1 Year of National Service

The year of 2016 is going to come to an end soon ! Time flew really fast ! I just enlisted earlier this year in January. If you have read my earlier posts, i shared about my enlistment and the months following my POP. I would like to share what i have learned so far !

I am currently stationed at Civil Defence Academy located at 101 Jalan Bahar.

The entrance of Civil Defence Academy

After finishing my Basic Rescue Training of 1 month at National Service Training Institute, which is located within CDA, i got posted to CDA. Compared to my other friends, some of them became drivers, EMTs and other vocations at the various divisions and fire stations. 

The parade square of NSTI

After being posted to the Administrative Office, i got the position of handling all of the disciplinary cases within the academy. I had 2 partners with me and spent about 2 weeks learning from them, before i was assigned work. I had to make reports on various cases, depending on what the officer wants to charge his guys for. Once the report was done, i had to get it submitted and approved by a specific officer, reviewing the case. Once the case got approved, i had to escort the subject for his trial infront of a Junior Disciplinary Officer.

I did this for about 6 months before moving on to other works. Routinely , my academy was subjected to urine test, to detect abuse of drugs from the service men. It is my job to make a list and compile the names of everyone in every single unit. Based on this, i had to keep records of when each NSF or regular went for their test. Really tiring, but fun to do. 

In addition to this, NSFs or trainees would get tested positive for certain drugs. Most of them due to consumption of medication. Once in a blue moon, we would get cases where NSFs or trainees actually took drugs. It is my job to investigate each case and get the subject to produce his medication and make sure it is prescribed to him. If he cannot produce it, i will have to escort him along with an officer, to the nearby J Police Division to make a police report to refer the subject to Central Narcotics Bureau for followup. 

At Home Team Tactical Training Centre ( HTTC ) to conduct a urine test for the personnel stationed there

Doing this work, in my opinion, is something which i appreciate and find unique. Even though i did not get to be a firefighter or an EMT, i got to see the other side of working in a force like this. I get to work with many high ranking officers, ranging to captains to lieutenants to majors etc. Many of them are outgoing and easy to work with, In contrast to what you hear on the net or from others, most of them do not abuse their powers or ranks. There might be a few though.

Many of the officers who i work with were former firefighters. After years of service of being on the frontline, some of them get posted to the academy to deal with administrative matters, or become instructors. Being able to work with them and hear stories of their time as a firefighter is something which i really value.

One of my officers in charge, gave me an opportunity to participate in the yearly SCDF parade, which is held in conjunction with the Singapore Global Firefighters and Paramedics Challenge. After months of rehearsal, i had to march at the Singapore Expo somewhere around November. It was a unique experience for me which i really treasure.

Before marching off

As of now, i am appreciating my time in NS, I still have 1 more year to go before i end my service. I am looking forward to what lies ahead.

Riding my own Motorcycle !

I am not sure if i have posted about my motorcycle. But nevertheless, this post is about it. Sometime around April of 2016, i got my own motorcycle with the help of my father. I was surveying through carousell in search of a motorcycle. I initial plan was to get a street, naked bike. Something like KTM, Yamaha FZ-16. However, due to my budget, i could not obtain those bikes. I then shifted my interest towards sports bikes.

Looking at the range of sports bikes available within the 200cc range, there were quite a few options. Like the Yamaha R125, Yamaha R15, Honda SP, Kawasaki Ninja etc. Bikes like the Honda SP and KRR were out of my options as i felt like they were too "small" for me. No doubt they are fast as hell ! I was focused on the Yamaha R125. However while surveying through, i came across 2 brands that i had not heard of. Daelim and Reiju. One is from South Korea and the other from Spain. It just happened that a Daelim bike was on sale. I got in touch with a seller and we met up near my house.

Yamaha R125

Yamaha R12

I was quite surprised when i first saw the bike. It looked big and was heavy. Did not look like a 125cc 2B bike. He let me test ride the bike, and man, it felt awesome ! Moreover, he showed me the maintenance record of the bike. I was assured that the bike was well taken care off.

I spoke to my father about the bike and he positive was me owning it. After settling my insurance with NTUC, i set a date with the owner and he rode me to LTA office located at Sing Min Avenue. After about 2 hours of waiting, we did the transfer of ownership within 10 mins. I paid him a sum of $5000 in full cash after dropping me off near my house. He lived just a few blocks away.

Just reached home after the transfer of ownership at LTA office

I enjoyed and still enjoy riding my motorcycle. One thing that makes my bike unique is the loud slip on pipe installed by the previous owner. He has installed an IXIL Shorty exhaust delivered from Spain. This is a pipe which turns heads on the road. Not many bikes in Singapore have this pipe. Besides, Daelim bikes are not often sighted on the road as compared to Yamaha or Honda. As a result, when i ride, many people wonder what bike is that. I had many who came up to me and said " nice bike ".

Riding in the streets of Geylang

The big size of the bike and tires makes it very stable even at high speeds. Cornering is not an issue with this bike. The only thing that is lacking, is the pickup. For the size and weight of the bike, Daelim should have increased the cylinder capacity to 150 or even 200. In addition to this, after riding a Honda CB400F for my 2A lessons, i find the bike lacking in power. That is the only issue i have with the bike. 

Maintenance wise, i do not have a problem with it. Basic things like oil change can be done at any bike shop. However, when it comes to getting the parts for the bike, most shops might not have it. Reason being, Daelim is not a very well known brand. As a result, the share of Daelim bikes in the market is not high. You have a option of getting the parts like an oil filter shipped in from Korea, and changing it on your own. Nevertheless, Daelim has one main dealer in Singapore, Choong Kok Agency ( CKA ). They have branches in the West and East. Their main building being at Shun Li Industrial Park. It just happens to be located at the same place where i went to rent my bike last year. 

Servicing my bike at CKA Kaki Bukit

CKA Kaki Bukit has an awesome mechanic, Roy. Compared the rest at other branches being Malaysian, their communication in english is not that good. Roy being the only one who can converse well in english, can really explain to you about your bike, even if you have zero knowledge. I have told him this many times. " I don't from the west all the way here because of your service ". I suggest going to CKA Kaki Bukit for your first and subsequent maintenance. Not putting down the other outlets. I have been to their outlet at Bukit Batok a few times because of emergency cases. I had to get my clutch lever replaced and on another occasion, i had to do an overhaul of my bike. 

As of now 06/11/2016, my bike is in good condition and i am enjoying riding on it.

Will do a follow up soon. 

Class 2A at BBDC

It has been almost a year since i passed my class 2B TP test. I headed over to BBDC on the 23th of October. and signed up for my class 2A. The whole process took less than 15 minutes. For class 2A, there are only 3 practical lessons and 1 theory lesson. I managed to clear the theory lesson that week. The following week, i went for my first practical lesson (1.01).

In 1.01, the instructor covered the usual plank, pylon slalom, slope and a small part of the test route. I could not meet the timing for the pylon and as a result, had to retake the lesson. A few days later, i retook the lesson and passed. Riding the Honda CB400F was amazing ! The big difference for me was the power of the bike. At the slightest twist of the wrist, the bike literally flies ! The weight and size of the bike was not a big issue for me as my current bike ( Daelim Roadwin R125) is almost, or slightly heavier than the Honda CB400F.

Honda CB400F

On the same day which i retook my 1.01, i went over to the computer after the lesson and booked a slot for 2.01, which was about 10 minutes away ! My lesson ended at 21:00, and the next lesson was at 21.10. In this lesson, the instructor covered the e-brake and bumpy course. E-Brake was my most feared course. I had fallen down many times when i took my 2B. But however overtime, i got used to it. For 2A, you have to maintain a speed of 40km/hr instead of 30. Moving on the bumpy course, the main thing is to focus on the posture of your body. If the posture is wrong, the chances of falling off the bike is high.

After we covered the 2 courses, the rest of the lesson was focused on the test route. I manage to pass the lesson. A week later, i booked my final lesson ( 3.01 ), which was the evaluation, mock TP. We will have to go for 2 rounds of warm up before starting the evaluation. I failed my first lesson as i got 1 immediate failure from falling off the bumpy course. I retook 3.01 on the 6th of November and passed the lesson with 16 points. I still have alot to work on, mainly the courses. The one thing i have to work on mainly, is the ability to handle a more powerful bike. That is one big difference moving from class 2B to 2A.

As of now, i have book my TP test on the 23 of November. In between, i have booked a few Circuit Revisions. Will keep you guys updated.

Update. Do read about my class 2a tp here

Do check out my other experiences :

Class 2b lessons

Class 2b tp

Class 4 

Class 3/3A lessons

Class 5

I shared my TP experience for both class 3A and 3 in the post below.

class 3