Memories of fresh green jungle and cb leaves

I was waiting for a bus on my way home from work and my nose experienced the smells that reminded me of my 2.5 years of full-time national service as a conscript in the Lion City.

The wafting of the fresh yet fetid smell of jungle vegetation that permeates through our nose triggers images of being in skeletal-battle order (SBO), helmet and rifle, tramping my way through the Singapore Armed Forces training grounds.

CB leaves and lallangs. Gravel and sandy paths. Sun and rain. Hot and wet.

Even as memories of my 2.5 years and 10 years of reservist slowly start to fade as my de-mobilisation age of 40 beckons, I look back at how the fresh green jungle scenery coupled with the unmistakable smells of the secondary jungle in Singapore evokes the NSman that is within me.

I can be equally equipped with my SBO/helmet/rifle combo as well as my computer/spreadsheet/audit combo and functionally effectively in both arenas.

The NS experience has left me wiser, stronger and sadly, also bitter because I know that the current powers-that-be only give lip service to duty, honour and country.

They say male citizens must defend Singapore.
But who defends the economic interests of male citizens?

They say every soldier counts.
But who counts those injured, maimed or killed in the name of duty, honour and country?

They say it is your duty, it is an honour and it is your country.
But who is able to identify with a country that has 63% Singapore Citizens (including newly minted citizens) and 37% foreigners?

They say you have more Safra clubhouses; they say you can check office emails during reservist and they say they give you more rank allowance for key appointment holders.
But who pays for Safra subscriptions?
But who are the people who don't need to go for reservist and will in turn take over your job and check your email for you?
But what does more money mean when you are injured or killed during reservist?

Action speaks louder than words.

Currently, the powers-that-be's actions tell me, you are marginalised in your own country, NSman because $10 million of your money is spent on welcoming more and more foreigners to make you a minority in your own country.

Majullah Singapura.