Back to the future

The arduous 11 days are finally over - arduous in all sense of the word: constipated boredom, awaiting, feeling pressured, rushing, awaiting again; not to mention the painful exercise that was not physically challenging but climatically so. The rain was incessant in its relentless assault on the soil causing conditions to be poor and thoroughly challenging. The freshly brewed mud pervaded not only the air but invaded my boots. For those 3 days, I was soaked and thoroughly miserable while constantly worried about the line communications that could short-circuit anytime in those weather conditions.

But the army has indeed changed much. In those weather conditions, we used to carry on with our training. Today, the weather station informs HQ about the conditions - CAT 1 Thunderstorms and heavy showers - and the training is suspended.

It was nonetheless an enriching experience. Being out in the field again, surrounded by open ground and tall trees, I was led to recall my simpler years in NS; perhaps the smell of the mud triggered a conditioning reflex for recollection. In the wee hours of the morning, while sitting on the tailboard of the rover, keeping attention while trying to get some shut-eye, I felt as if the 8 years in between had surrealistically vanished. Everything was so familiar: the wet boots, the soaked uniform, the greasy rifle, the filthy rover, the smell of fresh oxygen, the rhythmic chirp of the crikets, the orange night sky. There was a certain peace amidst all the insanity that had occured earlier in the day. When everything had settled and only the sounds of mother nature prevailed, I was led to recall why I had never minded the mosquitoes and the soiled hands when being in the field. In these training areas, there is a paradoxical beauty - one that is unusual in this urban sprawl that covers almost every inch of this tiny land.

I was grateful for the experience ... and the certificate awarded by the Brigade commander for outstanding performance for this ICT! I find it an ironic joke really ... But now reality returns and so does my work.