Commissioning wasn't the end. It was the begining.
Sunday, 11 April 2010
I always thought commissioning was the end of it all.
You know, in addition to the salary increment and a nice new label, my impression of officership was , well, to be brutally honest, slacking around.
I always expected that I would get some staff job somewhere with no real responsibility. Where my days would be as boring as can be and I would do the 8-5 life.
Suddenly, I'm thrust into an entirely new environment.
As a platoon commander there is alot more to officership than on the surface.
When one of my men asks to apply urgent leave, I tried as far as possible to allow it. Yet the guidelines are clear, the rules unflinching. I had to explain to him that I couldn't it. It was quite a surreal moment for me.
I never imagined being on that side of the conversation before. The army is an organisation, and like any other corporate entity, its regulations are cold and unfeeling. When I explained it to him, I could see his expression flash from hope to despair to anger before it faded back into a mask of neutrality.
Suddenly, I have to be the bad guy.
"Sir my girlfriend is sick I have to take care of her."
"I'm sorry but the SAF policy is that immediate family members only. I'm afraid I can't approve your leave"
"But she has nobody to watch over her, I'm all she's got! Sir don't be so heartless!"
"That's just the way it is. Army directives are extremely clear on this issue. Nothing you say can sway my decision."
FUCK. I felt like such a bastard right there and then. OCS never warned you about shit like this.
@ 14:02
Clement Yap
