NS Field Camp for Women Oversubscribed with Over 1K Applicants

Back in the days when I just started my BMT, I’ve heard horror stories of the impending dreaded field camp: Some told me that it’s going to be the worst seven days of my life, some told me that I’ll cry like a boy during that period and some told me to break my legs so that I won’t need to sleep in the jungle for six nights.

And they were right: it was then the worst seven days of my life until I worked in Goody Feed, but that’s for another article.

On the day that I could go back to my camp, the toilet, bed, showerhead, air, smell and almost everything feel like a privilege. Of course weeks and months passed, and sleeping in the jungle became routine, but if given a chance again, I won’t want to sleep in a place filled with mosquitoes that could bite humans through the uniform.

And I certainly won’t call this a Golden Opportunity.

But someone else did, and over 1,000 apparently applied to feed the mosquitoes in the jungle just to experience what most Singaporean sons have gone through.

Women-Only Boot Camp

The Ang Mo Kio Women’s Executive Committee (WEC) had a good idea: they organized a field camp that’s catered just for women, and it’s as realistic as it sounds: a 2-Day-1-Night event at Maju Camp (that’s a real camp located next to SIM), and participants would get to do these:

• Handle SAR21, a real weapon Singaporean soldiers use and ironically the rifle that Singaporean soldiers refer to as their “wife”
• Go through a 3KM route march: it’s like walking in a group while carrying many things, including the rifle. Singing is optional.
• Going through SOC: just think of it as a terrifying playground for adults
• Tasting combat rations – combat rations are like Prima Taste Ready-to-Eat meals minus the brand. Here, take a look at a video we’ve done for them (disclaimer: It’s a sponsored video but anyways):

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• Building basha – it’s a temporary tent for soldiers to sleep in in the jungle, though many of us won’t have the privilege nor time to build one except during BMT
• Eating meals in cookhouse – think of it as a torture, but come on: each meal supposedly cost about $6 leh
• Sleeping in military bunks…i.e. sleeping in a place without air-conditioner

Sounds fun?

Not to me. I mean, I’m doing that every year nowadays and the only fun part is the relief from work and the chit-chat sessions with NS buddies, not the military aspect.

But hey: it turns out that not everyone shares my views, because over 1,000 people are willing to pay $55 (or $45 if they are PAssion Card member) to experience that.

And there are only slots for 100.

The Young & Old All Queued to Join

The applicants are from all ages, with the youngest being 13 and the oldest being 64. The average age is at 29. With it being oversubscribed, a ballot would be conducted to select the 100 brave souls.

Taking place on 1 and 2 September, the enlistees – I mean, participants, would partner with female regular soldiers and volunteers from the SAFVC. A medic would also be on site for the duration of the camp, though all guys would have known that (and of course there’ll be a conducting officer, a safety officer…etc).

Participants would know by 19 August on whether they’re 1 of the chosen 100.

Inspiration for the Camp: Dads for Life Camp

So, why this camp?

The camp is apparently an initiative by the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence, in which their role is to create initiatives from the community that’ll better support things like national defence or NS.

Last year, they had a camp for fathers and their sons organized by the Centre of Fathering, and 200 pairs joined. With that success, they’re hoping there would be a similar experience for women, too.

And by the way, with this result, there might be more of such camps in the future. Do stay tuned.

Good Initiative But~

I do applaud the effort and see it as a good way for women to understand how tough it is to train for NS, though everyone knows that two days is definitely not enough.

However, would this be abused by strawberries who just want to humblebrag online, or by influencers-wannabes to take an IG-worthy image?

Turns out that I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Well, one solution is to disallow phones into the jungle (like the…erm, SOP in the army). After all, they’re also technically not allowed to take pictures in military installations.

But let’s face it: What’s the penalty? 7 extras? They’ll gladly take it for more photo opportunities, man.