COCC: Im Converted!

Currently I'm attending 13 day Commando Officer Conversion Course, a must course for all crossover CDO to go through after OCS. The course is break down into 2 phases, outfield and rappelling. Yesterday im proud to say that i had completed the toughest phase of the course, 6 days, 4 missions, clock 120 km heavy load and limited rations

The planning stage for the outfield phase started on last Friday evening when the Warning Order is given to us. It lasted till Monday evening when we moving off to P. Tekong. Here the brief programme i had for outfield

Monday to Wednesday:
3 missions, 2x Raid and 1 x Ambush.
Both raid were carried out at night while ambush was done in the afternoon.
For all mission, we had to plan, movement to objective and extrication to our Withdrawal Pickup Site (WPS).

The only time to sleep was during planning (if wasn't the appointment holder) or reach the WPS early so we can sleep before the next order come to us. Usually we will reach around 3-4am and the order come to us at 7am.
*till then we were only given 24hr ration to consume. Our course commander expect us to after ambushing the resupply convey, we should had search the vehicle for rations. However we just go through the usual mission scenario and didn't carry out that part. Hence, NO RATIONS!

Wednesday to Friday (w/o rations, no rest!)
After all the missions, our course commander gladly told us that we had completed the 1st phase and moving on to the 'withdrawal phase' which is leaving enemy territory. So to carry out this phase, we were to walk P. Tekong 5 TIMES!! to simulate the distance.

For info, the route for us to walk round P. Tekong is estimated to be 16km, 4 checkpoints for us to rest and resupply water(thanks god), basically the northern axis and Tekong Highway. Checkpoint are located at the both ends of P. Tekong, Eastern Pier and Ladang training shed and 2 located in the middle which are SISPEC training shed and Ulu training shed,distance apart is approx 4km.

First 2 round on Wednesday wasn't so bad, was more like trying to get use to the route and terrain. We are glad that at SISPEC training shed, we are able to get goodies namely flavoured cool drinks, small rations sometimes even energy drinks like Red Bull and Shark! However we are still tired as in the morning we just completed the last mission.

However on Thursday, the walk had became more tedious and painful for most of us. By then we had walked over 72km in total, estimated 20+ during the missions and 40+ during the withdrawal phase in SBO on Wed. It is mentally and physically painful for me as i didn't had enough sleep, blisters and bone aches on the feet. Keep thinking of food throughout the walk, really can feel the salver following from the mouth to the throat.

Finally all ended on Friday morning 6am, all of us are so tired that we slept immediately when entered the building. Feet with blisters, ankle pain, thigh, ITB, hamstring and calf are having cramps

Friday and Saturday
We started the last raid mission on Fri night lasted till Sat morning. The WPS for the mission is at a training shed which we also held our field graduation there. Also received a medal for the completion of the outfield phase. Unlike triathlon, its a medal which i wouldn't wanna participate for another time .

Swollen Feet
C Cube