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Monday, December 01, 2008

Angry Encounter @ an Army Camp in the West

Today i went to an Army Camp in the West to purchase some army stuff as well as eating in the canteen (since i was in that Camp 4 years ago as a NSF)

I arrived the camp in taxi. 4 years ago, taxi had to park outside and we are required to walk in. As i arrived the camp at ard 1pm plus, the main gate is open, so i try my luck by asking the cabbie to drive in to the camp and stop at the guard house, the guards and the gate IC dint stop me, so i tot, "wow, since when army camp is so liberal" nevertheless, i paid my cab fare and alight, my dress code, Tshirt, 3/4 pants, slippers.

I sign in at the guard house, hand over my IC in exchange of a camp pass.

Now being a normal civilian, things like camera phones, handhelp console (PSP, NDS) are some of the usual stuff that i bring along when i am outside, I was surprise the guards, MP or RP dint ask me to surrender any of the above. Talking about sercurity?? Lol I see none here. Nonetheless, I proceed on to the Emart to purchase my stuff. (thanks god they dint make my life difficult)

After i purchase my stuff, ate the canteen food, i walk down the stairs to go to toilet, passby cook house, just when i was about to make a turn to the toilet, I was stop by a Warrant Officer (As he was in Army Tee and shorts, I dint knew he was a WO till later on) and was questioned on why am I in slippers walking around. (Shortly after his colleagues came by, 1WO Chua and another specialist in uniform)

As I was in a hurry (to the toilet), perhaps my tone isn't that good, i just say, "I am a civilian coming to Emart to buy some stuff." Then I rush off to the direction of the toilet. Once again, I was ordered a halt by 1WO Chua as on "Why my tone is so hostile?"

ok, a break at this point to state my point of view... WTF is going on here?

This 1WO Chua, (in my Point of View, I think he is afraid of offending the higher ranking officers), he ask abt my rank and my name 1st (just in case i am a officer). In my thinking, I wasnt commiting any offences of being sounded "hostile", i gave false info on my name (with the thinking that he wont be so garang as to book me or stop me from leaving the camp).

After all the soft "argument", i ask the WO and 1WO Chua, "Can I go to my toilet now?" (my bladder gonna explode liaoz), I was let go to my toilet break.

at this point, pls bear in mind that I am a normal civilian with camera phone and NDS (which i was not told to surrender) and with slippers and 3/4 pants

After the letting off of yellow water, I proceed on to the guard room to get out of here, BUT~! little did I realise, the NSF in the guardroom asked me if i had some conversation with some WOs earlier on, i said yes, then I was told that the WOs dun allow me to go out of the camp till they arrived at the guardroom.

at this point of time, i am thinking, siao liaoz, i gave false name/info to 1WO Chua, if he tallies with my IC, i die liaoz

Nevertheless, i wait for the arrival of the 3 (WO, 1WO Chua and a specialist in uniform)

1st, I was question on why I lied on my name, (i am thinking i am not committing any crimes or offences, y should I give u my true infos when I was permit an entry at the guardhouse?)

I am on the losing end (since I lied), i apologize to 1WO Chua that i lied abt my name.

2nd, I was question on why my attire is Tee, 3/4 pants and slippers?

Lol, this question is really a WTF question (this is my thinking)

I answered, 1st, there are no written rules saying that the above mentions were not allow to wear to camp. 2nd, being a normal civilian, cant i wear wat I like when i just wanna buy something? 3rd, if my attire is really that inapportiate, i should be stop at the gate, but why am I granted an entry?

Then after the tallying of my infos (since i gave a false name) using my 11B and my IC, 1WO Chua decided to let the matters rest but he said he will bring up this matter to his officer/my unit. I was like "ok, do what ever u want, the offence will be? i dunno, wearing slippers and lying abt my name?"

just when I was about to step off and walk away, that "excellent and sibeh garang" WO (which i dunno isiz WO Wang or WO Wong) stop me again, this time round, he ask to check my handphone and my pockets...

at this point of time, I am really WTF liaoz, when i come in u dun check, when i wanna go out, u check for all these

ok, i think this time round i am pwn-ed by these people, i emptied my pockets, revealing my camera phone and NDS, that "excellent and sibeh garang" WO Wang/Wong thinks that he caught a big fish (me), ask the guard to take down my phone serial number, check my photo contents and also take down my NDS serial number as well. Then he ask me to counter sign on some paper that the poor guard wrote. And the best thing is, he ask his men to use a metal detector to scan my body (Big Clap)

at this point of time, i dun wanna say anything liaoz

But to my surprise, that "excellent and sibeh garang" WO Wang/Wong, actually ask me, "do u know u are suppose to surrender all these?"

Wow, Big Clap Big Clap to him sia, U ARE ASKING ME THIS QUESTION? UR GUARDS, RP SHOULD CONDUCT A CHECK ON ME BEFORE I GO IN TO THE CAMP. Well done to the lack of security. In my point of view, I AM JUST A NORMAL CIVILIAN, BRINGING MY CAMERA PHONE AND NDS TO SOMEWHERE TO BUY SOME STUFF THATS ALL~!

I answered him, "sir, in the 1st place ur guards should conduct a check on me and ask me to surrender those stuff, i am just here buying some emart things"

To my surprise, 1WO Chua actually said something along this line "We know wat to do, we dun need you to teach ur father how to do things" (well done soldier for saying this word "ur father")

after all these fiasco, I ask the WO Wang/Wong, "Can I go now? I am in a hurry, dun ask me to stop again later on." Its only then, i was let go...

thru this incident, I learn a few things (in my point of view)

Wear slippers to Emart only when u are an officer or when u drove in to camp (Then only the WOs will not make things difficult for you or the guards will not see u in slippers)

Always give ur true name when question by army staff in uniform (u dun wanna end up in that embarrasses situation that I am in)

When going into camp, PLEASE~! DUN BRING PSP, NDS, CAMERA PHONES even u are going there for a short while

As far as I am thinking right now, few questions in my head...

Will the guards, MPs RPs conduct checks for SFI drivers who deliver food for cook house?

Will those WOs conduct a "No warning" spot checks on all the bunks and officers on their possession of camera phones, smart phones and handheld consoles?

Since Army allows sandals to be worn, should I just wear the sandals without fastening the straps?

Anyway, still I must thank 1WO Chua for letting the matters rest at wearing slippers and hostile tone and to that WO Wang/Wong, I think Army should give u a promotion for ur "garang-ness"

thats all for my frustration...