[Life In Green] [Enlistment Day - Part 1]

Enlistment Day - Part 2

So finally, we arrived at our "home" for the next 5 months or so. After dumping us at our bunks, we were told to change into the given uniforms and assemble 15 minutes later by my platoon sargent. So there I was completely lost. I had no idea as to how to dress myself up in the uniform. As far as I can tell the uniform's sleeves were too long and had to be folded but I had no freaking idea how to fold it in such a way that it looks the same as those worn by the others. Then I discover that the legs of my pants were too long and I came to the conclusion that perhaps they gave me a wrong sized uniform.

I then tried on my boots and again the laces were too long. So there I was swimming in my uniform about to freak out cos 15 minutes was about up and I was no where near looking like a soldier. I tried to gave desperate looks to my platoon mates but I guess they were too preoccupied to notice my despair. So in final desperation, I decided to dress myself up as close as possible to those I have seen so far. I stuffed the extra length of the pants down into my boots and tied my laces up with the remaining lengths going into my boots as well. I looked at myself and thought well, it's pretty close to what most of my platoon mates were dressed. I thought to myself, "Well, I'll just explain to the instructors that I have no idea hwo to fold my sleeves." and tried to console myself that I shouldn't get into too much trouble by not knowing how to fold the sleeves.

So the final moment came when the instructors shouted "Fall in!". I tried to stand somewhere in the middle of my platoon hoping against all odds that perhaps they may miss me. But lady luck was not on my side. In a few moments, my instructor singled me out and ask why I was dressed like that. I said as a matter-of-factly I did not know how to fold my sleeves. So there I was waiting for them to met out some punishment. But none came! The instructor told me to change out of the top and he would show me how to fold it. I breathe a sigh of relief and was just moving off when he shouted "Stop!". My heart nearly stopped. He then asked me, "Why are your garters?" I turned back and stared blankly at him and then said "What?" He repeated himself and I tried to find something in tte back of my head that would make sense of his question. Try as I might, I continued to stare at him like an idiot. He finally said "Those elastic things that were issued to you just now. They are part of your uniform."

I then recalled vaguelt that there was some elastic things which I could not figure what they were for and decided that they were part of the stationery that was issued. Hey how was I to know that they were part of the unifrm and not something else. Geesh, I wosh someone would explain to that to me before. I hurried back and took them out and asked him whether if it was the thing he wanted. "Yes. So put them on." he replied. I looked back at him and said "Put them on where?" At this point of time, he rolled his eyes and said, "Let me guess. You had no prior exposure to military activities." I nodded and said I have never in my life joined a uniform group unless you counted scouting. He breathed deeply and said he will show me how to dress up in the uniform. In the meantime, I was there haveing my sleeves covering my entire hand, one of my legs of the pants was sticking out of the boots and the laces spewing out. I couldn't help but laugh at my predicament.

Thankfully, the instructor was nice enough not to have lambasted me and patiently showed me how to tie my boots properly, fold my sleeves and tuck the extra lengths of my pants neatly using the gutters. So after that, we had our dinner and I slept on a strange bed in a strange place with strangers. Needless to say, I did not sleep very well and was missing my bed at home.