Been some time since my last post. Got home early today as I went for a medical appointment at SGH. It was just to see one of the specialists at the Specialists Outpatient Clinic. The doctor was nice and congenial, unlike the camp MOs who are often haughty and sarcastic.

He prescribed me with some strong painkillers. So strong that the maximum dosage per day is 2 tablets and there must be a 4 hour interval between each dosage. I hope that works.

All the fees were paid for. $21 for the consultation and an unknown amount for the medicine. I guess this is the time when it pays to be in the SAF. Perhaps the only time.

Training Development Section, TDS, the place I'm attached to now is not a bad place to work in. I suppose it's the best among the different departments in the HQ block. I learnt a new thing while I was there, i.e. OOC hold more power than anyone else in the HQ.

Yes, it is true that the CO can say a few words and you get endless extras but that is authority, not power. Power stems from the nature of your work and not position. Let's take those guys at AO for instance. They have access to everyone's dockets. I overheard one of them saying, "All I need to do is to take out all his medical certificates! So, he better not piss me off."

Without his MCs to prove his absence, the person in question is rendered effectively AWOL. I took great care in not getting in that guy's way. He may be only an OOC and a Private but his power far exceeds mine, or anyone else ranking above him.

It's really the low-ranking staff and OOCs who run the whole HQ. Imagine a day without us. Would the CO know where to get his papers? Will the instructors know where to get their lesson plans? How about the mess? Who will be there to serve and clean up? We are the unsung heroes who form the bulk to the driving force and yet we are treated like dirt. I demand more recognition!