Fate is a tangle...follow 1 thread
This week went alot better for me. After all the major events have passed, the much deserved administration break sets in. Well, as for myself and a few others, with Games Day coming up we had to train hard for the competition. Everyone seems pressured by the goals set from the top: "I want this company to win first." Words from my OC...Amidst all the frustration and cracking our heads on how to put on a good show, I managed to applied the theory "too many chefs spoil the broth." That's the problem when you train a leadership batch, everyone has their own opinion, but who's gonna listen. On top of that, several external factors have broken the internal team spirit and unity we had from the start.
On a positive note, I passed my Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) the army equivalent of the school's NAPFA test. I just don't know how I manage to do it, I'm not exactly a physically fit person. Thanks again to God who makes all things possible.
The 5 stations with some advice for future NSmen:
1) Sit - ups - Your daily regime of crunches should give you the strength to accomplish an easy 40 in 1 minute....this should be the station you score most points in. Unless you have abdominal problems like myself, than aim to pass or for Silver (34<)
2) Standing Broad Jump - A problem station for many. This is the first time I passed in 3 years, the last time was Secondary 4....One technique, swing your arms up and coordinate a tip - toe to acheive a spring effect, than swing back once and when your hands come to the front, give a tug - jump (legs touching your chest) and land pushing your hands back. This should give you the the boost to thrust forward. My score, 221, 5 points from the 216 passing mark.
3) Shuttle Run - This you gotta practice, it tests your stability, reaction time and opening up of your steps. Always run in a straight line (MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE). How to practice? You can run 25m back and forth each day and turn touching your toe as a marking...3 months practice would more than suffice.
4) Chin - ups - Another problem station, work on improving your upper body strength first, start with 40 push - ups a day, than go on to assisted chin - ups and by 3 months you should be able to do 6 standard ones without any difficulty. Try using the undergrasp as it works on the bicep muscles which are the fastest to develop. Progressive training does help, from zero I improved by 1 more every week and cleared with 12 at the end. That's a 5 point and would help for your attainment of gold.
5) 2.4km Run - The most demanding station after a 15 minute rest from the static stations. Implement the correct breathing technique (Breathe in through your nose, hold for 2 seconds and breathe out through your mouth) Do this continuously and have enough blood circulate your body. Even if you are too spanned out, the 2.4km is short enough to endure and push yourself. Try running for 20 minutes, twice a week to develop your stamina.
Note: You need to pass all stations in 1 attempt, with 2 - 5 minute break between each static station and 15 minutes before the 2.4km run. Failure in a single static station would allow you to re - take that particular one, but failure in 2 or the 2.4km run would mean you have to re - sit the entire test or probably come back during your block leave.
1) Those wanting to sign on to SAF must PASS!
2) Those wanting to attend Command School must PASS!
3) Those wanting to officially graduate from Basic Military Training (BMT) must also PASS!
Despite all the aching here and there, I think it was worth it. Am currently down with conjunctivitis and must thus quarantine myself so as not to infect anyone else.
I'm still torn between the following 2 decisions:
1) To attend Command School (Benefits - Looks good on your resume, larger pay)
2) To join the SAF Music & Drama Company (Benefits - Get to come home everyday, where my passion lies)
Will write again when I can...
posted by Primordialism Instrumentalism @ 9:25 PM
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