COS

This is a true account of a Soldier in 3 Sig. All names, except mine have been changed to protect the identity and dignity(if they have any) of the people involved.

I was on duty last Sunday as COS (No. It is not the differentiated form of Sinx. It is the abbreviated form of the title, Company Orderly Sergeant). This meant I was in-charge of the people who were booking in camp and the people who were not, presumably those who report sick on Sunday. These people who take advantage of the system to get a extra long weekend are given the appointment Chao Gengs. This is the story of one of them.

*flash back to 080105, Sunday, 7.30p.m*

I looked at my watch and saw that - gasp - I have wasted 12 hours of my weekend sitting behind a desk and answering phone calls. I reminded myself that should I get a secretary next time, I would treat her well.

Now answering phone calls are a very sensitive issue. COSs have been known to be given extras( read - punishment) for not answering phone calls within 3 rings. Now how absurb is that? Just as I was pondering if I would become one of them, the phone rang.And I thought The Ring was scary.

"Evening. Command Comms COS."

"Hello(in a strained voice with coughs in the background)," said the faceless person on the other side of the line which I feared was a distant relative of Sadako back to haunt her brother who died serving his national service. I almost expected him to crawl out of the telephone receiver.

Outside the shadows did a kind of ritual death dance. The trees shook their leaves, a uncharacteristic goodbye to the light and a welcome to the darkness which hung a few minutes into the future. I thought I was staring death in its face.

" Daniel ah. *Maximus here. I won't be booking tonight because i have the flu. Say could you do me a favour?"

Being the ultra-nice guy that I am, I asked what the favour was.

"Just help out in Kevin's DSD because they are one-man down. Can?"

That did not sound too difficult and before I knew it, I had burped out "Yes".

I went about doing my routine duties after the call and a few of my platoon mates stopped to chat as they booked in a little later, at about 10p.m.

" Hey Daniel. I heard from Captain Tan that you taking over Maximus is it?"

I thought about it for a while and answered relunctantly"Yes."

I knew then I had been had. I was only suppose to , in his own words, help out , not replace him entirely. To think that he actually said I agreed to replace him just made me feel cheated.

The exercise started on Tuesday and true to my word I help Kevin out in his detachment albeit only for a short period of time.

On Wednesday, Maximus came back at night, and then only because his application for an off the next day was denied. He walked as though plagued by cancer into the tentage where our superiors were in and coughed to announce his presence.

" Maximus. You so sick better go back bunk and rest ah."Our superior, 2nd Sergeant *Andy commented.

" No. I want to help Kevin out."

" Better go rest ah. Tomorrow then help lor."

" Don't want.I want to help Kevin." Maximus trudged out of the tent, a soldier ill to the bones but determined to fight with his fellow platoon mates to the end.

I almopst expected the lower strings of an orchestra to accompany his gait as he spoke his speech.

"I see in your eyes the same fear that will take the heart of me."

"A day may come, where the courage of men fail."

"where we break all bonds of fellowship.A day of shattered bones and broken homes, but it is not this day. This day,( dramatic pause) We fight!"

For those not in the know, the speech was adapted from the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King when King Aragorn goes to fight the mighty Army of Sauron. Obviously Maximas was no King Aragorn.

Kevin said that Maximus never came to help him out. Some of my platoon mates saw him returning to his bunk after that short conversation.

The next morning as we ate our breakfast in our long 4, I overheard one of his conversations with my fellow platoon mates. He of course was in admin, eye brows furrowed, seemingly concentrating on maintaining them that way.

" Who is at the Exercise ah?" ( cough cough) He asked out of mock concern.

"Everone except you," came the short and sweet reply which I am sure was dripping with distain.

" Is Captain Tan there?" Maximus probed, his cough suddenly cured.

"No."

And my platoon mate,wishing that he had no part to play in the conspiracy walked away, positively traumatised by the entire experience.

He called LT *Suzy a stand-in for CPT Tan for permission to report sick shortly after that. He was denied the request. Maximus was given an Attend-C for two days( read go home and rest) when he reported sick that day. He claimed the COS forced him to report sick. We knew better.

Why stoop to such extents to Chao Geng? I understand the rationale but even if you Chao Geng at the very least do it with integrity. Don't lie just to get into your superior's good books. If you want to Chao Geng why think of what your superior thinks of you? Why even bother? It is interesting how low people will go to maintain their supposedly aood reputation. I say, to hell with it. Why put on a facade? 2 years is a long time for you to pretend to be someone you are not. Go be yourself.

I am sorely disappointed.