So it's not a new issue as standards in the army have been improving steadily.

To the delight of new recruits, of course. I used to lug this humongous duffel, much like a punching bag, in and out of camp.

Now I pull a trolley bag into camp for reservist duties as if going on vacation and wolf down scrumptious chicken thighs for lunch.

In light of the recent deaths, people have started pointing fingers at the training standards and medical faculty of the SAF.

Complaints about how training is too tough for our servicemen is ridiculous.

These men are supposed to protect the country - I would expect a certain level of toughness from them.

However, my main gripe is with the Physical Employment Status (PES) followed by a Land Deployability Code (L-Code) that is assigned to each pre-enlistee after a medical screening.

In my opinion, it does not allow for the varied differences in each of us.

As I went through the medical screening before enlistment, which included a rather traumatic procedure that involved coughing with my shorts around my ankles - don't ask - the medical personnel gave me a PES.

And I came out feeling like a cow being branded.

Incidentally, I received PES A, which basically meant I was fit for all operational vocations.

In cow terms, I was prime meat with the finest cut. And so we were all grouped indiscriminately, all PES As taking part in the same training, although some were not as fit as others.

Although the majority of us can be grouped into such broad categories, there are bound to be some who just can't. What works for one might not work for the other.

If anything, these categories should be re-evaluated.

The PES system and its indiscriminate nature needs to be changed. Perhaps a review or expansion of the PES and L-Code to accommodate a certain level of individuality is needed. Moo. Enough said.

However, we cannot expect the SAF to cater to everyone's individual needs.

It's just not practical nor feasible. As a fitness nut, I know everybody has a breaking point. I met mine back in 2004 while finishing my 2.4km run on Pulau Tekong.

It was my final IPPT (Individual Physical Proficiency Test) run. My deployment and entire future in the SAF depended on it. Heart pounding in my ears and lungs burning, I collapsed at the finish line wondering if I would survive this.

After the run, my buddy leant over my prone form and told me I was just a second away from gold.

Talk about being kicked when you're down.

I learnt then that no matter how much I pushed myself, I should always listen to my body and stop when it tells me to. I urge everyone to do the same.

And then there is fate. I believe that everything that happens is meant to be and cannot be avoided.

I take care of my body rather religiously, working out and generally avoiding anything sweet. Nevertheless, I got downgraded to PES C due to an ankle injury sustained outside of camp.

So, anything can happen at any time. Let us not play the blame game. Take whatever precautions we deem necessary and then resign ourselves to fate.


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