Hi Guys!
There's rarely a time I can sit down peacefully and type out my next entry! The pace is fast, but that doesn't mean I am enjoying the life to the fullest. I am still in the Army and I just went through a really really really really long Saturday. Details below:
Friday Duty
This is actually a really long story, sit tight if you wanna read through :)
Prologue
My whole unit was involved in training out of camp, and we needed to get the 'stay-back force' (or those who didn't go due to injuries and stuff), and I was appointed Guard Commander as I was the only sergeant around who could fill that role. Felt rather sour to do that duty, as it will eat into my Saturday weekend morning. But duty is duty, and I had a job to do.
The guys who did duty were a good bunch, believe me. Even though others expect them to be totally switched off as they are usually seen as slackers, they were good people and I enjoyed their company. Through the night, I stayed up as I wanted to mix with the guys on duty. I played hangman, chatted for long times, got to learn some slang, and even ate roti prata brought in by a relative of a duty personnel. Great stuff.
The Longest Morning
I was looking forward to Saturday morning to hand over my duty and head back home. Heh that morning was a killer! The NSmen were returning for training and the smart guys in the higher HQ didn't give the guardroom the list of the NSmen's names. So...me and my guys had to ask all the NSmen to record their details by hand. Queues of cars and people flooded the guardroom at the peak period. Really nuts. But I knew I had something to look forward to...handing over my duty and going back home!
However, the replacements didn't have enough people and my guys had to wait until the replacements could take over. Most of the replacements were late. People can get really mad when they are made to wait very long for others. As only a few of my guys were on duty, I allowed the off-duty guys to go back and return their guns and prepare to book out. Care for Soldiers man.
DOS Problems
Just after I let them go back, the DOS (Div Orderly Segeant, so-called my boss for guard duty) wanted the guys not to fall out. I thought he meant that he didn't want the guys who went back to book out. Hence, I told the companies not to allow the guys to book out.
But the DOS really wanted no one to leave the guardroom itself and when he **finally** spotted that the rest had went back, he demanded them to return in guard duty fatigues, draw arms and fall in. Gave me an admonition and stuck to his guns...he wanted the guys back in uniform and rifle. No two ways about it.
Reaction from the Ground
The guys already changed into their civilian clothes and naturally fumed at the DOS's order. I went to the different companies of the guys and talked to them. I prayed...I know He is in control of this situation, and I highlighted my need for strength and wisdom to go through this trial with a level head, to see the purpose and lesson behind it.
Wow, army did give me a good opportunity to practise my 'people skills', getting the guys back as a team in such a circumstance. I took it and with another helpful sergeant, we did our best to get the guys together, not just fall-in to follow a (ridiculous) order, but to show our solidarity, get that DOS off our backs and book out.
I am grateful to my guys, who came together and obeyed the order. Of course, no love lost and certainly none of them would love the DOS anyway haha. We did as the DOS stated and once the DOS saw us, he gave us a perfunctory glance and told us we could go off. It was 1040 by the time I booked out.
Regardless of what you may think of the DOS, I won't blame him for what he did to us. I let the guys go back without asking the DOS if we could do so...that was my fault and that wasn't totally sticking to protocol. I have to say that the DOS did not allow me to explain my decision, and his order to ask everyone to change back and come down can be said to be over the top. It did not achieve the aim of really telling us what we did wrong, but it needlessly infuriated many hearts. He didn't spend any effort in explaining his order.
At least that was over!
And the Longest Afternoon...
My unit had to call back everyone on the afternoon as something important was missing. It was about 1pm when I received the call and I had to return by 330pm. I had just reached back home after lunch and yet to take a moment to rest after the really tiring duty. Man, I rested as much as I could, and gingerly made my way back.
Now, it is true that the brightest light shines in the darkest hour. My family shone in that darkness. I would like to say that I am very fortunate to have such a supportive family, who were willing to bring me back to camp for the call back, hanged around Causeway Point to pick me up after I finished. Even though I was totally low on power, I thanked God in my heart for my family and acknowledeged that I would not be where I am without the people around me. My family really gave me great support, and I am proud of them.
Long story short, we were allowed to leave camp around 5pm to go home. They didn't find the thing, but we were given permission to book out as they have checked everybody and didn't want to waste everybody's time being confined in camp. we were still liable to call-up but we were free to go anyway.
So I was picked up, showered, saw the bed, bed saw me, I fell on bed, I fell asleep. Woke up for Sunday School the next day! Man I really slept like a rock on that Sat!
Heh...I am happy to have pulled through that day! (and I am even happier if you read through it all!) That's history and don't worry, I hold no grudges with the DOS. Most importantly, I am happy to appreciate how God blessed me. Gave me a chance to test my own people skills in a tough situation, to see my personality (how I reacted to the situation), to appreciate the solidarity of my fellow duty personnel, and the enjoy the supportiveness of my family...God is great.
Darn, time's running short and I've gotta go now. Keep yourselves drug free and enjoy yourselves ok? Haha see you all soon!
Mature Well
Joshua
