Was reading BMT FAQ but thought i could add in some useful information, in no order of importance or whatsoever.
Recruits doesn't mean you're really treated like dogs. That depends on your coy. Recruits from welfare coys can talk to their commanders like friends and even kick soccer with them or whatever crap. This kind of situation will seem quite alien to recruits from up there coy. So far the latest siong coy should be, School 1 - Apache, Falcon. School 2 - Kestrel, Ninja. School 3 - Taurus. School 4 - 5th coy. 6th coy is the pai kia coy. Welfare coys - Jaguar, Ulysses, Whiskey, 1st, 4th, 7th. (May not have listed all) A normal day starts at 0545 (But you'll probably need to wake up at 0445 - 0500) and ends at 2230. No handphone chargers in BMT! Most coys should be able to bring dry food in, ie no drinks, no instant noodles. Spectacle hooks aren't a must. Buy lots of black tape and febreeze.
In BMT the difficult part is adjusting to the fatigue and regimentation. As you slowly transfom into a soldier, there is no rest when you are tired and you continue with the day's activities all the way till RO. Different coys focus on different stuffs eg fitness, force prep, discipline, drills etc.
Honestly, try not to report sick. Reason being, if you miss out on important stuffs, you'll have to do it while others are continuing on with the main activity. Worse still, there may be situations where you book out on Saturdays 11am. However, this may depend on individual coys.
Pray that it doesn't rain during field camp, that's all. Other than that, the main problems a recruit would face is probably the hygiene, high kneel and HEAT RASH! Of course, trench.
Most important BMT components: IPPT, range (BTP), field camp. Start exercising if you're not, or else if your IPPT cmi, be prepared to book out only on Saturdays 11am after remedial training!
Other programmes: Ability group run, Basic close combat, Speed, Swim, Grenade, Battle inoculation course, Lots of talks, AREA CLEANING, WEAPON CLEANING, Drills, SOC (Fun!), route marches (4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24). Ok lazy to continue listing.
This is important: On enlistment day you will be issued with a freak load of items. Try not to lose anything although it is difficult to do so. Reason being, you'll probably have to burn your weekend time to go purchase whatever you've lost. Personally i find civilisation time too important for this crap. Pay very close attention to instructions on the first few days as this would be the time where you are taught how to fix your field pack, LBV and 10 pack items. It's very complicating for a recruit, trust me!
Punishments in BMT (Other than physical) would be confinement, guard duty and stoppage of leave. Don't report for book in late or make silly mistakes, it'll probably save you from the first two. SOL is slightly more serious, for people who misfire/bring camera phones, fight, smoke wo permission etc.
There will be express interest survey for command school. (SCS/OCS) Answer no and you will straightaway be denied entry. Just pray you don't get posted to GDS/INF!
All the best for your BMT! For future recruits, just try to pass your NAPFA with a silver. Don't bother wasting your time for PTP (17 weeks) or Obese (19 weeks) and just sail through the 9 week BMT.
Kestrel Coy 01/12
Bro, nice write up.
Honestly, try not to report sick. Reason being, if you miss out on important stuffs, you'll have to do it while others are continuing on with the main activity. Worse still, there may be situations where you book out on Saturdays 11am. However, this may depend on individual coys.
Seems like a new practice.
Most important BMT components: IPPT, range (BTP), field camp. Start exercising if you're not, or else if your IPPT cmi, be prepared to book out only on Saturdays 11am after remedial training!
Honestly if you can't pass, you won't pass any time soon. so don't be garang and volunteer yourself for pre-enlistment remedial training?
Enoy your civvy life before enlistment, suffer in NS. Time is precious, you probably will not pass and have to do the NS RT anyway.
Haha, I like this statement.