OC/PC/CSM: Oi XXX, why [insert saikang here] still not done?! why so #$@#$!!??!

man: eh, dunno ah, ask sergeant. (¬ . ¬)

sergeant: *mumbles nabeh

oh yeah, and we still got to drive.

seems like lots of posts on army in the local anime blogosphere. quite a few are conscripted this week. including me. well sort of…

Not really. With every path you walk, you miss out on the experiences that another path would offer. I believe you are maturing in ways that the Army would never do to us.

Seriously. What is your gender? :p

@Panther

In regards to the ‘gap year’ that we are all subjected to, I guess we can only make the best out of whatever is possible.

@Stifler

Knock it down!

@bakavic

Time is the remedy to eroding away that accent of yours.

@TinyRedMan

I have faith that you will be a cool dude in the Army. Well that is based on my experience, because I find poly graduates more likable than those from jc since they tend to have a certain maturity in them. Hor.

@P-Meister

I am now a sage in appreciating anime boobies. It is all about opportunity cost my friend.

If you have an ‘ang moh’ accent like I do. Drop it. You will be constantly subjected to mockery. My nickname was the ‘BBC’. In Rome, do as the Romans do.

Haha, true true. People keep telling me I eat too much kangtang (potatoes). And it doesn’t help that my chinese is terrible, so I usually reply to people in english. Furthermore, I’m from a mostly poly batch, so I stick out even more. But still, I have my accent; can’t really get rid of it.

What you said about earning respect, and not using your rank is probably the biggest lesson I’ve learnt so far in NS. Wished I had learnt it faster…my first few weeks as a commander were painful.

True, that. Removal of one pair can get you up to two weeks of MC, so its best to remove it one pair at a time. That can get you up to 4 weeks of MC, and that’s a whole mouth out.

“Respect is earned and not obtained through ‘commanders’ training’. That is why social dynamics are so important, and prove to be useful when you enter the working society or if you move on to university afterwards.”

Like Panther said, respect is earned. Rank really does not play a part when you are an NSF. I joke around with my sergeants and officers all the time. However, there are those who abuse the power given to them. If you are under that kind of officers, then good luck to you.

“A lot of learning can be done if soldiers used the time spent to fap over FHM and Maxim magazines to do something productive.”

This is especially true, even more so if you are in a position where you can learn skills that you can carry with you. For example, lets say that you picked up working on servers during your NS days. If you’re any good at it, you can even get a job with it. Some of my ORD-ed friends currently hold places at companies where they basically do the same thing they have been doing in their NS times – that is, configure servers.

“Command school is overrated.”

Only good thing about it is the pay you get. And even then, that’s not much.

“NS can really be fruitful if one learns the ways of social dynamics and if he is capable of using the time to reflect on his life.”

True. It is whether or not you intend to do it that matters though. I look at it as something that many pass over, like they tend to think “Ok 9 more months to ORD, don’t think about it just get over it” and they hardly think about other matters in the end. I mean, look at daily chats in NS while you were in it. Usually, they were trivial matters. Only towards the end of NS were you looking forward to long-term prospects.

“European students usually take a gap year before entering university, and NS can be considered as our ‘Gap Year’”

Maybe for the elite of the elite, ie. PES E clerks. I hardly consider it a good gap year if all you do (if you get into most of the normal vocations) is rot.

“And back to social dynamics, that is exactly what is to be the most valuable skill one can ever acquire- managing relationships. I bring this fact into the light and which is that we did not join the armed forces, we were conscripted. You can put me in the uniform but you cannot put the uniform in me.

QFFT, last part. In NS you get a first glimpse, if you have not already, of the sick and sad world of politics you will face in the world outside. It is time to learn first-hand about some sad truths of human nature, boys (and girls if you ever go in).

“Respect is earned and not obtained through ‘commanders’ training’. That is why social dynamics are so important, and prove to be useful when you enter the working society or if you move on to university afterwards.”

Again, QFFT. The commanders who do not realize that respect is earned through trust and relationships have a long way to go as actual leaders.

Wisdom tooth removal is a useful way of obtaining MC.

Use it towards the end of your NS.