HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY
Mei, you have been my wonderful daughter. You have given daddy a lot of happiness and satisfaction watching you grow up and make my life truly meaningful.
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Midshipman School
3 months of BMT passed quickly. 40 of us were selected for the Midshipman School, the equivalent of the OCS in the army. The entire training was planned for 15 months. 9 months was for the academic portions. The other 6 months were for attachment to various RSN ships for on the job training. A 3 weeks Outward Bound Course was sandwiched in between. The highlight of the training was a 2 months sea cruise. The 40 of us was divided in 4 divisions, Dragon, Wolf, Tiger and Lion, All were names of existing Navy’s Missile Gun Boats. I was in Tiger Division.
Mei, you have been my wonderful daughter. You have given daddy a lot of happiness and satisfaction watching you grow up and make my life truly meaningful.
--------------------The blog continues-------------------------------------
Midshipman School
3 months of BMT passed quickly. 40 of us were selected for the Midshipman School, the equivalent of the OCS in the army. The entire training was planned for 15 months. 9 months was for the academic portions. The other 6 months were for attachment to various RSN ships for on the job training. A 3 weeks Outward Bound Course was sandwiched in between. The highlight of the training was a 2 months sea cruise. The 40 of us was divided in 4 divisions, Dragon, Wolf, Tiger and Lion, All were names of existing Navy’s Missile Gun Boats. I was in Tiger Division.
Group photo of Wolf and Tiger Divisions
Midshipman School was staffed by the best officers and NCOs. There were a few expatriate trainers from other navies. They were supposed to impart knowledge as well as skills. As this was the very first course of naval officers to be trained locally, the government would let anything to chance.
Midshipman School was staffed by the best officers and NCOs. There were a few expatriate trainers from other navies. They were supposed to impart knowledge as well as skills. As this was the very first course of naval officers to be trained locally, the government would let anything to chance.
Midshipman School Course No 1. 1975School RSM was like a father
Inche Wee was our RSM. He was responsible for the cleanliness and orderliness of the camp. He was ultimately responsible for all the disciplinary issues. Though he shouted and screamed a lot, he was more a fatherly figure in our eyes. We could talk to him anytime and he also used to tease us.
Course Subjects
The subjects include seamanship, communication, gunnery, radar and navigation. Of all these, navigation was a major subject as we need to understand celestial navigation, the use of stars, sun and moon for ocean navigation. These involved a lot of mathematical computations and calculations extracted from published nautical almanacs. Those were the days before GPS.
Inche Wee was our RSM. He was responsible for the cleanliness and orderliness of the camp. He was ultimately responsible for all the disciplinary issues. Though he shouted and screamed a lot, he was more a fatherly figure in our eyes. We could talk to him anytime and he also used to tease us.
Course Subjects
The subjects include seamanship, communication, gunnery, radar and navigation. Of all these, navigation was a major subject as we need to understand celestial navigation, the use of stars, sun and moon for ocean navigation. These involved a lot of mathematical computations and calculations extracted from published nautical almanacs. Those were the days before GPS.
An articles from a local newspaper.Rather easy life
The routine was not very tough. We woke up 5.30 am every morning. This was followed by 5BX and breakfast. Then there was the usual flag raising ceremony. Each day one cadet was appointed as OOD, Officer of the Day, to take charge of the entire group. Classroom work started at 8am and finish by 5pm in the evening. Evening time was normally reserved for homework. The routine was just like school. On weekend we were allowed to go home.
The routine was not very tough. We woke up 5.30 am every morning. This was followed by 5BX and breakfast. Then there was the usual flag raising ceremony. Each day one cadet was appointed as OOD, Officer of the Day, to take charge of the entire group. Classroom work started at 8am and finish by 5pm in the evening. Evening time was normally reserved for homework. The routine was just like school. On weekend we were allowed to go home.
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