I will enter Physical Training Phase soon. In case you don’t know what that is, it is related to joining the army which I can’t choose by the way.
(Uncle Sun: I want you for Singapore army and you can’t fucking choose.)
I have learnt to accept it more or less. There is no use grumbling, I will still end up in the National Service which is 2 years now. It used to be 2.5 years. In my opinion, the number of serving years would eventually decrease to a 1 year affair after a decade.
About this post
The following information regards Physical Training Phase of the compulsory national service (NS) for men in Singapore. If you spot any inaccuracies in my entry, tell me about it, don’t sue me.
What is Physical Training Phase?
Physical Training Phase is given to those men who aren’t good in stuff like chin-ups (pull-ups), standing broad jumps, shuttle runs and 2.4 km runs. And that would make me one of them, I failed the test for all these segments. The only test I passed in the sit up and I daren’t say I am good at it even. Well, I still pass sit-and-reach test but unfortunately that is not included in the Physical Training Phase.
The Physical Training Phase is abbreviated to ‘PTP’ most of the time and it would be training for men to finally get a better chance of passing the – to me of course – rather difficult chin-up. Till today, I can’t do that. I am still trying though but I am afraid that there isn’t much time left. For men who passed the physical test that is conducted prior to the compulsory Singapore national service (NS) training, they are exempted from the PTP. It is not the concern of this post to explain the criteria.
The duration
PTP spans 4 weeks. I will be entering PTP on June 11 (about 25 days more) which by the way is my brother’s birthday. I’m to be there by a quarter to 10 in the morning. That is much to my brother’s dismay after I told him he probably won’t be getting presents from me, lol
You can leave home on weekends during PTP. Unfortunately, most men have to stay in-camp for the first 3 weeks of their lives in the army. This would mean for the first 3 weeks of army, you cannot leave the camp. For me, the 4^th^ week of PTP should have weekend release but I am not sure how that works at the moment. It is part of the training protocol I believe. To get used to the environment. To know your peers better. To tell horrifying ghost stories at night. [I do not believe in ghost.]
The location
I am to go to Basic Military Training Centre School 1. It is in Pulau Tekong which is a small island with lots of trees and most grounds belong to the military I think. It means I’ll have to take water transportation to that island. It’s far away from my home.
The cargo
I can bring along a maximum 5 people to see me off. I will probably be wearing shoes, a T-shirt and jeans as suggested in the notice. I would presume that all the clothes are taken care by the army already.
I will be bringing:
* Wallet (minimal contents)
* Book – I don’t know if this is allowed actually. I hope so.
* Talcum powder (a friend told me it involves better sleep in warmer nights)
* Muscle rub – viv suggested a small tube; it is allowed.
* Cellphone (my cellphone satisfies the army’s rules of no camera and blah blah)
* Half a roll of toilet paper – viv suggested.
* Shower stuff (soap, toothbrush etc.) – viv suggested.
* Nail clipper – viv suggested.
* Numeric lock – viv suggested.
What else would you suggest I bring?
[Added: I added more lists of items.]
Possibly related:
Tags: national service
gone//temporary
I will be temporarily away due to the Physical Training Phase as part of compulsory military training for national service in Singapore. It is a 4-week training and of which I cannot leave for the first 3 weeks. Read more about the notice.
by //beconfused (May 16, 2005 at 10 PM)…
make sure you bring all the stuff that you will need to wash clothes with. aiyo, the army does not restrict muscle rub lah (u’ll juz need a small tube though). hmm… may want to bring half a roll of toilet paper and your showering ‘chemicals’. Don’t forget your shaver (preferably non-electric) since the CSM and RSM are particularly fussy about growth around the chin. Always sprinkle some powder in your footwear, foot rot is one of the MOST common aftereffects of NS life (dont even start foot rot).
by viv (May 17, 2005 at 1 PM)viv: Thanks for telling me. Washing clothes? What would those washing clothes things be. I am too pampered I guess, I use the washing machine at home.
I don’t think I need the shaver, I don’t have much hair at my chin. I don’t supposed they’ll force me to shave hair at the arm pit and stomach, hahaa
by Mr. Dew (May 17, 2005 at 2 PM)i suspect there are washing machines in BMTC now, but you will need to slot in some coins. bcos back in my unit (not BMTC), there are such washing machines. Often, we juz share the cost by consolidating the dirty laundry and wash them all in 1 session. however, you will need a update on whether recruits get access to such washing machines. hence dont bet on it, bring some washing equipments. Caution: be very stingy about your detergents else you will have a hard time rinsing that soapy feeling off your clothes. Oh ya, bring a nail clipper (again due to CSM and RSM). You know, when people in my generation see the facilities at BMTC Tekong nowadays, we joke about new recuits living in “Tekong Resort”. The army has some interesting jargon for simple things such as waking up, supper, sleeping time, eating in an non-SFI cookhouse. i shall leave you to find them out by yourself. Oh oh, please leave your brains at home. You won’t need that. =P
by viv (May 18, 2005 at 3 PM)viv: I’ll take that advise. I tihnk I’ll bring my own ‘washing equipment’. My nails are quite long and my girlfriend’s always
jealouscomplaining about it. I really forgot about cutting nails. It’s just not in my mind all the time. And to make things worse, my nail clipper’s always hiding just as all my room’s stuff are doing.Maybe it’s actually better to leave my brains at home and just do things as told, like an idiot, that’s what army is about. Don’t really need brains for these stuff.
by Mr. Dew (May 19, 2005 at 9 AM)who says i’m jealous of your nails… ah, just cut them. it’s embarassing for me to have nails that are miles shorter than yours ALL the time.
by sky (May 19, 2005 at 11 PM)sky: lol, I’ll cut them right.
by Mr. Dew (May 20, 2005 at 12 AM)Oh ya, remember to bring 1 small lock for your cupboard. Either bring 2 keys to the lock or get a number lock. If you bring 2 keys, keep them in separate places. Note: during physical exercise, saf strictly bans sharp objects. keys are considered “sharp” hence you are probably not able to bring keys around in your pocket. Please note that it should be a small lock, else it might just be too thick to fit into the lock hole on the cupboard. The other piece of advice: NEVER lose any thing that saf issues to you, unless they are perishables such as powder, food, toilet paper, insect repellent, etc. Usually punishment is meted out for losing non-perishables. Also some of these issued equipments are not replaceable.
by viv (May 21, 2005 at 11 AM)viv: I’ll just bring those number lock things, it’s more convenient I think. I don’t know where can I keep my key asides the pocket, hahaa… I’ll be careful with the issued items, I don’t want to get punished over such things.
by Mr. Dew (May 24, 2005 at 11 AM)[...] [This is a pre-recorded message as I’ll be away for Physical Training Phase Programme.] Humor, Japan, Names, Star Wars [...]
by //beconfused » Blog Archive » more//names (Dec 22, 2006 at 12 AM)[...] [This is a pre-recorded entry as I’ll be away. I’ll probably be back on June 26, 2005. Part 3 will follow soon (June 28).] Dumb, Humor, Singapore [...]
by //beconfused » Blog Archive » dumb//two (Dec 22, 2006 at 12 AM)[...] As usual, I end the post saying that this is a message is written long ago and blah blah. It’s written on May 27, 2005 in fact. I should be in the Physical Training Phase Programme right now. I’ll probably be back on July 1, 2005 which will be soon. Finally. Did You Know, Dumb, Humor, Signs, Singapore [...]
by //beconfused » Blog Archive » dumb//three (Dec 22, 2006 at 12 AM)[...] [I will be leaving for army on June 11, the army has a short hair rule. Botak (no hair).] Dumb, People [...]
by //beconfused » Blog Archive » they//hid (Dec 22, 2006 at 1 AM)[...] One more day and I am off to national service! [...]
by //beconfused » Blog Archive » commitment//blog (Dec 23, 2007 at 1 AM)omg down pes for heavens sake im serious im in pes a and lets say its not all fun and games its harsh torture day in day out. and to all, do bring prickly heat powder serious its helps when u powders ure balls to sleep. wooots live the army hour by hour check and tick off the stuff u did startng from the early morning and seriously use the sleep provided dont kaykiang and call your gf and family at 10.30 cos ull die tomorow
by twat (May 1, 2008 at 10 PM)Hello.May I know if cleanser, toner etc are allowed?
by tangjie (Oct 24, 2008 at 5 PM)These basic hygiene items are allowed if not encouraged.
by Mr. Dew (Oct 24, 2008 at 8 PM)Oh thanks… Are the bathing areas and toilets without doors, locks and just bath openly?
by tangjie (Oct 31, 2008 at 10 PM)Interesting post, love the poster!
by Prepare for Boot Camp (May 23, 2009 at 3 PM)