“Brunei, the land of unexpected treasures.”
I just came back from the treacherous mt biang, in the midst of the unforgiving and dense temburong jungle of Brunei. It was the closest to an eco trip you can get in the army and the harshest training terrain I’ve ever set my water soaked boats on. Obviously, despite the occasionally suicidal thoughts, I had fun.
I volunteered to participate in the Navigation ex in Brunei not only because I thought this is a once- in- a- life- time experience not to be missed but also, I was tired of wasting my youth away rotting in the armskote. My body ache for adventure and punishment that I once received in SISPEC and so I signed my own death certificate when I requested for such a treatment. My Oc was momentarily stunned by my madness but grinned cheekily upon approval. My friends thought I lost it to. I mean Hey, I’m in the army, if this is not the time to have an adventure, then when else? I don’t suppose I will be trekking in Nepal after retirement, neither will I have the time to conquer the Amazon forest when I begin school this year, so if I don’t do this stunt, what else can brag to my grand children about when I turn 70. My friends didn’t buy this; they still thought I lost it
So, inspired by legolas in the fantasy trilogy, Lord of the rings. (Notice not frodo or sam) and aspiring to tell exciting grandfather stories, I drew my compass, planned my route on the map and tightened my bootlaces for the unexpected.
NAV EX: “NOMAD”
Day 1.
Disappointed that I was not in the same team as my closer friends Vincent and Kenny, I was rather reluctant to join a section that I was not familiar with. It was made less comforting and more pressurizing in the presence of a captain and a rather lost sect com who slept through navigation theory lessons. In, the end, the cpt appointed me to navigate for the first day. Initially, it was unnerving because I have always been with the logistic department so I lack the experience but I managed to orientate myself on the map by following whatever I’ve been taught religiously. Not surprisingly, my diligence paid off and I became more confident when I brought my section to the first checkpoint.
But there’s only so much one can walk in a day. By1600, we decided to camp on high ground for the night as we could not find a better trail. The decreasing visibility and the light drizzle only tire us further. So after a light dinner I headed straight for my hammock. My morale was still quite high despite spending New Year’s Eve in such a desolate place because I felt that I did accomplish something worth to start a new year with. So as I lounge in my hammock gathering recollections of the day’s adventures I could not figure exactly when did I surrender myself to sleep.
Day 2
I was appointed plotter and direction keeper this time. Meaning I’ve got to record our progress on the map for every 100m while the other sect com navigate. Initially, we over shot our turning point and had to bash through the vegetation. Big mistake because the vegetation is so dense even the sand flies and mosquitoes had problem trying to get to us. Actually no, they did get to us eventually, and they got us good. I felt like a pincushion for the mosquito’s needle-like proboscis. But eventually we managed to find our way to our log point by means of a track, which concluded the odyssey.
EX: BUAYA
A 4 day mission which involves 1 deliberate attack on day 1, helicopter insert and ascending a 300m mt biang on day 2, descending mt biang, cross river batu apoy and 2 knolls on day 3 and a night walk through 5 knolls before mounting an attack on the knoll beside lakuin camp which requires you to crawl up a 150m mud slope almost perpendicular to the ground. Sounds easy doesn’t it, I thought so too.
Day1
I was appointed platoon 1 section 2 commander, as the original commander did not make it to Brunei due to medical reasons. Fortunately for a greenhorn like me, it was a small section consisting of very cooperative and dedicated soldiers. It’s a reserve section in the platoon and I’ve got a senior sgt to guide me. The RSM was surprised to see me and questioned my presence in the platoon. I told him I was there to ensure that the men clean their arms. He died laughing
All right not exactly, he just told me to hold my weapon properly and do my job.
Which I did. I was made breaching commander at the final minutes before the attack and boy did I do my job well, not only did I breach 3 con wires before being pin down by the enemy, I also managed to remember how to do it. At the end of the battle, I had cuts on my hand, the muddiest slacks due to proning in the mud and tripping over roots and a pat on my back by the CO.
That felt really good.
Day 2
The thunder in the sky did not follow a flash of lightning, rather it followed the UH1H helicopter as it descended gently on the plains, ruffling the canopy and drowning our voices. The sand flew into my eyes and scratched my skin as I approached the rage machine only to be greeted by an equally boisterous aircrew specialist.
It took off promptly and showed me the wonders of the land, its vastness and Mother Nature’s sovereignty.
I was further humbled by mother nature as I took2 hrs to climb the infamous mount biang known for its huge slippery boulders and lichen covered logs. My men were starting to take me seriously upon following me up the hill and expressed their respect. It was a moment not to be missed, a test of mental strength and physical endurance. I felt exuberated upon reaching the ridgeline and thoroughly exhausted. Nevertheless, my oc shook my hand and in his words, “ you’re a man now.”
I’m sure it takes more than just a hill to change your perspective on life but I’m sure that I will do whatever it takes to accomplish that.
Day 3
If you thought climbing up was hard then you are wrong, the journey down mt biang was even more arduous. We had 2 casualties; one with a damaged rib and the other sustained a hip injury. I slipped countless of times especially when we reached a stream and had to travel in it to reach the river. We walked for hours hoping for rest secretly but our commando oc ventured further every time. But every journey has an end and by 1400, we reached the river. It was my first river crossing as I missed training due to armskote responsibilities so I confessed my inexperience to the men and they helped me with the knots and drills to ensure a smooth crossing. The 2 knolls that we had to cross after the river was nothing compared to mt biang. But what followed was the worst experience in my lifetime.
We reached our harbor ground at the foot of the knoll. Drenched and tired, I was hoping for substantial rest and dry clothes before the night walk and dawn attack. But it started to rain and boy did it rain badly. The sky was literally transformed into an ocean and it flooded our harbor ground. The ground got so muddy that at times I had to sit down to pluck my foot out with my hands as if it was a radish. But anyway, after all the walking, I could not tell if I still have my legs on, only the occasional sharp pain from my blistered feet reminded me that I can still keep advancing.
We made a desperate attempt to build a shelter with only one ground sheet, which was shared by 7 people. The place was cramp, dark, cold, dirty and muddy; I was wet, hungry, tired and sad. Having finished all my food and solid fuel, I was left with a miserable box of matchstick. It was a reenactment of the little girl who sold matchstick on Christmas night. I was singing softly to myself and lighting one match at a time to keep myself warm. It was the most unforgettable night in my entire NSF life. I don’t even feel like mentioning the sand flies, they left an equally deep impression on me which you can tell when you see me in person.
Day 4
We moved out at 0200 hrs. Obviously, I did not sleep but I looked forward to the end of the exercise. But it wasn’t as easy as I thought because the canopy blocked out the moonlight and we could not turn on our torch, as it was a tactical movement. That coupled by the slippery track made the journey pass 5 knolls a painful one. But I survived till day breaks and scaled the last knoll, which was modeled after mt doom from lord of the rings.
But nonetheless, I was geared up for the last attack.
The platoon was contacted at the foot of the knoll and my section was to flank to the left. I caught sight of a soldier firing 30 meters to my left and I prone next to him.
“Where’s the enemy?” I shouted.
“Straight ahead.” He replied.
I caught a glimpse of the enemy and was about to fire when suddenly a warrant officer declared me casualty.
“What (the hell) was that for?” I asked.
He told me to look to my right and I saw another enemy grinning away gleefully.
Son of a bitch! I came all the way here to be wounded by some guy who slept soundly for the past 3 nights.
That ended the ordeal that I signed myself up for. Everything that I experience after the exercise was term bliss. Yes even the inedible cookhouse food became a delicacy and foam mattress was luxury. Bathing itself sets of an orgasm. I told myself not to take things for granted from now on.
