I am so happy that I passed my IPPT (Individual Physical Proficiency Test) with a silver award! Let me walk you through what happened when I arrived at the army camp. So as blur as I was, I went into the camp looking for the place I needed to register myself. After that, I just did my warm up waiting for the test to start. I was very nervous before reaching the camp. But once I was there, the nervous feeling subsided. Probably because I did not want to let the thoughts overwhelm my mind. So after the briefing, the test started.

Shuttle Run (4 x 10m): The biggest fear of me for this station was that I fail to pick up the wooden blocks. However since this was electronic system, the worry became if the system will sense that I touched the metal bar. Thankfully all went well for this station. I never fear this station itself whether can I pass or not. 9.2 seconds was excellent! After I finished, some people looked at me as if giving me the look like, “How you run so fast?”

Sit Up: No-problem station for me. In fact when it was done to 10 seconds and I realised I achieved the maximum points, I did not want to do anymore.

Broad Jump: Now this was the biggest worrying station for me of the 4 static stations. I was never good in this station even back in my army days. We were given two attempts. On my first attempt, the system showed “Fault Jump”. So I knew I had to make good my second jump. On my second attempt, I jumped only 216cm! That was not enough to meet the minimum for a silver award that I was aiming for. But I looked at the system again and it apparently did not count my fault jump as an attempt. So I had one last chance! *Bend my knees; swinging my arms; aiming straight ahead; One…Two…Three..; JUMP!* When I saw 221cm, it was a sign of relief! I cleared this station with the score needed to be on track for my silver award.

Chin Up: When I saw the bar so high up, I wondered if I could even reach it. Glad there was an extra step by the side for me to reach it. So up and pulled I went. I stopped at 10 pulls. And when I realised could have just pull one more, which I can, I would have score one more point. But anyway it was still okay for silver award.

Then finally…

2.4KM Run: Besides the broad jump, this was the final run that I knew I am going to struggle with. Frankly, when I saw that I needed a timing of 12 minutes and below to get my silver, I thought it was impossible. Never have I run so fast before. 6 laps around the track, means I have to run an average of 2 minutes per round to get my silver. I was the first three runners to be flag off. Already the computer system gave me problems. It failed to sense my censor in my tag. But I was told to continue to run. So as I run through each lap, I had a +1 lap more than what I was supposed to run. That was mentally draining for me even though I know I just needed 6 laps. But it always felt I needed to run one more. I have always been running on treadmill, and running on track is so different! The wind was blowing strong in my wind, against me. And my throat was so dry. Many times my mind told me to walk. But I knew the moment I walk; I will find it hard to meet the timing. So I ran and jog non-stop for all 6 laps. On my final lap, I burst my last 100m towards the finishing line. I am glad I did because my final timing was 11:45 minutes. Barely 15 seconds longer and I will have failed to get my silver award. But when I finished, I did not know my timing as yet.

I went back to return my tag and collect my final results (seen in the photo), I am so happy I saw “SILVER”! With the silver award, means the army will give me $200 as incentive reward! All the training in the gym, and mostly importantly the constant playing of basketball has definitely helped me to achieve my silver award. First person I called was Louis! Thanks to Louis who got me addicted to basketball. And to Brittany and Rebecca who were supporting me. Most importantly, God who made it possible for me! I am now all sore up but it is all worth it! :)