Many say that being in the army changes one. I personally have seen it happen in many people. Slowly or sharply changing how they view the world; changes in values; shifts in relationships and most importantly thy personality.
Psychologist might not agree with me on the last count but I have truly seen enough to think it can be possible if given drastic enough conditions for it to occur.
Before embarking upon what I’ve seen in other people, let me first start on myself. For me the changes are well relatively superficial. When in school, I tend to be more thrifty for I believe it is only right to spent within your means. Now with a little money, surely it’s ok for me to splurge a little money on myself? I think so to. Fine I should save some up for uni but hey I’ve got some sponsorship from NUS so don’t have to worry too much there.
Next would be image. Well more of less during my 18 to 19 years of life, I don’t really pay much attention to my image or dressing. But no in camp with certain people and wearing clothes out to town well perhaps I should take a little more effort into dressing up. Now I’m a little addicted of sorts. Well I have always enjoyed shopping but now I really get to put some cash into what I desire.
Third would be views on fitness. Well I’ve never been too into healthy living through exercising. Yet being forced to, I start to pick back up some interest in certain games and sports which I weren’t so into in the past. I realise it can be a good alternative choice for going out also. Fine, after seeing so much things happening around, well all I can say is, well I’ll try to be a little more proactive and kit fit and maybe get into a better shape! Haha now what I need is a proper motivator to stop me from straying off!
I guess my world view as well as personality has not schanged at all. The only thing that changed the most as I mature would be my temper(http://wonght12.blogspot.com/2009/02/being-me.html). I have certainly toned down a lot even before NS and am still learning to curb my fiery temper which gets sorely tested in camp now-a-days.
Why so then can I so confidently state that the Army changes people in ways many would have thought impossible? Well looking my comrades around me, my closest friends, I certainly see some drastic changes. Sadly I feel these aren’t always for the best. Actually they are almost always never for the better.
Generally there are a few trends that can be found. The first and probably the most obvious is the increase use in crude, uncouth and obscene languages, which sadly also reflects in some of their actions. Yet they mostly felt that it is ok and justifiable for they ‘attempt’ to be civil outside camp. Still is it really right to? The second which might be viewed as good by some is increased destructive competitiveness. In such a dog-eat-dog society which focuses far too much on the rank and order (which by the way impedes the efficiency of the organisation [read: http://wonght12.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/why-saf-will-never-suceed-on-merit/]) people tend to unsurprisingly feel a need to reduce compassion, increase aggression; decrease altruism, increase self-centeredness; thus generally making any form of competition destructive. In addition creating unnecessary comparison and competition just for the sake of competing and prove that you are the top dog. (But guess what tog dog or bottom dog, well you are still only having the mentality of a dog, until you choose to to reside in such petty struggles). Third which goes hand in hand with the earlier, huge aggression increase. Fourth hyper ego inflation. Lastly and and perhaps the most noticeable will be the lack of thought, as in being totally thoughtless as well as totally insensitive.
Sadly such traits above are amplified even greater through the ‘training’ recieved in command school. I slowly but surely start to drift apart from some of them, having extremely different ideals and beliefs.
Perhaps I just ain’t that important in some people’s life, for they seem to think people they barely knew for 6 months is oh so close to their heart, when me who they knew for a good 7 years is just a passing fad?
Such things always makes me wonder, should I stay on course or join the darker side so as to retain such people for it would seem that that is what binds their heart. Though far and few in between realise that they are CHANGING, and think it is just a facade they maintain in camp. Wake up to reality you are bringing fragments out from camp!
From the poor ‘loser’ of the SAF is some tips on how best to ORDin one piece, the original unadulterated you. First and foremost, stay clean. Stay off smoking, try not to drink(well this one maybe not so important but still minimal unless of course you already drink) and most importantly never never step up on your usage of words like f_ck and CB andwhat not, because it indirectly taints your soul. Second, identify fast whoever’s changed and let him not influence you, cut him offif you really must but try if you can to turn him around. Thirdly, say not to the asshole creating command school. The irony is many who enter actually have no commanding skills at times as can be seen from some of their lengthy or not so lengthy reports and how they utilise that bar or stripes. You can learn in a much better environment outside and trust me that money s not worth you soul. Keep you soul don’t sell it away.
There are of course more you need to do, be determine, be seadfast and these two years will just be a test of your resolve. Stay my friends, don’t change.
Now as my junior’s POP and they eventual posting draws near, I wonder who else I will soon lose.
-wonght
Follow that guiding light my comrades!
