SEA PHASE THE – THE RACE AROUND THE ROCK,
Which ever team that loses will repeat the race with the next team, imagine how many times we had to row – in- out, in-out, in-out…macam mau putus tangan….!
JUNGLE PHASE - record breaking up stream paddle in Sg Muar by intake 34 to conduct raid upon ‘Rebro Station’ at Gunung Ledang!
When the real test came we were told to paddle up the Muar River in pitch darkness just after sun-set, the tide was then receding, imagine how tough it was! The “Mission” was to paddle and do a silent beach landing and conduct a Morning “RAID” on top of the Gunung Ledang Rebro station!
Kayuh melawan arus, ke hulu sungei Muar – itu kerja GILAQ…memang Komando suka buat kerja GILAQ! Nak buat macam mano!
The orders were simple “kayuh tanpa berhenti!”. Each time somebody faulted or slept/pewai boat turns around, because one side was paddling and the other senyap!
Out Troop!
Punah – the instructor would shout : “OUT-TROOP” everyone out from the boat and into the pitch dark & murky waters, crocodile infested as well! Mana mahu tahan, staf minta ampun kami akan kayuh!
So, this went on, and each time out troop, we got banged with the boat paddle by the Private First Class Trooper from RGK! We can’t do nothing, even we were officers, we were without our ‘pips on our shoulders’, it was all removed from the first day of entering Camp Udang, that is why we were addressed as “Siswa” and not TUAN!
At long last we reached the target area – it was about 0300hrs, after rowing for almost 8 solid hours in the dark, we finally got out of the boat! We did not know we broke the record, which was held by the Basic Commando trainees at that time! We only found that out later on returning from the RAID!
So, after the tiring journey in the river we continued with our foot march without any rest to our next mission, this is the same routine used by SF around the world! By the time we hit the objective it was almost day-break, just in time for a morning “first light raid”! In total we marched for about 3 hours after landing, it was yet another gruelling test of MIND OVER MATTER!
The whole day was spent moving from one point to another, in total we were kept awake, since the previous day since 0600hrs, it was already 24 hours without any rest or sleep, and we raided the objective successfully, no one was killed or captured though! There wasn’t even any enemy there! We just finished firing and shooting the blanks we had in the magazine! That is the real Commando challenge!
So, in reflection
The camp phase in which we all endured, with minimum sleep & rest was to prepare us all for this final exercises, which we never knew it was meant to be that WAY! They never did explain anything at all or state the purpose of each activity that was conducted!
SWAMP PHASE
FINAL EXERCISE – THE SABOUTEUR
The team had 5 members (1 x RKK Team) we termed it “RKK-RONDA KERUP KARP”! The “enemy” was basic commando students who were given a mission to catch us and earn their marks! So, they were as eager as ever to scalp our heads, if we are to be caught! That was their ‘reward’, they would shave or carve their unit designation onto our already bald heads! So, the master plan was to avoid reporting to any check points and wait out till the exercise ends on the fifth day!
The sure way to keep the money save was to stomach IT! Yes, because the instructors would check your arse-holes during the inspection before the exercise starts, no holes were left unchecked! Even clothes were switched, to avoid people from sewing their money into the seams of their clothing, it is old trick by the way! Shoes, jungle hats and webbing were swapped!
So, me the smart guy eat the MONEY
One fifty dollar note, rolled tightly into a small ball, wrapped it with hard plastic from the food ration packs (RICE pack), stuff it into a BANANA and walah, swallow IT…!
After the releasing by the JL we headed for the so-called first check-point about 5-7 map squares away. The route was already full of “enemy” soldiers ready to catch & ambush all of us! So my plan of action was to move off from the route, stay low and avoid detection from the enemy!
It worked, we were not caught, the first day! We slept nicely, the next day was to wait for the SHIT to come OUT, wait for the money drop!
We had 50 dollars to last for 5 days, so we moved slowly away from the training grounds and headed towards a kampong area, recce first if it was save to go buy some grubs! Yes, the job was done, came back with buns, maggi-mee and chocolates plus rokok off course!
So, we moved into another location and slept it out, avoid being caught again. On the 4th day, we were confident that a move towards home base was the thing to do! We planned to head for camp sg.udang in the dark, to get back and slip back silently! After all the exercise would end surely on the fifth day and all will return to base (RTB)! How WRONG was all of US!
He yanked us all out from the drain after a few quick chops and karate flying-kicks…..that scared the shit out of the 5 of us…( Hamid aka ‘go-da-dee’, the late Rashid Marsalan, Osman Samin aka Jojo, me and one more guy…can’t remember who he is till today)
ORDERS FROM THE CI: SENT THEM ALL BACK TO THE TRAINING AREA NOW! You start the exercise again!
There we were, 5 POWS sent back by land rover to face HELL!
PELEMPANG MAUT – SYNDICATE KENA SEPAK & TERAJANG
On arrival, I was called by Capt Zahir (Misang Perang) he was the SI of the course, this was after the CI had blasted him nice and proper in front of all of us, I would not want to say the words that flew out from the CI and across into his face! Better left unspoken!
The next I knew was – I GOT HELL!
BEING THE SYNDICATE LEADER – I was responsible and answerable!
First question: What happen?
Next question: Flying KICK!
I was told to reveal the truth about this whole planned of action – the sabotage!
I kept my word not to spill the beans, and I paid the PRICE dearly!
He kept me erect and made me his punching bag, every-time a punch landed, I held my stomach muscles firm and hard, after all the push ups and sit ups my body was solid like a rock! Still is till this very day!
I was slapped by everyone that reported at the final check-point, those were the days of memories that I will carry to my grave! Whoever who did not slapped me hard enough would get a slap from me in return! Some of my skottee did not have the heart to hurt me any more than I already had! I have since forgiven everyone that slapped me. It has made me what I am today! A real survivor!
At the end of it all, he was not to get any answers from me, he was frustrated he could not break me down! He finally, kicked me in the shin-bone and it made me flew in grave pain, yet I was still stubborn not to break the silence!
After that session, and after everyone had reported at the final check point we were allowed to eat, guess what, I could not open my mouth and could not chew or eat anything, my face was swollen and numb after all the punishing slapping from my own skot! I can’t remember how many slaps landed on my face!
Upon ending the exercise we had the debrief session, and he still wanted to know why we sabotaged the exercise, nobody wanted to talk about it, we just wanted to get back to camp and leave the course!
Finally, one daring skot by the name of 2LT Zahar, now the DA in Manila, stood up and said it all…the ‘Rest is HISTORY’…for those of us who were there knew the true story and the truth of it ALL!
I was called by the 2 CO’s of the Commando Regiment that time, namely Lt Col Yap & Lt Col Chua personally, both assured me ‘THAT’ I have a place in the SF Regiment, it was all because they heard what had happened and what went ON! My reply was simple: YES SIR, THANK YOU SIR!
We had to plan the farewell party the next night – I was one of the committee members, so we rushed to one hotel in Malacca town, can’t remember the name. I had a real long good shower in the hotel room, after 6 long weeks of non-bathing chance, the water in the tub was pitch black!
The dinner was a very sober affair, none of the trainers or JL came, the whole course was boycotted by all of them, they were all pissed off with our INTAKE 34!
That was the last course for any young officers from the ARMY or RMAF, never again was it to run anymore!
......to be sambung
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