I'm being presumptuous here, as I will not be officially called an Ex-soldier until January 2012, nonetheless I'm quite excited, and to a certain extent, emotional over my soon to be changed status. Come this January, I'll be serving my last In-Camp Training (ICT).
Can't say I like the Army. While others always like to talk about their active days, I'm just glad it's over back in June 2001 when I "ORDed". The two and a half years was stretched across four years, since Dec 1998. While my college friends are still enjoying their life after their A levels, I got called in barely a month after the exams. I still bear a grudge over that.
Nonetheless I think I changed a lot because of Army. Before that the focus was always to study. In the Army, books is the last thing on my mind. I took on a leadership role for the first time in my life, I made friends with vastly different background and life experiences, I got scolded by sergeants, CSMs, PCs and OCs. All these experiences strangely make me a more confident and open person. I also got the nickname "Lion", which not many people know the real reason. They all thought it was because of my hair.
Sinced I ORDed, they called me back almost every year for ICT. No matter what I still don't like Army Training, but it became a chance for us to see our friends, and a getaway from our work. And the yearly IPPT is continues to be a nuisance. After I finished my last ICT this coming January, there will be no more IPPT, no more green uniform and helmet. I don't think I'll miss the Army, but I'll definitely treasure the memories I had with it.
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