兵士指导员

回首37年在炮兵21

Cpt Chan Sui Choi是其中一位首届炮兵军官, 我的技术助理士官课程, 他负责教导通讯器材, 上课时, 他对我们说, “After the TA NCO Course, you will be an NCO, you must not say ‘I don’t know’.” (今后, 你们不要把’我不知道’挂在嘴边, 因为你们将是一名非委任军官). 他的意思是士官课程后我们将成为非委任军官, 不再是普通兵士.

14/11/1970, 成功修完技术助理士官课程(TA NCO Course). 没有获颁发证书. 没有擢升为中士, 我依然是下士. 不过, 我的自信心增加了. 因为我是一名非委任军官.

第5届技术助理课程(TA Course 5/70), 在1970年11月和1971年1月之间开课和完成. 我依旧是其中一名指导员. 因为没有拍集体照片, 我只能说大约有30名学员, 他们全部是国民服役.

有了士官课程的知识和学历, 我今非昔比, 自信心增加了, 教课和应付学员, 我都得心应手. 毫无问题. 我记得在23/11/1970, 新加坡第一任总统尤索夫去世那天, 全国休假致哀. 我决定不让学员休假, 继续上我的课程, 因为课程编排得很紧密. 2Lt Quek Meng Chua自愿留下协助我. 我的决定是无私心和合理的. 37年在炮兵, 我就做了很多类似的决定, 在星期日, 公定假日和超时, 加班工作, 来应付繁重的任务. 因为我是一名非委任军官. 不是普通兵士.

从第5届技术助理课程(TA Course 5/70)毕业的学员中, 有三位学员被甄选为指导员: Pte Tham Hon Lam, Pte Ow Siew Khui, 和Pte Ho Thiam Chai. 开创了由兵士(Pte)担任指导员的先例.

从第6届技术助理课程(TA Course 6/71)毕业的学员中, 有两位学员被甄选为指导员: Pte Choo Kong Kin, 和Pte Wong Chit Chong.

以下兵士是历年来担任技术助理课程指导员的名册:

Pte Tham Hon Lam (1971),

Pte Ow Siew Khui(1971),

Pte Ho Thiam Chai(1971),

Pte Choo Kong Kin(1971/72),

Pte Wong Chit Chong(1971/72),

Pte Tan Gao Meng (1972/73),

Pte Ling Meng Choy (1972/73),

Pte Ang Liang (1973/74),

Pte Tay Chee Hua (1973/74),

Pte Albert Tan (1974/75).

一名军阶为兵士的学员, 向另一位军阶也是兵士的指导员尊称长官(Sir), 有点别扭, 但是就发生在技术助理课程.

Pte soldier Instructors

37 years served in Arty 21

Cpt Chan Sui Choi was one of the 1^st BAOC Arty Officers, however, he taught us Signal lessons during TA NCO Course, he told us, “After the TA NCO Course, you will be an NCO, you must not say ‘I don’t know’.” Meaning that you are no longer an ordinary soldier, you are an NCO.

After the TA NCO Course on November 14, 1970, I was remained a Lcp, nevertheless, my confidence enhanced because as what Cpt Chan Sui Choi said, I was an NCO.

The TA Course 5/70 was conducted between November 1970 and January 1971. There had no course photograph, so I could not trace the exact date and number of trainees, I could only estimate 30 trainees and all were national service conscription. 

With TA NCO Course qualification, I became a confident instructor. When a news breaking of President Yusof bin Ishak passed away on 23^rd  November 1970, the whole island republic was declared day off for mourning, as an NCO, I decided to carry on my Director lesson in the afternoon because the lesson schedule was very tight for the TA course. 2Lt Quek Meng Chua volunteered himself to stay back with me. That was a decision made with good intent. I had done many similar overtime work on Sundays, holidays, and off duty hours in order to meet deadline and  tight schedule in my 37 years served in Arty.

At the end of the TA Course 5/70, three trainees were selected to be instructors, they were Pte Tham Hon Lam, Pte Ow Siew Khui and Pte Ho Thiam Chai. This had set a precedent of private soldiers to be appointed as instructors for TA Courses.

The TA Course 6/71 was conducted from 23^th Jan 1971 to 3^rd April 1971. Again, at the end of TA Course 6/71, two private soldiers, Pte Choo Kong Kin and Pte Wong Chit Chong were appointed as instructors for the next TA Course.

This was a record of private soldiers had been appointed as instructors of the TA Courses:

Pte Tham Hon Lam (1971),

Pte Ow Siew Khui(1971),

Pte Ho Thiam Chai(1971),

Pte Choo Kong Kin(1971/72),

Pte Wong Chit Chong(1971/72),

Pte Tan Ko Meng (1972/73),

Pte Ling Meng Choy (1972/73),

Pte Ang Liang (1973/74),

Pte Tay Chee Hua (1973/74),

Pte Albert Tan (1974/75).

It was not funny for a private soldier trainee addressing another private soldier instructor ‘Sir’ in TA Training Wing.

Pte soldier Instructors

37 years served in Arty 21

Cpt Chan Sui Choi was one of the 1^st BAOC Arty Officers, however, he taught us Signal lessons during TA NCO Course, he told us, “After the TA NCO Course, you will be an NCO, you must not say ‘I don’t know’.” Meaning that you are no longer an ordinary soldier, you are an NCO.

After the TA NCO Course on November 14, 1970, I was remained a Lcp, nevertheless, my confidence enhanced because as what Cpt Chan Sui Choi said, I was an NCO.

The TA Course 5/70 was conducted between November 1970 and January 1971. There had no course photograph, so I could not trace the exact date and number of trainees, I could only estimate 30 trainees and all were national service conscription. 

With TA NCO Course qualification, I became a confident instructor. When a news breaking of President Yusof bin Ishak passed away on 23^rd  November 1970, the whole island republic was declared day off for mourning, as an NCO, I decided to carry on my Director lesson in the afternoon because the lesson schedule was very tight for the TA course. 2Lt Quek Meng Chua volunteered himself to stay back with me. That was a decision made with good intent. I had done many similar overtime work on Sundays, holidays, and off duty hours in order to meet deadline and  tight schedule in my 37 years served in Arty.

At the end of the TA Course 5/70, three trainees were selected to be instructors, they were Pte Tham Hon Lam, Pte Ow Siew Khui and Pte Ho Thiam Chai. This had set a precedent of private soldiers to be appointed as instructors for TA Courses.

The TA Course 6/71 was conducted from 23^th Jan 1971 to 3^rd April 1971. Again, at the end of TA Course 6/71, two private soldiers, Pte Choo Kong Kin and Pte Wong Chit Chong were appointed as instructors for the next TA Course.

This was a record of private soldiers had been appointed as instructors of the TA Courses:

Pte Tham Hon Lam (1971),

Pte Ow Siew Khui(1971),

Pte Ho Thiam Chai(1971),

Pte Choo Kong Kin(1971/72),

Pte Wong Chit Chong(1971/72),

Pte Tan Ko Meng (1972/73),

Pte Ling Meng Choy (1972/73),

Pte Ang Liang (1973/74),

Pte Tay Chee Hua (1973/74),

Pte Albert Tan (1974/75).

It was not funny for a private soldier trainee addressing another private soldier instructor ‘Sir’ in TA Training Wing.

前方观察员

回首37年在炮兵20

1970年, 教导前方观察员, 是沙堆模型. 1979年, 港高兵营(Kangaw Camp), 做了一个微型射击场(miniature Range), 到了1980年代, 在卡迪兵营, 利用九架投影器, 在一幅2 X 5 公尺的大银幕上, 投影景物. 称为’Inverton’. 这是炮兵训练前方观察员的硬件和历程.

技术助理士官课程(TA NCO Course) 有一项课目 - ’纠正射击’(Ranging), 教导和训练学员成为一名前方观察员(Forward Observer, FO), 发布射击任务命令, 纠正射击偏差.

沙堆模型: Cpt Lee Kee Liang负责教导’纠正射击’(Ranging), 学员先在沙堆模型练习, 用地图标出目标的座标位置, 发布射击任务命令, 火炮位置军官(MPO) 接到射击任务命令, 发射炮弹, Cpt Lee 就在沙堆模型上, 用教具指点棒点了一下, 代表炮弹击落的位置, 学员必须在30秒钟内做出纠正命令, 火炮位置军官接到纠正命令, 再发射, Cpt Lee 又在沙堆模型上点了一下, 学员做出纠正命令, ……直到击中目标. Cpt Lee 会给学员们点评优点和缺点, 纠正学员们的错误.

1979年, 在港高兵营(Kangaw Camp)建了一个微型射击场(miniature Range), 用压缩空气将小型的塑胶炮弹, 从真正的120毫米的迫击炮发射出来.

每次用微型射击场上课前, 我就得从军械和武器总务官, Ssg Thomas Choo, 领取一门120毫米迫击炮.

1988年, 有一位指导员, 2Lt Lim Kwong Pore, 应用’Inverton’ 教导’纠正射击’(Ranging)课程的方法, 淋漓尽致, 十分有效.  大银幕上投影景物和目标后, 2Lt Lim要每一名见习军官学员, 在限定的时间内准备好射击任务命令, 他再叫一位学员担任前方观察员发布射击任务命令, 其他没有被选中的学员, 必须注意听那射击任务命令, 如果觉察到错误, 马上举手表示有觉察到错误.

2Lt Lim便一一问举手的学员, 把他们觉察到错误说出来点评, 纠正担任前方观察员学员的错误.

当大银幕上投影炮弹击落的位置, 在限定的时间内, 担任前方观察员学员发布射击纠正命令. 其他学员也用同样的方法, 举手表示有觉察到错误.等等.

2Lt Lim Kwong Pore利用这’Inverton’到了炉火纯青的地步, 使我十分敬佩.

技术助理士官课程(TA NCO Course) 有实弹练习, 包括夜间照明弹实弹练习. 照明弹实弹练习时, 学员必须掌握好时间, 协调两门火炮发出射击命令.

六个星期课程很快结束了, 全体14名学员成功完成课程. 可惜, 没有颁发证书. 虽然是一项士官课程, 结业时军阶为下士和兵士的学员没有擢升为中士, 依然是下士和兵士. 我是其中一位下士期望擢升为中士, 我失望了.

炮兵没有委任士官为前方观察员. 只有军官才有资格被委任为前方观察员. 但是, 我完成了技术助理士官课程(TA NCO Course)后, 每当炮兵学校有火炮实弹练习, 我就被派出去为前方观察员.

1973年, 我是一位上士(Sgt), 多次执行过前方观察员的任务. 有一回, 我又被派出去为前方观察员. Lta P Q R第一回被派出去为前方观察员安全军官. 我不是第一回当前方观察员, 一向都和安全军官合作愉快, 各施其职. 却和这位Lta P Q R有了不愉快的经验. Lta P Q R一开始就把我当学员, 不停的干扰我, 炮弹击落时, Lta P Q R用指导员的口吻, 道, “快, 快, 纠正命令(Quick, quick, what is the correction)”. 我忍不住, 看了他一眼, 说, “你是安全军官, 不是指导员, 我也不是学员.”

Lta P Q R才安静下来, 我又多了一位死对头.