I last wrote on RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major). To those who have little knowledge about the military. The RSM with his pace stick is the "king" of the parade square. The most powerful person in the square where even higher ranking officers has to show respects. There were instances where ranks insignia can be ripped off right in your face as punishment by the RSM. It could be cases where the commanding drills officers has erred or given improper instructions or fouled up on his parade ground. The RSM has authority over all soldiers on his playground. And I was one of the miserable one suffering that fate.
I was having a good life at 35th Battalion SCE that MINDEF got wind of downgraded PES A personnel who were fighting fit and being mechanic by vocation. I was sent for physical reassessment. The sad thing was I passed test with a PES (physical employment status) A grade which means I was combat fit. So I was in a wrong vocation as mechanic. Being combat fit, I should be in the front line fighting and charging. Not repairing engines and enjoying the sun, sea and wind.
The next thing, I received notification that I be posted to Infantry training school at SAFINCOS. That's the clockwork precision and efficiency of the military. This is SAF Infantry Non-Commission Officer School. This school trained specialist infantry leaders. To the lay person, it means I have to charge here and charge there, run here and there on foot as "foot soldiers" leading my men in my charge on the run to fight the enemies. In war, we could be the first ground troops to sacrifice as we gets to look at the enemies up close.
Upon graduation from this school, I will be Section Commanders of men. That's a big title.
The irony was, prior to that, I already hold the rank of Corporal at 35SCE. To go to SAFINCOS as trainees, I will have to dress down and be like trainees, behave like trainees and wake up my $&@# idea!
The innocent fact is nobody informed me that I have to forgo my ranks. There was no communication and advisory from whatsoever and whosoever. I believed the protocol which I never knew at that time was that when you go to school, you are just one of the boys. Irrespective of your existing ranks, all are equal in training schools. Sadly, I was a badly ill informed lad and also due to the timing of notification, I couldn't find time to consult anyone.
I remembered that day assembling at the main parade square on my first day of induction. As usual, I wore my green uniforms with my Corporal rank insignia on it falling in and standing there like a log cake. I must have attracted so much attention with my two ticks on.
The moment of truth came when the RSM walked over right into my face and blasted: "LISTEN, SOLDIER, you mother FU&@#€ I give you 30 seconds to strip off your FU@&¥£ rank, change and fall in back", "Do you understand me!"
I could smelled his mouth and felt his oratory vibrations. For a moment in time, I was stunned. But I ran like I never ran before, up the staircase to my bunk to rip off my two ticks. Mind you, these ticks were sewn on and not the Velcro stick on type. So it was a tremendous Big Job. How to remove a "sewn on thing" from your two sleeves and fall in in 30 seconds?? I will leave that to your imagination!
It was a humiliating embarrassment and I was the Talk of the School for a long long time. "The Corporal who was stripped of his rank by the RSM".
So that's my lasting image of RSM and their fury.