SCS Foundation Term - A Reflection
Hi, my name is NepNero.
I am currently a Senior Specialist Cadet in Lynx Company of Specialist Cadet School 3, posted to Lynx as both the 52/22 Foundation Term (past), and the 52/22 Infantry Professional Term (current)
This is my first proper post (ignore my misery post from earlier) for my Journey in SCS. Having seen all the other blogs about SCS and their journeys, I wanted to blog about my own here and share my experiences with everyone else. As someone who wanted to know a lot about SCS before I entered, I will be as detailed as possible about my recollection of events for those who want an insight into what SCS is like, and how your first 9 weeks in Pasir Laba Camp will be.
The overall organisation of the reflection will be as follows.
- POP and In-Processing to SCS
- Week 1 - Week 3
- EX Tenderfoot
- UOCQB Outfield
- EX Grandprimer
- EX Wanderer
- Week 6 - Week 8
- EX Sergeant Rocky
- Lessons Learnt
POP and In-Processing to SCS
After I POP'd, I had a week of block leave for the admin staff at SCS to determine our postings. Having done well for my Situation Test during my BMT, I had confidence that I would enter a command school; preferably Officer Command School. As the day of our posting drew closer, I waited with bated breath for my posting and hoped that I would at least go to a Command School to at least become a Sergeant, or at best, an Officer for my next year as a NSF.
When I received my posting, I felt conflicted. I was happy to have been posted to SCS, but I was slightly disappointed at not being good enough to be an Officer Cadet at SAFTI MI. Nevertheless, I would be a commander-in-training for the next 5 months, and these next 5 months would definitely be some to remember (or at least, 3 months thus far).
I reported to Pasir Laba Camp at 9 AM in the morning for my In-Processing. Having read up a bit on SCS, I was hoping to be posted to a more welfare company, such as Mohicans or Knights in School 3. Of course though, as luck would have it, I got posted to School 3 Lynx Company. Arguably one of the most regimented companies in SCS for the last 2 years due to the Officer Commanding. However, this expectation of mine did not turn out as expected, as there was an OC change the foundation batch before ours.
My new OC would be MWO Vinod Kumar, a Guardsman, and Ranger in the SAF. Whilst I never had a major run-in with him, he would be one of the examples I aim to become as a future Sergeant. With a kind and compassionate outlook on our training, he organized trainings and encouraged us not as just soldiers, but as fellow commanders and human beings. This inculcated a culture of mutual respect between the company commanders, and the cadets; resulting in a very welcoming and friendly environment in Lynx Company.
Back to the In-Processing, in the first week of Foundation Term, you will engage in some Physical Training (PT) as well as drawing of personal stores (compass, map, pacer, blank attachment, C-Tool) and section stores (Tripflare, Claymore, Matador). You will be taught how to telt your map to protect it from the rain, as well as overlay your map to plan for your NAVEX (NAVigation EXercises). You will also receive your camp pass and be allowed to interact and bond with your section mates during team bonding sessions. Expect to do a lot of signing and accounting for your own items, as you will be using your equipment for the next 9 weeks of training.
Around your second day, you will partake in several activities such as PT, knowledge training, and tekan-sessions in order to earn your Junior Specialist Cadet rank. After your last tekan-sessions, you will be asked to fold your smartest 4 and be led into Leaders Hall, where the CO (Commanding Officer - In this case, Major Benson Chye) will present the Junior Specialist Cadet rank to a representative of the specialist cadets, and your (most likely) PC (Platoon Commander) will present your rank to you. It is at this moment that I personally realised the weight of responsibility and expectation that had been put upon our shoulders. We were now future commanders, and standards will be expected of us.
The rest of your In-Processing week will be quite relaxed, as much of the administration is still being done. Take this time to bond with your new section and get to know them well, as they will be working with you for the next 9 weeks. Better to fight as one than fight in one.
Week 1 to Week 3 - Acclimatization
You will book out on Friday afternoon or Friday evening depending on your company and their stance on booking out, and book in on Sunday night. Make sure you bring a set of civilian attire for BIBO (Book In-Book Out), as I doubt you will want to remain in your smart 4 for Bookout.
Week 2 is where your course truly begins. You will be exposed to a lot of new things, including your SAW Technical Handling Test, your M203 Technical Handling Test, your Matador Technical Handling Test, Claymore Technical Handling Test, and Tripflare Technical Handling Test. You will be taught how to read a map for your upcoming NAVEX, EX Tenderfoot, where terms such as MGR, Azimuth, and mils will be taught.
Be prepared to feel mentally exhausted daily, as you try to absorb all the information being dumped onto you all at once. Physical exhaustion is also not out of the question, as you will undergo PT almost every day. This includes Strength and Power Training, Cardio training, endurance training, and even an IPPT on the first day after book-in.
Of course, if you are one of the unlucky saps that got called for COS, expect to not book out on Friday if you have Saturday COS, or book in early if you have Sunday COS. Incredibly unfortunate guys, thanks for taking one for the team.
Overall, there isn't much to say about week 1 and week 2, as it is primarily just acclimatization to the upcoming, more intensive training that will begin on week 3 onwards, which segways into...
Exercise Tenderfoot
It's week 3, and you should have generally acclimated to the rigorous training and strict regimentation in SCS. It is at this point that your trainers will also start to become more strict and expect higher standards from you as a section and platoon. Fail to deliver, and you will undoubtedly be reprimanded or knock it down to the floor, alternating between pushup position and crunches position. This is in preparation for your upcoming NAVEX, Exercise Tenderfoot.
Tenderfoot is a navigation exercise held in Pasir Laba Camp, where a section will navigate through the jungle near Pengkang hill. Finding around 5 day checkpoints and 2 night checkpoints. Fortunately, you will be accompanied by your Section Trainer, who will guide you back onto the correct path if you turn the wrong way (and believe me, you will turn the wrong way). However, tenderfoot will be fun as long as your section works well together and supports each other.
Personally, for me, I really enjoyed going through Tenderfoot. As someone who enjoys adventuring and going through "treasure hunts" as a child would, leading my section through the jungle was a fantastic experience, minus the fact that I nearly lost my red flashlight filter (oops!). The only thing I really disliked about Tenderfoot was how incompetent I was at navigating originally. However, as I improved, I began enjoying navigating more and more, catalyzing in us reaching every checkpoint successfully (Woohoo!).
A piece of advice I have for Tenderfoot is to do an incessant number of equipment checks.
Bashed through the jungle? Equipment check
Bag got stuck on a Vine? Equipment check
Fell into a pothole? Equipment check.
Buddy went to take a dump? Equipment check.
Makan already? Equipment check.
Nothing to do? You guessed it, equipment check.
Just try your best not to lose anything and your section should cruise through Tenderfoot. It is a fun experience that you will remember for a long time.
UOCQB Outfield
UOCQB Outfield will be your first official stay-out outfield in Foundation Term. It is a 3D2N course that will take place in the Mubai Urban Training Facility (MUTF). There, you will learn how to operate in an urban environment, clearing rooms, and such as a group. There will be a variety of drills, such as open and closed door, windows e.t.c (I can't mention the specifics due to it being restricted and sensitive).
This outfield will be much easier than your BMT Outfield as you are already used to being sweaty and dirty, as well as cleaning outside. All your meals will be outration, delivered to you via the tunnel. Be aware that you will have to form "ration parties", which include 2 front and 2 rear scouts, as well as about 2 people to carry the food, everyone in the ration party must put on their SBO 1 when they grab their food, so be aware of that as well.
In outfield, the true owners of the land are not your Sergeants, Platoon Commanders, or even Officer Commanding. It is the INSECTS that live in MUTF. Expect to be munched on by almost every insect, including Mosquitoes, Sand Flies, Ticks, Ants, and even leeches if you're unlucky enough to be caught in the jungle. It's not a comfortable feeling to be scratching every night, so keep your boots and long 4 on when you go to sleep, as well as spam insect repellent on every corner of your body and bag.
I really enjoyed UOCQB as I felt like a rainbow six siege operator clearing through a house together with other operators. This was further enhanced when we started moving in section level to do section-clearing drills. It was a fantastic experience that I fully look forward to when I go for my next UOCQB in Infantry Pro Term.
EX Grandprimer
As part of an agreement with my old section. I am not allowed to talk about what Grandprimer is, as I actually reported sick for EX Grandprimer. Having gotten a sprained ankle that worsened throughout UOCQB, I reported sick during week 5, hence not being able to participate in EX Grandprimer. However, the core details is that it will be a 4D3N stay-out outfield in Lower Mandai, known as Lorong Asrama. You will conduct drills that will be necessary for Infantry Pro Term and as such, if you report sick, will have to attend the MUT (Makeup Training) in weeks to come, to learn and sharpen your skills.
Personally, I wish that I did not have to report sick for this outfield. I heard that it was incredibly shag, but also extremely fun. Whilst you are suffering in the jungle, everyone else is suffering alongside you, and this built a sense of camaraderie that took a bit to rekindle since I was not part of their Grandprimer group. This formed a small rift in my section, and thus, we operated less efficiently for a short period of time. This is something I truly regret and hope to never repeat for EX Grandslam and EX Warriors.
After completing EX Grandprimer, you will be eligible to pass out as a Sergeant, though you must still make it through the entire course in order to ACTUALLY graduate as a Sergeant during the Specialist Cadet Graduation Parade.
EX Wanderer
EX Wanderer is a 1D0N Outfield that takes place in, you guessed it: Lorong Asrama. It is about the same as EX Tenderfoot. However, in entirely new terrain and without your section trainer. This exercise will test your ability to read your map, follow your compass, and tracking of your pacing. Be aware that checkpoints will be (give or take) a couple of kilometers away from each other. In total, you will trek around 14 km during the day and 6km at the night for EX Wanderer.
Without your section trainer with you, you will be carrying a signal set that will allow you to comms back to your commanders to link up with them when you reach your respective checkpoints. This signal set is HEAVY, and thus, you may want to set up a rotation system within your section to determine who carries the signal set and for how long, as getting one person to do it by himself will usually only end in a major disaster for the entire section, as the guy will be left behind due to them carrying the insane weight by themselves.
Some advice would be to use the SAF 9th core value and bring in some tidbits for you and your section to enjoy while walking. It is a tiring event, and some pick-me-ups will be incredibly helpful. Remember to bring along some insect repellent, as Lorong Asrama has given me the highest bite count to date during outfield: a total of 21 insect bites in 1 day. That's just astounding
The exercise will push you to your limits, both physically and mentally, as once fatigue starts to set in, so does frustration, anger, and impatience. Try to stay mentally strong for both yourself and your section, and ensure that your tightly-knit bonds do not begin to fray, as that would be the worst situation possible to find yourself in when you are but 3 weeks away from EX Sergeant Rocky.
Week 6 to Week 8: The Beginning Of an End
EX Sergeant Rocky
Sergeant Rocky, who is he? Ask your Sect Comm, no one knows. Ask your PLT Comm, he dunno. Ask your CSM, he bodoh. Ask your OC, he know not. Ask the CO, he ask "why u wan know?"
Jokes aside, EX Sergeant Rocky got its name from Rocky Hill Camp, School 4 BMTC; the old holding site for Specialist Cadet School. This exercise is your 0D1N SUMMEX (Summative Exercise), which will test you on all you've learnt throughout your Foundation Term.
The exercise includes a 12 km route march, alongside multiple Technical Handling and Specialist Knowledge tests, such as NVGs, Matadors, SAR21 Specs, M203 Specs and other military knowledge that I can't share here due to it being sensitive and me not wanting to be kena charged for this (I've yet to backread this stuff to make sure that I haven't posted something sensitive).
The entire exercise is also a competition, in which the champion section will obtain a trophy with an engraving of every section members' name onto the trophy. It will be presented to you by the CO before your rank presentation the next day.
My only piece of advice is to have fun, and stay strong. You're almost out of Foundation Term, and you'll have a chance to be posted out of SCS and into a vocation you may want (which can be more slack or more siong).
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