just to reply to TS, if can defer long term, like station overseas, then defer is useful. but defer one time two time is basically useless as eventually still must do. i never defer and i return every year since 2000 and served a total of 7HK and 4LK ICTs. Mred at the grand old age of 33yo. no more ippt or rt. no need to apply for exit permit every time i cross the border and a free man. For those who defer and still have a couple of HK, must join another battlion which maybe going for their atec, like that damned lugi. had a couple of mates kenna attach to brigade like raider here and no ICT since 2009. all kpkb because every year still need to go ippt/rt, not a nice experience when u pushing 40yo.
so i would suggust just go whenever there ict and treat it like a holiday camp. as much as the outfield couls be siong but during preparation, there plenty of free time to rest the body. only during ICT i can get full 8hrs sleep at nite and afternoon nap almost everyday as long no outfield. There are time i tell wife no nite off because i rather sleep in camp than drive home (28km) to do housework and wake up 0530 to drive back to gedong via neo teo road in order to book in b4 0700.
all no longer new birds, so shd know how and when to take cover, how to handle commanders and how to act busy when is actually eating snake. i dont mind ppl keng as i also keng but never get other in trouble because of kenging. never give hp number to commanders and never give mates hp number away to commanders. a walk to the vehicle shed may give ppl the impression one is busy when real intention was to go talk cock and siam arrows. because i was the brushmaster gunner so every morning will go vehicle shed to help my driver and VC so i wont be allocated any fatigue and can head back to bunk to khoon by 1030 while my driver also take cover with other drivers. while i do wayang but i dont mind giving my driver a hand whenever he need it. i was also lucky to have a rather reasonable CO who will reward the men for making him look good in front of the brigade commander and COA as he let the men to outpro 1 day early twice at the two stage atec icts. That basically a paid leave to all the men, no need to work and saf still pay for that two days.