soon, you are presented with a failed relationship and a new posting you'll never forget

the celebration would be short lived. you return to the school. the rumors, the chatter, they irritate you. and it's announced, your final posting, the third one already. you hear yours, you hear the call of an infantry unit. ouch. you call your girl, your dad. they are as clueless as you are. relax, you still have a few days of leave before you embark on the route to unit life. "turn left, you see a scorpion logo, just wait at the block". the very first words from my new home. compelled, unwillingly it home. it has to be. it's stay-in. you would spend the next half of your national service mostly in camp. no complains. yet. you are still clueless, remember? not for long. the briefings, the introduction, the "unit induction programme" crap. they tell you things, show you things. and you whine. you grumble. to your girl, your family, your friends -like a spoilt toddler deprived of his toys and cartoons.

they tell you that you would command an anti-tank team. ouch. you face the mirror and see a petite 1.65m build. stout. and you wonder. why me? the additional 16.1kg of steel. really, why me? and as you try to get used to the fact that it's drizzling with bad news, she hits you with a thunderbolt. and the storm begins, you are alone, she wants out. you go through a period of reflection, the people who care tell you things. you listen. you drown yourself with music. you try to salvage the relationship. you realise... that it's you. you need an overhaul.

to the potential unfortunates

endure the pain and lack of recognition , enjoy the relieve and hidden fulfillment. you'll be forced to maturity.

 Technical Terms

sai kang = pronounced  Sai - Gung, it's a hokkien dialect slang for extra work load. usually comes without warning.

ord = also ORD. stands for Operationally Ready Date when conscripted soldiers leave the army for civilian livelihood.

Lao jiaos = hokkien dialect. meaning old birds. you carry this status after much experience in a particular field, usually relative to the new enlistees or new birds.

smoke out= an activity. or inactivity. happens when you avoid or shirk a particular responsibility. you fail when you get caught.