Actually Earning my CPL Rank

When I put on my uniform yesterday, on the 23rd of December, as I was putting my rank on my uniform, I suddenly felt some pride.

Why? NDU, Commando and Guardsmen Corporals definitely should have their pride in their rank. They go through shit and crap. The rest of us? We just have to clear our IPPT in order to get a Corporal rank. I don't have the privilege to wear a beret. All I have is a stupid cap with the cap badge on it. Well... I earnt the badge, but the rank wasn't really something I felt that I earnt... Until now.

Well... Men expect a few basic things under their Sergeants. We don't have very high expectations of them. At the very least, you should make an interest in our welfare, and not let us suffer because of something you did/did not do. Under normal circumstances, those are the basics.

When shit happens, we look to Sergeants for leadership. When shit happens, at least take it without complaining, because when the Men see you complaining, how do you think we feel? We feel even more fucked up. Being a commander isn't easy. But still, those are the basics.

And those basics have been completely violated.

Basically, shit happened, and we were under-strength. We call him to ask him to fix the damn problem. But apparently, he's at the gym and doesn't want to be disturbed. In the end? Senior Corporal (Me) and Corporal First Class (My friend.) end up covering his ass for him, otherwise, my new guys would have suffered a lot.

After he comes back? He starts to ask about why his duty became longer and why we Men changed the schedule without his permission. Why never answer your phone? KNN...

The next day, more shit happened. I did a grand total of 14 hours of duty, my CFC did 12 hours. The 3SG? 9 Hours. Early morning, my Sergeant Major, already recognising how useless my 3SG was, gave instructions to myself and the CFC. In most other countries, it would be considered an insult to the 3SG, since that was denying the Sergeant the privilege of rank of withholding the information from the men. In Singapore, its not really an insult, because we take it as less work to do.

So, as I started to give instructions, telling people what time to go and rest and what time to come out for duty... He got pissed off, "Don't ask me, just ask him la!" then he walked out. Huh. If you don't want your superiors to give your job to your apparent "Underlings" then you better do your damn job well in the first place.

I secured at 2000, after ten hours of duty since 1000h. I thought "Huh, last 4 hours of my birthday to myself at last..." Yeah, i got my four hours, then got another 4 hours of duty when the 3SG decided his sleep cycle was more important than any of his men. He added MORE hours to me, from 0200-0600, and went to sleep. His next duty? 0700. He got a full night's rest, and why? The 3SG's privilege wad... Shit happen and supposed to secure at 0200, instead he grabs the man to do the extra duty for him...

Thank god my ORDed officer called. For 9 months he inspired me, and even after he ORD, he continues to do so. He called me to ask what was going on, and then encouraged both of us seniors to continue doing whatever we were doing.

That helped so much because when I went out at 2am, I heard the 3SG wanted to give us extra because we were rude, disrespectful and disobeyed his orders.

OMG I was so ANGRY.

Anyway, I didn't get anything, and the 3SG was removed from his appointment... So all's well that ends well. :D