http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=22880

I was deeply appalled by what I have seen. The photos show secondary school NCC cadets having their physical training in the rain, more specifically in the mud. While physical training is something that all uniform groups practice, there is no reason for the cadets to do it in the mud. by doing it in the mud while it is raining, is endangering the life of the cadets, hygiene is also an important factor, most probably and hopefully the cadets have an extra t-shirt and they can wash up after this, otherwise I cant imagine what will happen to them then after.

By doing this, it will breed a sense of hatred and revenge in the cadets (I am also from a uniform group, and I know how it feels when you are sadist-ed). This would only bring up negative effects, and when these cadets take over, they will do the same thing to their juniors, and the cycle goes on and on. This can’t be stop, no matter how kind you are or what so ever, this is part of human nature and mentality "since I can do it, why can't you". But have they thought of the resulting consequences? No.

Does this promoted good governance? No. they are just torturing them and actually deter these cadets from going ns, and most probably these cadets would be reluctant to fight for their country since they experience it so early and they would be “traumatized”. And look fighting for your country and physical training are two totally different things with two different purposes. Only when desperate times, we will do desperate things.

Look, they are just secondary school students, and their top and main priority is to study and get a degree. Some may argue that by doing this is to beef them up and prepare them for national service. But I am sure the school already has programmes and camps to prepare them for that e.g. OBS. well even OBS don't require you to do such physical training in such conditions. Another point, I am sure the main objective of joining NCC air is not to be sadisted in such manners. as quoted from the official ncc website, their objective is to- "The NCC's mission is to develop resourceful, responsible, resilient, loyal leaders and team players through fun and challenging military related activities." note the use of the word "fun", nobody is going to tell me that going through this is fun right? Unless you are mentally deprived, or you are the NCOs that ask them to do such stuffs. And military activities can be conducted in better and more logical locations, for example in the gym. Especially when it is after a rain, the ground is wet, and obviously muddy, there is no reason for them to do physical training in such condition. They can have other alternatives like doing it elsewhere.

There are also people who passed out from ns, and feels that they "enjoy" such activities. Frankly speaking, which idiot in this world would enjoy rolling about in the mud? You say this would bond the squad and have greater squad spirit/team spirit etc. I can’t deny that. But I think the way the squad is bonded is through the scolding and cursing of the NCOs behind their back. This is no good and promotes nothing but more hatred and a sense of vengeance.

From the comments, alot of people feel that nowadays teens are pampered. Well it’s true that some of them are, and we should over generalize them. But I don’t see how by doing this will "unpamper" them. Not as if they will go home and wash their clothes themselves right? I am sure this is part and parcel of life, people will mature and start to grow up, becoming more and more independent as they grow up, such physical training in such conditions is purely redundant. Moreover schools also have moral education to educate them.

From the comments, I can also see that alot of people also feels that this is nothing compared to ns training. Let me clarify I know nothing about ns training. So I am in no position to condemn it. But I shall emphasize my previous points, they are just students. There are still like 4-5 years ahead of them before they are enrolled to ns. And I am sure as they grow up, their muscles would be more developed and they would eventually become stronger. And for those who are not up to the cut, they will also be enrolled in earlier to have pre-ns training.

And look, why are there these pictures in the first place? Who took them, its obvious, the NCOs? Please don’t tell me the cadets purposely hang their hand phone/camera and take pictures/videos of themselves doing such things. no. from this, we can infer that the NCOs are actually enjoying what the cadets are doing and the fact that they actually post it on their blog, just shows how mentally deprived they are. Yes they need mental counselling.

Actually I have also gone through such “physical training”. Like duck-walking around the basketball court, or doing push-ups at noon and lots of other punishments you can think of. Yes, I have suffered blisters and muscle aches all over my body. But amidst all this, I have to admit that I have become stronger, this is a fact that I can’t deny nor hide. But at the end of this, cadets just hate NCOs, and they are unable to communicate with each other, causing a lot of unhappiness and dissatisfaction, and the corps was unable to progress any further.

My school NCC also been through a lot of physical training and they enjoy it, not because they are crazy or what so ever, because their physical training is reasonable and humane. They are practiced in a suitable environment, not like this.

I know that by doing all this, the NCOs have a final and main purpose to train us up and they mean good, but they can really do it in another way, where welfare are taken of. There should be a balance between sadism and welfare. Therefore the MOE should be alerted of this incident and they should clarify whatever have happened, an explanation should also be given to the public at the end of the day.

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the fact that im posting this, show that im just fine. arrrrrr miss obs again. doc say i have some virus infection, high fever, blocked nose, sore throat, and if theres still fever, must go take injection D: lukily for me im now much better. fail english 24/50 zzzzzzzz