Army Open House
I'm finally back! I've been really hard at work ever since my last entry, and it feels great to be at home again. I was working at the Army Open House that lasted from last Thursday to yesterday (Monday), for five days. But I have been preparing for it since weeks ago.
The Open House is where the army throws open its doors for the public to experience the military life. The main attractions are all the vehicles, tanks and aircraft, of course, but there are other things like live shows and firing of weapons. You could fire live rounds from the SAR 21, Singapore's main rifle (though I'm issued an M16), or you could fire blanks from a wide variety of small arms. You could take a ride on tanks or light scout vehicles too, or sit on a truck and be driven out to an isolated area to watch tanks fire live rounds. It's really very exciting.
But I didn't do all of those. :(
I was really really busy during the working hours. My battalion, among other things, was offering a bluetooth download service at various rest points throughout the camp where the Open House is held, a little gimmick that lets you download wallpapers featuring tanks and soldiers striking cool poses and stuff. And they chose a few select people to man those booths. One of them happens to be yours truly.
But my job scope goes way beyond that. Out of the 20 people that were picked for the job, five of them were chosen to be the representatives of the battalion in a division wide effort to give a friendly face to the public. They were called the Ambassadors. These ambassadors work as helpers and guides. Ever been to Disneyland (I haven't)? There are those people who go around with a smiley face and they give you directions when you're lost and free balloons to kids randomly. Yeah, we're like that. Ambassadors are supposed to know the whole place like the back of their hand, and you can bet that I do have that knowledge with me.
Ah, but that's not all that I'm supposed to do. Because I was picked to be one of the elite few, the Tour Guides.
There are very few tour groups reserved for the Open House, and they are really, really important people. CEOs of local companies. Council members. Japanese delegates. American colonels. War veterans. Out of five days, I led a total of four tours, once a day. And I can tell you that it was an experience, though I now know that tour guiding is not my forte.
My first day was spent leading CEOs around. It was really hectic and chaotic, because it was raining and it was my very first time doing this kind of thing. To put it bluntly, we (there were four of us) were like sheepdogs rounding up sheep and bringing them from place to place. But I got better from then on. If you gave me the exact group and told me to give them a tour again, I'd do a better job this time. Well actually if you did tell me to give another tour I'd kick your shins but nevermind that.
There were no groups on the second day, which was a huge relief. I really needed a breather after the first tour group. I spent the day working at one of the download booths and marvelling at how easy life is when I'm stuck in there.
A group of women calling themselves the 'Women's Executive Council' or something like that came on the third day. They weren't the gorgeous babes everyone expected (and hoped) they would be, but instead a throng of middle-aged ladies who nearly all have seen motherhood already. They were actually the best group to guide through, in terms of difficulty. I treat them like I would my mother or aunt, and they in turn treat me as their son. So it all went down very well. I think the defining point of that day was when I led a real guided tour around all the military hardware and explaining to them briefly what each of them does, like what a real tour guide would do. I could have just let them wander around and have a look themselves actually, but I just went ahead and did it. I hoped they enjoyed themselves, though.
The group of council members came down on the next day. They're not atrocious, but they were the worst out of all the four groups. These middle aged men and women are leaders, in a way, and some if not all of them are rather pushy because and maybe in spite of it. Any slight delay and they would start grumbling about it. It's lucky there wasn't any major mishaps or I'd receive complaints from them, I'm sure of it.
The group that came on the last day however, is in my opinion, the best group that I've had the opportunity to meet. You might even have heard of them. They're from the World Veterans Federation. Please don't mind if I talk more about them than I do the other groups, because I feel that I should.
The funny thing about this group is that I didn't know who I was taking until an hour before they arrived. And even then, I didn't realise the magnitude of who I was taking around until I saw them in person. These are men and women who really have seen and suffered from wars. Most of them were old. I remember hearing that the average age of these ladies and gentlemen was 65 years old, so the idea of a few of them having seen the second world war is not that far-fetched.
And they came from all over the world. Israel. Britain. Saudi Arabia. Philippines. Indonesia. Vietnam. Probably Germany. Probably Nigeria. And I'm sure from a lot more places. Looking at all of them while they had their lunch in a private place, it felt like the spirit of the United Nations was there in front of my eyes. People from all over the world, who have probably experienced the same wars from either side, peacefully having their lunch.
Some of them were military officers during their time, and they wore their uniforms when they came to visit. The one that stood out was the three generals from Vietnam. I forget the rank of one, but there was a two-star and a four-star, the highest ranking possible. They look like they've been through the Vietnam War, and that's a major thing. These people played a part in the history of mankind, and I've met these people in person and shook their hands. Most of you know that I'm a huge history buff and I'm planning to study archeology, which is in itself a study on history, so this is really a big thing for me.
You would expect that being such a 'somebody', they would be rather demanding about things, kinda like some pop stars that don't get their way sometimes. But in actual fact they were very, very courteous and polite. It was raining that day, and I got an umbrella to escort them through a gap in between two buildings. The first came with me, feeling very pleased. The second and third laughed as they jogged through the rain. A few more told me to escort an Indian woman wearing a sari, and that they could manage. And they were very practical; one of them spotted a booth that was giving out disposable ponchos, and quickly distributed them to the rest of the group. One by one they fumbled with the flimsy plastic to cover themselves with while they walked the rest of the way. Some were laughing at themselves and at their friends while they too were struggling to find the right hole for their head. I helped some of them, and each and every one of them thanked me when I was done.
The gentlemen I remember most was one of the few that I helped. He kept getting the holes wrong, and he kept saying, "Okay? Okay" after each try. I tried my best not to laugh, but I had to smile, because he was so graceful. In the end we succeeded, but it was the wrong side and the little cape that was supposed to cover his head was in front of him. By then the majority of them had moved on so I had to lead him on. I really did my best to ensure that they had the best of everything, partly because they were celebrities in their own way, but also because they were old enough to be my grandfathers, and I treated them as such. But there was an oddity in the form of a relatively young and attractive lady that was with the group. She looked in her late 20s or early 30s, and she was a stark contrast in comparison to the others. I had a chance to speak with her for a few moments while escorting her through the drizzle, and she told me that she was born in London, but was raised in France. That was quite a surprise, but it also explained the aura of elegance that she has, I suppose.
They were also very impressed with the military. "Great display!" Remarked one elegant and elderly dame from England, which I accepted with a word of thanks. I also asked a question or two to a couple of Saudi Arabians, about how they feel about this country. They said that the soldiers here are very disciplined and the country is very clean, and that this is their first time here. They were diplomatic answers, but somehow it meant a lot to me.
The only low point was when I had to escort the bus carrying them from one end of the camp to another. I have to admit, I really don't know the roads well, and truth be told, I really messed up by going to wrong way round. But as usual, they were all very nice with it. "Just be careful," remarked a man sitting just behind me at the time, "You're carrying national antiques here!" And the entire bus erupted with laughter.
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to most of them later on, because I was busy catching hold of a few stragglers that were ambling slowly across the last exhibit. By the time I had finished, most of them were already on the bus and waiting to go back to their hotel rooms. But the generals from Vietnam were having a last conversation with a local colonel. They exchanged souvenirs and shook hands, then they parted ways. Seizing my chance, I rushed forward and extended a hand towards them. "It has been an honor, sir," I said as each of them shook my hand, "A great honor."
I think they understood what I was saying. And I really felt that way. This is one of those times when you reach a memorable moment in your life, and you think back and say, "That was a great experience." And it is. I have stood with people who were somebody, somebody when they were young, and they've done things that helped shape the world. And they're still working at it, changing the world for the better. The best part is that they are all a bunch of very nice people.
I feel like I've just stepped across the line separating the mundane and the special.
The Open House is where the army throws open its doors for the public to experience the military life. The main attractions are all the vehicles, tanks and aircraft, of course, but there are other things like live shows and firing of weapons. You could fire live rounds from the SAR 21, Singapore's main rifle (though I'm issued an M16), or you could fire blanks from a wide variety of small arms. You could take a ride on tanks or light scout vehicles too, or sit on a truck and be driven out to an isolated area to watch tanks fire live rounds. It's really very exciting.
But I didn't do all of those. :(
I was really really busy during the working hours. My battalion, among other things, was offering a bluetooth download service at various rest points throughout the camp where the Open House is held, a little gimmick that lets you download wallpapers featuring tanks and soldiers striking cool poses and stuff. And they chose a few select people to man those booths. One of them happens to be yours truly.
But my job scope goes way beyond that. Out of the 20 people that were picked for the job, five of them were chosen to be the representatives of the battalion in a division wide effort to give a friendly face to the public. They were called the Ambassadors. These ambassadors work as helpers and guides. Ever been to Disneyland (I haven't)? There are those people who go around with a smiley face and they give you directions when you're lost and free balloons to kids randomly. Yeah, we're like that. Ambassadors are supposed to know the whole place like the back of their hand, and you can bet that I do have that knowledge with me.
Ah, but that's not all that I'm supposed to do. Because I was picked to be one of the elite few, the Tour Guides.
There are very few tour groups reserved for the Open House, and they are really, really important people. CEOs of local companies. Council members. Japanese delegates. American colonels. War veterans. Out of five days, I led a total of four tours, once a day. And I can tell you that it was an experience, though I now know that tour guiding is not my forte.
My first day was spent leading CEOs around. It was really hectic and chaotic, because it was raining and it was my very first time doing this kind of thing. To put it bluntly, we (there were four of us) were like sheepdogs rounding up sheep and bringing them from place to place. But I got better from then on. If you gave me the exact group and told me to give them a tour again, I'd do a better job this time. Well actually if you did tell me to give another tour I'd kick your shins but nevermind that.
There were no groups on the second day, which was a huge relief. I really needed a breather after the first tour group. I spent the day working at one of the download booths and marvelling at how easy life is when I'm stuck in there.
A group of women calling themselves the 'Women's Executive Council' or something like that came on the third day. They weren't the gorgeous babes everyone expected (and hoped) they would be, but instead a throng of middle-aged ladies who nearly all have seen motherhood already. They were actually the best group to guide through, in terms of difficulty. I treat them like I would my mother or aunt, and they in turn treat me as their son. So it all went down very well. I think the defining point of that day was when I led a real guided tour around all the military hardware and explaining to them briefly what each of them does, like what a real tour guide would do. I could have just let them wander around and have a look themselves actually, but I just went ahead and did it. I hoped they enjoyed themselves, though.
The group of council members came down on the next day. They're not atrocious, but they were the worst out of all the four groups. These middle aged men and women are leaders, in a way, and some if not all of them are rather pushy because and maybe in spite of it. Any slight delay and they would start grumbling about it. It's lucky there wasn't any major mishaps or I'd receive complaints from them, I'm sure of it.
The group that came on the last day however, is in my opinion, the best group that I've had the opportunity to meet. You might even have heard of them. They're from the World Veterans Federation. Please don't mind if I talk more about them than I do the other groups, because I feel that I should.
The funny thing about this group is that I didn't know who I was taking until an hour before they arrived. And even then, I didn't realise the magnitude of who I was taking around until I saw them in person. These are men and women who really have seen and suffered from wars. Most of them were old. I remember hearing that the average age of these ladies and gentlemen was 65 years old, so the idea of a few of them having seen the second world war is not that far-fetched.
And they came from all over the world. Israel. Britain. Saudi Arabia. Philippines. Indonesia. Vietnam. Probably Germany. Probably Nigeria. And I'm sure from a lot more places. Looking at all of them while they had their lunch in a private place, it felt like the spirit of the United Nations was there in front of my eyes. People from all over the world, who have probably experienced the same wars from either side, peacefully having their lunch.
Some of them were military officers during their time, and they wore their uniforms when they came to visit. The one that stood out was the three generals from Vietnam. I forget the rank of one, but there was a two-star and a four-star, the highest ranking possible. They look like they've been through the Vietnam War, and that's a major thing. These people played a part in the history of mankind, and I've met these people in person and shook their hands. Most of you know that I'm a huge history buff and I'm planning to study archeology, which is in itself a study on history, so this is really a big thing for me.
You would expect that being such a 'somebody', they would be rather demanding about things, kinda like some pop stars that don't get their way sometimes. But in actual fact they were very, very courteous and polite. It was raining that day, and I got an umbrella to escort them through a gap in between two buildings. The first came with me, feeling very pleased. The second and third laughed as they jogged through the rain. A few more told me to escort an Indian woman wearing a sari, and that they could manage. And they were very practical; one of them spotted a booth that was giving out disposable ponchos, and quickly distributed them to the rest of the group. One by one they fumbled with the flimsy plastic to cover themselves with while they walked the rest of the way. Some were laughing at themselves and at their friends while they too were struggling to find the right hole for their head. I helped some of them, and each and every one of them thanked me when I was done.
The gentlemen I remember most was one of the few that I helped. He kept getting the holes wrong, and he kept saying, "Okay? Okay" after each try. I tried my best not to laugh, but I had to smile, because he was so graceful. In the end we succeeded, but it was the wrong side and the little cape that was supposed to cover his head was in front of him. By then the majority of them had moved on so I had to lead him on. I really did my best to ensure that they had the best of everything, partly because they were celebrities in their own way, but also because they were old enough to be my grandfathers, and I treated them as such. But there was an oddity in the form of a relatively young and attractive lady that was with the group. She looked in her late 20s or early 30s, and she was a stark contrast in comparison to the others. I had a chance to speak with her for a few moments while escorting her through the drizzle, and she told me that she was born in London, but was raised in France. That was quite a surprise, but it also explained the aura of elegance that she has, I suppose.
They were also very impressed with the military. "Great display!" Remarked one elegant and elderly dame from England, which I accepted with a word of thanks. I also asked a question or two to a couple of Saudi Arabians, about how they feel about this country. They said that the soldiers here are very disciplined and the country is very clean, and that this is their first time here. They were diplomatic answers, but somehow it meant a lot to me.
The only low point was when I had to escort the bus carrying them from one end of the camp to another. I have to admit, I really don't know the roads well, and truth be told, I really messed up by going to wrong way round. But as usual, they were all very nice with it. "Just be careful," remarked a man sitting just behind me at the time, "You're carrying national antiques here!" And the entire bus erupted with laughter.
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to most of them later on, because I was busy catching hold of a few stragglers that were ambling slowly across the last exhibit. By the time I had finished, most of them were already on the bus and waiting to go back to their hotel rooms. But the generals from Vietnam were having a last conversation with a local colonel. They exchanged souvenirs and shook hands, then they parted ways. Seizing my chance, I rushed forward and extended a hand towards them. "It has been an honor, sir," I said as each of them shook my hand, "A great honor."
I think they understood what I was saying. And I really felt that way. This is one of those times when you reach a memorable moment in your life, and you think back and say, "That was a great experience." And it is. I have stood with people who were somebody, somebody when they were young, and they've done things that helped shape the world. And they're still working at it, changing the world for the better. The best part is that they are all a bunch of very nice people.
I feel like I've just stepped across the line separating the mundane and the special.