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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - I missed army life...</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>7:01 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 18) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>32630.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>May 3, 2010
MY THOUGHTS
Invaluable life lessons from national service
<!-- by line -->By Nicholas Lim
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_521813.html
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The hardship and tough training during national service have taught the writer resilience and discipline, among other things, and these lessons have stayed with him, long after he has hung up his boots. -- ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
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WHEN I hung up my army boots on my operationally ready date, Feb 10, I was as excited as the next man that that phase of my life was over.
But in retrospect, I missed the military.
The life lessons I learnt there - about surviving, soldiering and leading men under my charge - have been invaluable.
Perhaps the worst part was my time as a recruit, when sergeants seemed to blare at me endlessly. Each day followed another filled with physical training and outfield missions.
But my commanders in Basic Military Training inspired me to undergo further hardship to become a commander too - their tough training had taught me about resilience and discipline.
In the School of Infantry Specialists, I vividly remember pushing my own physical and mental boundaries.
I also forged close friendships with complete strangers who became my comrades on missions to launch dawn attacks on 'enemies' and rescue our own.
In the process, I understood values like teamwork, discipline and perseverance that have stayed relevant in my civilian life.
To me, the intangible reward of being a commander based in Pulau Tekong was getting to witness young, confused teenagers - younger versions of myself - transform into confident young men ready to defend their nation.
And it is striking how my experience continues to inform my life and those of others.
Returning to the island to attend my recruits' Passing Out Parade, this time as a civilian and not their commander, I saw the spirit of brotherhood, ruggedness and even passion for national service among them.
To those who are about to embark on national service, do not let the experience go by without purpose.
Whether you carve a name out for yourself in the military, or simply make the best use of time there, do it.
After all, it is a once-in-a-lifetime duty, and an opportunity to learn, one that will stay with you long after you too, hang up your boots.
The writer, 21, will read business at Nanyang Technological University this year.
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MY THOUGHTS
Invaluable life lessons from national service
<!-- by line -->By Nicholas Lim
http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_521813.html
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
WHEN I hung up my army boots on my operationally ready date, Feb 10, I was as excited as the next man that that phase of my life was over.
But in retrospect, I missed the military.
The life lessons I learnt there - about surviving, soldiering and leading men under my charge - have been invaluable.
Perhaps the worst part was my time as a recruit, when sergeants seemed to blare at me endlessly. Each day followed another filled with physical training and outfield missions.
But my commanders in Basic Military Training inspired me to undergo further hardship to become a commander too - their tough training had taught me about resilience and discipline.
In the School of Infantry Specialists, I vividly remember pushing my own physical and mental boundaries.
I also forged close friendships with complete strangers who became my comrades on missions to launch dawn attacks on 'enemies' and rescue our own.
In the process, I understood values like teamwork, discipline and perseverance that have stayed relevant in my civilian life.
To me, the intangible reward of being a commander based in Pulau Tekong was getting to witness young, confused teenagers - younger versions of myself - transform into confident young men ready to defend their nation.
And it is striking how my experience continues to inform my life and those of others.
Returning to the island to attend my recruits' Passing Out Parade, this time as a civilian and not their commander, I saw the spirit of brotherhood, ruggedness and even passion for national service among them.
To those who are about to embark on national service, do not let the experience go by without purpose.
Whether you carve a name out for yourself in the military, or simply make the best use of time there, do it.
After all, it is a once-in-a-lifetime duty, and an opportunity to learn, one that will stay with you long after you too, hang up your boots.
The writer, 21, will read business at Nanyang Technological University this year.
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