NDP Rehearsal 1 - Wednesday

Hi all,

This is my first post for term 3.

The Parade Rehearsal.

Anyway, 6 of us, out of I think 42 people in our squad are supposed to come:
1) Aloy Oh
2) Zhu Hua Ying 1A1
3) Leon (1P2 I think)
4) Foo Guo Wei 1P2
5) Boptiyah Chiran (I think his name is spelt like that)
6) MMMMMMEEEEEE

Anyway, we learnt this new thing - the baton drill.

These were the commands:
1) police salute - Hormat Polis, HOR...MAT
2) Turun Senja... Ta
3) Rusok Senja... Ta

Anyway, we were supposed to place the 'front end' of the baton in our armpit while grasping the baton handle when in SEDIA position.

We learnt the basic procedures of the parade - The march in of the right marker, the formal march-in, the saluting, etc. the march-in for the flag bearers, the-flag-raising, the inspection, the reading of the national day message, and the march-pass.

We then started practicing. There were a lot of delays, as we tried to master (though not possible) the individual drills. The march-in was especially terrible. We had to do the marching again and again and again. Phew.

I remembered making a lot of mistakes, especially in my baton saluting. My cadet inspector remarked that my drills were 'too messy', for our drills were supposed to be SHARP AND SWIFT, and we should be taking 'the shortest route' when we move our arms from one position to another. I almost got replaced.

Anyway, saluting while trying to get the baton intact in my armpit was quite difficult initially. At least I managed to in the end.

I think I had marched well. My armswing and leg movement were both rather insinct with the rest of the contingent. Weirdly, I somehow feel out of rhythm at times, when I will start to confuse myself (neurotics)and screw up the marching. I wasn't alone though.

Drills, and drills, and drills. We finally got over with the training, with sore armpits, sore arms, sore shoulders, sore legs, a sore neck, and sore feet. The next day was terrible. The 'aftermath' or 'aftershock' or 'tremors' left behind by the training were vitally impacting. I was partially immobile with my sore body. Sigh. Fortunately, I was able to get over with the pain fast enough.

I hope that I will do better for the next training.

At least I learnt something.

Cheers,
Zhu Cheng