Last week was rotation 5 for the Batallion and for me, yes, i ain't going to be a hypocrite here and not going to defend my staunch stand that i wasn't slacking camp; in fact, i am here to confess a joke that we cracked in the midst of all the crazy things we did in Cougar Resort, "For the first time, i am going to announce to the world that i love outfields; the longer the better". LOL, not going to elaborate on the 'crazy things we did', but i got to admit that the last week was indeed one of the best NSF life you can ever ask for, perhaps even outshining the pre-ORD days, looming in the horizon :) Its a classic case of all hell break loose, and people were going wild, flouting the rules, and calling the company line 'home sweet home'. Thats all i will like to pen down here, for fear of inviting unnecessary flaming and accusations back in camp. Haha.
I still remember during my nascent days as a non-combatant, I was floored by the demanding rigour of the office job and was indeed feeling regretful of my decision back then. The despondent feeling was further compounded when you realized all your other mates, a company worth of combatants, were resting up in bunks for the whole day, while you were pouring through thick stacks of documentations and files in preparation for 4NTM duties. Sometimes when you take a breather outside the office, you take a sneak peek up to your elusive bunks only to realise a handful of them walking by their corridors, complaining of insomnia because they have too much rest.
Furthermore, as part of a decoy to 'deter' people from down pes-ing, office personnels were grounded literally in the office from 730am until 8-9pm, before its time for Roll Call (RO) and the combat fits geared in admin and PT will start streaming down from their bunks, preparing to hit the gym or play some sports, after a complete day of recuperation in their immaculate nests. When you wanted to join your mates in some games, you realise that that you were too lethargic to even climb up the stairs for a good bathe and long night sleep. You start to question yourself, "why do i even want to end up in this predicament in the first place?".
Those were what i label as shitty days of the past, and though some details maybe exaggerated, some epiphanies i have written were indeed what i felt when i was on the other side of the grass, only to realise that the grass back at your side maybe greener. Its also what i firmly believe as the theory of relativity - i will only feel that indignant because the combatants were resting in bunks while i was laboring in the office/armskote. And similarly to put it bluntly, the main reason why i can only feel so shiok and liberated is because the rest were out in the fields. Yes, the theory of relativity is just a euphemism for building one's happiness on top of others' sorrow.
Relativity has helped shed light on the different kind of feelings i experience over the course of my NS journey. It also also helped shape my perspective towards the many perfunctory accusations of 'slack and relax', against many parties. At the end of day, life is never fair and we can never stop comparing, because while my NS life last week was considered slack, i am very confident that there were definitely some other NSF who was reveling and basking in his own little workspace, or even in the comforts of his own house, enjoying his time more than me. (This belief is backed by my own understanding of NSFs, who are living examples of people touring through their 2 years).
The word 'slack' is subjective and relative, and there is never a fix list of descriptions that aptly sums up the word slack, even when you based in on a similar context of National Service. In fact, this rule applies to all adjectives...
"LIFE IS NEVER FAIR - THERE ARE 5 ORANGES, I TAKE 3, YOU TAKE 2.... AND I SAY ITS FAIR" - From the wise words of CO 40 SAR.
Oh yes, my latest love: Badminton.