My Reflections In BMT

I am about to pass out from Basic Military Training(BMT), and I was told by my commander to write a reflection on my experience in BMT. Well, I wrote one, so I thought I might as well post it on my blog as well so I can remember it. Heh. So here goes:

When I was first enlisted on 12th January 2007, I told myself “I had better not waste my 9 weeks here.” And I am more than proud to say that I had not waste my 9 weeks on Pulau Tekong. My experience in BMT was truly meaningful and memorable.

As I look back at the Meng Hui 9 weeks ago, I can see a marked difference with the me now. Not only have I grown fitter physically, I have also matured to be a more patient and confident person.

Physically, I have become much fitter. I remember when I took the IPPT CAT test on the 2nd week of enlistment, I failed the test due to my SBJ. I also could do only 7 chin-ups and my 2.4km timing was 11.39. As I went through training, I could feel myself getting fitter and being able to do better for my IPPT. During my IPPT diagnostic in the middle of BMT, I could achieve a “PASS”. Finally, when the real IPPT came, I managed to achieve a “SILVER”, and only due to my 2.4km timing which had been improved to 10.45. I could also do 12 chin-ups and my SBJ jump was 234cm which earned me 4 points, allowing me for a chance to get gold. This improvement in my physical fitness is something which I am really happy about.

I have also become a more patient person. In the past, I can’t stand waiting for things to happen. I didn’t like to just sit around and wait. But when I came to Tekong, there was a lot of waiting to be done. Almost every now and then I will have to wait. Just sit down and wait for instructions, for the instructors to come, to go back to bunk, to send arms etc etc. Eventually, I became more patient. Patience played a big role in my time in BMT as it helped me to not lose my temper against my fellow recruits who seemed to be weaker and was slowing down the group during training such as route marches. Because of this patience, I was also able to play a role in helping to encourage my friends to press on to the end. I am glad I have been moulded this way in BMT.

I have also grown to be more confident. Some things which I thought I couldn’t do had been accomplished by me. I remember at the start of BMT, I thought a 24km route march was crazy as I could hardly do half of that. Eventually, I made it, and I find it a great accomplishment. I am more confident of myself that I can achieve things that I thought I couldn’t. And that theres really no end to pushing the limit.

Friends have played a very important role for me in BMT. I am very very happy to have known the buddies in my section, platoon and company. From not knowing each other at the start to pushing each other on at the end, we have gone through a lot. No one can survive in the army on his own, and I have learned that very well. Helping each other out during difficult times is a very important factor for surviving in BMT.

And lastly, I feel proud that I learned military skills in BMT. It is truly something that can be learned only in the army. I feel happy that I can at least call myself a soldier, and no longer a blur boy marching around in a military camp.

Surely, it is not what we leave behind that matters, it is what we gain in the time ahead. I am glad I have not wasted my 9 weeks on Pulau Tekong.

Ang Meng Hui
10th March 2007