement, like a Tiger stalking its helpless prey.

We will strike from the shadows,

Swift... Silent... Deadly

We are the Hunters of the Dark,

The Terrors of the Night

There is no Escape,

No Mercy,

No Compassion...

Our loved ones sleep peacefully in their beds...

While we keep the enemy up all night.

We are the Un-heard

The Unseen

The Undefeatable...

Victory is ours

Victory at all costs

For Honour and Glory

COMMANDO

Dusting off the cobwebs...

Wow... Its been close to 11 months since ANYTHING went up on my blog.

I thought I was the one who wasnt blogging any more, but it seems like almost everyone I know doesnt blog anymore, which is kinda sad.

Maybe with Facebook and Twitter, people feel  that blogging isn't as popular as it used to be.

Well, I for one intend on carrying on blogging on a regular basis, starting from today. But first an update on what's been happening in my life.

My last post was right before I became an Operational Commando. Ever since then, I've been living life as an ops soldier, training, planning missions, preparing for ATEC in Thailand next month. For those of you who dont know, ATEC is an acronym for Army Training Evaluation Center.

It's like the finals exam of our Army life, to assess our standard. It's also where they will decide which unit will win the coveted Best Combat Unit award. Commandos have been winning for 28 years now, so pressure's on us to make it 29!

But that's just my Army life...


I'm also a writer in an online magazine started by my friends called FLIPSIDE MAGAZINE. It's a magazine that covers all aspects of life; lifestyle, health and food amongst others. I have yet to submit my article, but I have a lot of ideas on what to write, so watch out for my articles!


In other news, it's the year 2012, and it's a year of change for me. For one, I'm going to ORD (Finish my National Service) in 3 - 4 months!

After that, I'm back to my own life again! One hadn I'm happy that I regain my freedom, but on the other I can honestly say that I'll miss my Army days. There were some bad days, but the company of friends you have makes every single day worth it. I'm going to miss all those crazy stupid things we do everyday, shouting at each other, playing with each other, competing, fighting missions...

Well, I have to focus on getting my life into high gear again. Got a lot of things planned this year, so watch this space, my Facebook and Twitter for more updates!

The Final Stretch

It's the final stretch... The last challenge left for me... For us.

It's been 10 months of hard work, and now we have one last obstacle to conquer.

One last Jungle to cross,
One last Mountain to climb

One last March...


There is something about ourselves that up to now still puzzles me.

We know what's coming, the hardship, the turnouts, the discomfort of living off jungles, climbing mountains and trudging through swamps covered up to the neck in mud, muck and leeches.

We know how fucked up it will be... But we don't give in to it.

We don't back away from it.

No matter how much we bitch and moan, we'll still walk through that door and into those challenges and face them, just so one day we can look back and say, "I did that. I went through it and gave my all. I earned my wings, my dagger and my beret."

If someone gave me the option to turn back time and told me I could choose if I wanted to go through it again or pick something simpler, I'll still walk through that same door.

Why?

Cause there is something addictive about pushing yourself through places you never thought existed, raising the bar for yourself.

There is something addictive about being what I am, doing what I do.

I will brag and say it's not something most people can do. It takes a certain level of tolerance, strength and willpower to do what we do. Many people can say, "I can do it lah. I could have been Commando." But how many will willingly go through it? How many can say that they have what it takes?

Am I boasting? Yes... It's something I'm proud of myself for. For going through it, for not backing out.


I am exactly one month away from earning my Red. One month away from finishing this journey. It's been long, tough and one hell of a ride.

But exactly one month away on the 24th of June 2011 at sundown, we'll don our Red and become part of the brotherhood.


One month away, I'll don my rightful status as Elite.


Now...how many can say they can do tt?

Time is too precious

Time is the biggest mindfuck of all.

When you want it to go fast, it slows to a snail's pace and when you want it to slow down, it shoots by, leaving you in the smoke...

I hate the fact that weekends blow by so fast. It means I have to book in... Haix...

And booking in to Helldon camp is gonna be a pain in the ass, amongst other body parts. It sucks to be me. Seriously. Most NSFs go through their toughest times in BMT, then they pass out. Some of them get posted to units that are quite active, so they have to be in camp from Monday to Friday, with some nights out thrown in. Others get posted to units that let you book out everyday, like a 8 to 5. But the common characteristics amongst all these people is that their lives are generally slack, or at least not as bad as BMT.

Mine sucks. I'm a 3rd Sgt, and I still get treated like dog shit. I'll book in today and will book out next Saturday...even then, camp will mindfuck you by dragging your bookout time, so I am mentally prepared for a late night bookout on Saturday.

On top of that, being the first few weeks in camp, they are gonna literally make our lives hell...

Haix.

Sometimes I wonder if all this is worth it. Will it be better if I just get posted out to some camp outside where the life is SOOO much better? Money wont be as much, but at least I will feel like I have some sort of freedom. But I know I wont let myself do that... And that is the dilemma. I want to quit, but I wont let myself.

I'm not a kengster. Dont get me wrong. I can take the physical pain, the trainings and all... But its the fact that we book out so late and have so little time for families and friends that is getting to me. Time is way too precious.

Every second of bookout counts... Every second that passes is another second closer to bookin...

Everyone of my campmates are freaking terrified of camp... Of booking in...

But I guess we have no choice.

Haix. Its only for 1 year and 10 months. I've already finished 6 months... Another 16 more to go...

I should stop now and start packing up for camp...

Wasted 10 minutes writing this out... DAMMIT!!!

Untitled

A Red Sun Rises Crimson Over The Distant Shores..

A Sea Gull Echoes Its Death Cry.

The Widows Stand By The Water With Faces Forlorn..

And The Waves Crash Onto Their Feet Like Red Dye.

Their Weeping Can Be Heard For A Thousand Nights..

Their Haunted Cries Echoes On The Gale.

When Would This Waiting Souls Finally Fade..

Or There Is No End To Their Ghostly Tale...

Rage

I dont get angry very often nowadays. I actually have more self-control now.

But when you feel robbed of your chance, raped of an opportunity and reduced to ashes, you feel nothing but fiery hot rage coursing through your veins. It's a feeling I haven't felt in a long time and I welcome it back.

It gives me drive, passion and a hatred for my friends-turned-enemies... For the plastic masks and painted on smiles, the prewritten words of fake encouragement. It is one thing to pick wisely, but when you make an obviously biased choice that hints at favouritism, you crossed the line. I thought I knew you, thought I could trust you, but now betrayal wont even come close to what i feel. You took the knife and plunged into my back, just cause you believed the words of a few incompatible pricks...

Now i'm just waiting to meet you again so I can wreack havoc in your life and house... Watch me burn your life down... Watch me tear your family apart, turn them to my cause....Make them mine...

Watch me turn you into the insignificant speck of dust you really are as I reclaim the kingship that is rightfully mine...


YoJi

Taiwan

A few more hours before I fly off to Taiwan.

Its not really that epic really... Taiwan is just slightly harder than Tekong... But the chances of anything bad happening is next to zero. The worst that could probably happen is that I die of food poisoning during our 2 day rest and relaxation or the plane crashes into the sea. Other than that, it shouldn't be THAT tough.

But the fact that I'll be so far from home for so long is what is getting to me and everyone else in camp. No one is worried sick about the missions to come. We know we will survive. It's just the fact that its a new country and there is no way of calling back home to your family and friends.

I never thought I'd ever go to Taiwan.... Not like I wanted to go there, but seriously, "Taiwan nightclubs are the shit" as quoted by my dear sergeants. It'll be smth to look forward to during our 11 day training. No point worrying about whats gonna happen to us during training... You'll just make yourself sick.

Plus its only 3 weeks....

Yeah, I'm trying to reassure myself. LOL!

But I'm going to miss a lot of things while I'm gone. Family, pet dog, friends, bed, food, bed, food.... Haha!

To Andrew:
Thanks for the gift bro... HAHA! That has got to be one of the best motivations I'll have in Taiwan. It really must have been hell trying to get it. I want to see the same thing on you when I come back! =D Love ya bro. TC!

To my close friends (You knw who u are u losers! =D):
Don't miss me, I know I'm awesome. I'll be back before you know it... Haha! I'll be throwing a BBQ when I come back, so all of the AFT members plus plus a few ppl here and there invited... Yeah thought I should let you guys know that... Me and Naathan are trying to make BBQs a norm... Do you really need a reason to enjoy good food, music and company?

And this is to my girl out there:
4 years is nearly over dey!!!! You're going to finish your papers in just a week or so! HAHA! I've known you for 2 1/2 years (My God! It's been THAT long!) but I'm so proud to see how much you've grown in that 2 1/2 years. Exactly a year ago, you would tell me that you couldn't.... Now that word won't even leave your lips.... In my eyes, you are one of the strongest person I know. I'm not just saying that. I mean it. Every single word and letter. You have become someone I can proudly say is my friend...My sister...

And I know I'm not going to be here for 3 weeks... I can't call you EVERY single night like I normally do... And I won't be here when you're A's finish... But just know that somewhere far off in a foreign jungle, your soldier will look up at the moon on the same night you finish your papers and smile... Cos I know you'll be looking at the same moon. And if there is no moon then fuck it, I'll look at the brightest star.


We will party like rockstars when I get back...
Everyone one of us. =D


I'll be leaving Changi Airport in a plane in a few hours as Specialist Cadet Trainee Yogaraj...
And I'll be coming back on the 11th/12th Dec at midnight as 3rd Sergeant Yogaraj....


Signing off
Mr Yoji

Jungle Warfare

Fuck Rambo.

Seriously.

You cant carry a baooka and machine gun and fight an entire war on your... I know... I tried.

Just booked out of camp.

Past 9 days has been... well... shagged is a bit of an understatement. Its like you not doing ALL the projects in school for a year, and then the night before the deadline, you are rushing ALL of it in a few hours while trying to run 5km in 30 mins and carrying all your belongings in your house right now in a field pack.... It s a bad way of explaining what Tekong was, but that was basically how we felt constantly for 5 days. Total of 120 hours of that. Less than 12 hours of actual sleep.

The rest of the time, we are either planning, walking/jogging, bashing through a thick jungle, waiting for the enemy, attacking,planting detonation charges and then pulling back 4-5 km carrying your buddy on a stretcher who had apparently 'been grievously injured in the raid'.

My brain is not functionaing properly right now.

Our bodies and minds have gone beyond the point of 'Damn! Im tired', gone beyond 'STOP NOW BITCH!'... Gone beyond ' This is it, im gonna die'...

Haix... This is what happens when you try to squeeze a 12 week course into 7 weeks...

Tekong is not fun... Trust me on this.

Every BMTC dude out there will tell you the same thing, but he's probably been IN THE FIELD for maybe 5-6 days tops...

When I mean in the field, I really mean in the field.

We dont sleep in shelters or tents... or even on ground sheets.

We sleep in a circle formation in a muddy clearing in the jungle with our field packs in front and our guns pointed outwards. We sleep with one eye open, cos there's a likelyhood that a wild boar carrying off your field pack in the night, or that 'enemy forces' will attack your patrol base in the middle of the night.

I always admired the soldiers in the movies, out in jungles fightin Vietcongs and shit... But when Im finally doing it, with a bazooka at my feet and machine gun firing non- stop on my right, its not that fun at all...

Maybe Im just not totally used to it yet.

Commandos is fun, but you just have to get used to it.

There is ALOT of cool stuff, and we do get to learn and do the shit that all those heroes in movies do.

But its not fun when you're being graded on how well you do it. Not fun when you are carrying a $20,000 night vision goggle on your head that could snap off and drop away into the night, leaving you to answer, and probably pay for it. THOSE things are not fun.

But spamming 120 rounds on full auto is fun... Seeing the looks on your 'enemy' forces faces when you kill them is fun... Reporting,' Mission Success' on your comms set is fun...

Stressed!

Taiwan is gonna be better... Way better.... I hope....

At least we get to party after 11 days field camp there.... And IM just waiting to party hard...

Brothers

There are many people you'll meet in life. You'll befriend most of them. But there's always one group of friends that you will set aside from the rest, hold them in your heart higher than anything else, ready to throw everything you have to run to their side, no matter the consequences...

We call them Brothers...

It's a unique bond that you share with each other, stronger than any normal friendship. It's a bond that once formed, can never break... Shouldn't break. Ever...

It's hard to explain the bond, but every guy understands what it means on some subconscious level. It's ingrained in every man from the day they were born.

I have never forgotten the people I called my brothers, cos I don't do that easily. I call almost every guy 'Bro', but only a few my 'brothers'. I hold them in high regard in my heart, and I'll always throw away anything to save my relationship with them, even it means throwing away pride and dignity. There's a nothing wrong in it. Brothers fight all the time, but are ready to fight for each other in a second. I'll fight you face to face now, but if you are in trouble, I'm fighting with you back to back...

That is the sign of a brotherhood.




People might forget what they once meant to us in the heat of the moment..


They will throw out punches that hurt, and words that hurt even more... 


But never forget you once called each other Brother and would have given all for them in a second... 


They might have forgotten that, but you should never forget it...


 Ever...










I used to call them brothers... 


They've forgotten...


But I haven't...