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BARRACK LIFE DURING SECTION TRAINING
195
TEN
Happy revellers at ‘B’ Company Farewell Party.
seniority in rank or service as a basis for promotion and the deferment eventually proved to
be nothing more than an administrative measure except, of course, in terms of placement on
the officers’ salary scale. But, those who were deferred were initially sent to various weapons
training courses and later assigned to outside units as Assistant Platoon Commanders,
wearing officer cadet georgettes.
The final rehearsals included prize winners collecting their prizes from the Reviewing Officer.
The overall best trainee was Gurcharan Singh of ‘A’ Company and Swee Boon Chai was best
trainee of ‘B’ Company. There were also prizes for the best shot, the best in PT, and the best
time returned for the 10 km run—Ponnusamy Kalastree of ‘B’ Company. These trainees had
to practise stepping out of their ranks, marching to the reviewing stand, receiving the award,
placing the award on a side table and marching back to their places, with the appropriate
stamping of feet and salutes. In the meantime, their right hand neighbours had to hold their
rifles for them.
In both companies, plans were made to celebrate the end of the phase. ‘A’ Company simply
arranged for a multi-course Chinese dinner in a restaurant called the Half-Way House at the
village surrounding the junction of Bukit Timah Road and Jalan Jurong Kechil. Officers,
NCOs and wives or partners were included. ‘B’ Company decided to celebrate the event
with a dinner in the company square, with an impromptu concert performance provided by
the trainees. Director, SAFTI, LTC Kirpa Ram Vij was the Guest-of-Honour. The trainees
built the stage over two days, with the help of SAFTI QM and the Training Aids staff. Both
companies planned their respective function on the night of 18
th
November to facilitate the
departure the next day of those who wanted to use the railway warrant for a holiday in West
Malaysia.