Water Planet

Friday, June 13, 2008

Passed Away

Everybody is chattering about the two consecutive deaths in two days within the Saf.

Yesterday, we were stopped halfway in our route march, with directives stating that all strenuous activities were to be stopped for three days. The death of a 5 day old recruit from my ex-company in BMTC was a shock.
Then, just before booking out, another death was revealed to us. One of our batchmate in the Air Wing, passed away in Brunei towards the end of a Jungle Orientation Training.

I wonder if the Saf in feeling true remorse or just sheer responsibility towards the death of these people. They were hardly 20.
I was thinking how the buddy of the deceased would have felt. Suddenly, nobody's sleeping in the bed beside you. Suddenly you are without a buddy. Suddenly the platoon is short of one. And that all these would be permanent. Cos the guy would never come back again.

Then I was pondering how their parents would feel. My mother said it was those that were left behind that would be getting it the toughest. Haven't seen your son for some days, expecting him to come back after a two-week confinement, or back from a tough Jungle Orientation Training abroad. Then, to be told of the sudden death, to be told that the son you brought up for 20 years is gone just like that.

Was really emotional in camp upon hearing the news, despite not personally knowing these people. Though the Air Wing guy was our batchmate in OCS.

Myself will be going to Brunei two weeks from now. Same thing, Jungle Orientation Training. I always thought that as leaders, we should be able to take care of ourselves before we even talk about taking care of people. Guess its really on high alert now.

Just being appointed Exercise Platoon Commander for a Platoon Live Firing Exercise. Will be leading 27 people to fire small arms, automatic weapons, grenade launchers, anti-tank weapons and a machine gun while manuevering. Highly risky. Gotta do this well man... Live firing with live ammunition, anybody could get killed. Glad I know all the procedures at the back of my head. Hope it would be a safe one.

Hope this tensioned atmosphere of fear and paranoia would subside soon.

mE posted at 11:03 AM