weekly reflections (first time doing this on the comp)

This week marks the end of the SAF day parade rehearsals with the parade itself culminating on the 1st July. I shall focus on the overall basis of the parade.

For administrative matters, I feel that when it came to reporting for attendance, many a time it was too early and as a result deprived us of some necessary sleep. This matter was accentuated by the fact that the whole training programme was planned in a spread-out manner such as to cater to the adaptability and learning capability of every single person who made up the contingent, and thereby every contingent that makes up the parade which stirred impatience in some. However, I actually learned that it was rather hard for the overall organisation to suit the needs of everybody so what was required from us was much cooperation and understanding. Aside from these points, it was rather okay on the whole.

Logistics wise, it did not fare any better either. Though the meals provided were sufficient, rather tasty and came in timely, it was the transport side that proved a downside to this matter. The idea was that the formation whose camp was the closest to SAFTI got to leave the last and this would actually translate to longer waiting times at the end of the day when all one wanted to was to have a good bath and rest for the night. We were provided with a water bottle each from the start which could actually fit into the ILBV magazine pouches nicely and hence it was not so cumbersome having to find drinking water. This was on top of the fact that there were water points accessible at several places such that heat exhaustion was not a qualm. After all, personal responsibility was crucial under such an unpredictable weather.


Training wise, I found that other than having too much practice, it was nonetheless not too over-exerting as breaks were given now and then though it would mean walking quite a great distance from the parade exit point back to the main resting point. The structure of the training programme was quite orderly and in a way such that we picked up the rhythm of the overall parade procedures fast. I quite liked the fact that the parade ICs put in their utmost effort to ensure a full-fledged parade that would not entertain any drop-outs and also an improved version compared to the previous year in terms of coordination, planning, and ability to rectify the mistakes in light of the CDF vetting.

On the whole, it was ultimately one's presence during such a prestigious parade that was all the more alluring to the participant. Only through hard work put in days to weeks before the parade that one was able to relish from one's effort ultimately at the end. It was quite a fine experience having to partake in the parade not by watching it or taking part in the in-camp parades but by being part of the actual big parade itself.