Sunday, September 22, 2013

Just how well has Singapore’s top grossing film portrayed the BMT experience?


 “Ah Boys To Men” and “Ah Boys To Men 2” were released across the last New Year on 8-Nov-2012 and 1-Feb-2013 and boy has it hit the hearts of many Singaporeans. With an initial budget of S$3 Million, this series has grossed over S$ 14 million in the box office alone, not taking into account of sale of DVDs and movie merchandise.  Led by director Jack Neo, the “Ah Boys To Men” series gives movie goers a peek into the life of a National Servicemen, particularly the Basic Military Training (BMT) phase in which all newly enlisted recruits will have to go through. 

Filmed on main land Singapore as well as Pulau Tekong, where the actual Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) is located, the movie follows a bunch of recruits in Ninja Company’s Platoon 2 Section 2 through their ups and downs as new enlistees. Some public opinions that have followed was that the film, which was produced in conjunction with Ministry of Defence’s 2012 NS45 campaign, seemed like an advertisement for the Singapore Army. So let us take a look at the Hits & Misses of Ah Boys To Men in giving viewers a glimpse of BMT.

HITS!

1.  Enlistment Day

Portrayed very well in Ah Boys To Men was enlistment day, which starts off with that long walk down the jetty at the SAF Ferry Terminal.  Each enlistee is allowed to invite up to 5 friends & family members to Pulau Tekong to attend their enlistment day. Upon arrival at the island, enlistees are briefly separated from their guests to attend a briefing whilst the guests are brought for a tour of the island’s facilities such as the recruit bunks. After that, everyone will gather at the auditorium, and this is when enlistees take the oath of allegiance and from then they will be officially recognized as Recruits. Now, the new recruits will partake lunch with their guests before falling in at the parade square, ready to begin their training proper. This is also the point when they are finally separated from their parents.

Ken Chow walking to the ferry with his family.

Ken's 5 guests, his father, mother, grandmother & sisters.

Visiting the bunk of Platoon 2 Section 2

Taking the Oath of Allegiance

Ken having lunch with his family

Final wave-off for the families & friends


After the separation, recruits will be issued all the gear they need for their training and they will perform a full inventory check at the training sheds. They will then check-in to their respective bunks in preparation for their first milestone in their military experience; the haircut, where each and every recruit will have their locks shaved off. This pretty much wraps it up for enlistment day.

Checking of SAF issued items

Platoon 2 Section 2 Checks-in

Recruit Lo Bang's hair cut session



2.     Army Discipline & Punishments

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is a regimental organization and it has in place measures to instill discipline. Very early on in Ah Boys To Men, the tone is set with the recruits’ very first Stand-by Bed which is a routine and sometimes random check on bunk cleanliness and tidiness.

Stand-By Bed


Another highlight is the identification system for the SAF, which is the 11B; the military version of the Identity Card. This 11B is seen used during the collection of meals and also during booking-in and booking-out from a military facility.

Scanning 11B for lunch

Scanning 11B to book-in


Also pointed out was the SAF-1206 that is a form signed to acknowledge deductions in salary from the result to loss or damages of SAF property, which in the movie was portrayed by the potential damage to a table in the bunk.

If the table's damaged, you'll have to sign 1206!



3.     Basic Military Training Programme

Individual Physical Proficiency Test: A routine test to measure the physical fitness of recruits as they progress through training.

IPPT: Pull-up Station

Standard Obstacle Course: An obstacle course comprising 12 challenges purposed to train recruits to tackle urban terrain and build confidence.

SOC: Low Rope

Hand Grenade Throwing: This thrilling experience may be looked forward to by many, but some recruits still find it a daunting experience.

Live Hand Grenade Throwing

Basic Trainfire Package: A series of range sessions meant to teach a soldier how to shoot a rifle well at targets of various sizes.

Range session in progress

Urban Operations: Addresses the need to verse recruits in environments not just in the jungle, but also in urban environment, this exercise teaches recruits how to move through buildings.

Recruit Lobang leads his section


4.     Military Culture

A key feature in Ah Boys To Men was the introduction of Singapore’s military culture to the public, with the use of colloquialism and army-lingo, the military culture was really brought out. Ah Boys To Men also featured many common practices experienced by recruits such as singing songs while marching to book out, reciting the SAF’s 7 core values before water parades, informal punishments in the form of the defaulter’s parade as wells as rifle raids and artillery drills. Also, the movie subtly disclosed the salary of a recruit, S$480, which is the latest rate after the March-2012 salary review.

Booking Out!

Water Parade

Rifle Raid

Your son got his first pay check, $480!


5.     Milestones in the Life of a Recruit

Some key events during BMT have be well captured and portrayed over the 2 installments of Ah Boys To Men. They are:

Rifle Presentation Ceremony: An event where, as the name goes, recruits are presented their rifles. This signifies the trust and responsibility given to a recruit to defend the nation.

Rifle Presentation Ceremony


Field Camp: A camp where recruits will apply their Individual Field Craft training and practice skills such as tent pitching and group movement. This is also the point where recruits will hit their lowest point in BMT, and they will be presented letters written by their loved ones to keep them motivated.

Field Camp

Recruits reading their letters


Situational Test a.k.a. SIT Test: Covered during the last 2 days of the field camp, recruits are assessed on their leadership qualities to determine future postings in the Army.

SIT Test with guest appearance, Mr Brown


24km Route March: The final event before recruits graduate, this physically and mentally challenging milestone gives recruits time to reflect back on their BMT as they transform from civilians to combat ready soldiers.

Route March: Esplanade Drive


BMT Graduation Ceremony: Also know as the Passing Out Parade (POP)

Celebratory Tossing of Caps

MISSES!

Afterall, Ah Boys To Men is still a movie, a few realities have been tweaked for producers to achieve an all-round cinematic effect. Read on for some of these ‘bloopers’.

During the scene where Recruit Ken Chow was doing room clearing at the FIBUA-area, his section mate enters a cleared room and starts pointing his weapon at the corner of the room. This is not what happens in real life where recruits are trained to survey the room and proceed rather than to stare blankly at the corner of the wall!

Who's that staring at the wall?

Also, at the rest stop during a route march, Recruit Lo Bang attempted to sabotage Recruit Jin and whilst doing so, he sneezed and his magazine dropped off from his rifle. Factually, the magazine is locked in place by a safety lever and would not fall off from the impact of a mere sneeze! The falling magazine which was clearly animated using computer graphics, however, did achieve a rather cinematic effect.

Recruit Lobang sneezes
And his magazine drops!

Recall during the second installment of Ah Boys To Men, Recruit Ken Chow volunteered to join his section mates in their Suspension Of Leave (SOL) punishment? In real life, no commander would allow his recruit to do so as this violates several military laws. However, to bring out the feel of camaraderie in the film, Chow was allowed to join his section mates in their punishment.

CO allows Rec Ken Chow to participate in SOL with his section mates
Many a times in this movie, the commanders were overly lenient and consistently overlooked punishments that needed to be served. Some offences that were let off too leniently include Recruit Ken Chow misplacing his rifle muzzle, Recruit Lo Bang misplacing his magazine and also laughter and movement during room inspections are usually not condoned.

SUMMING UP

Ah Boys To Men has definitely hit the home run with many Singaporeans and the reasons are not surprising. Since National Service is compulsory for all Singaporean males, this duo-logy has touched the hearts of many in and out of the service with its realistic interpretations of the kind of training that goes on at BMT. And to add to the flavor of this comedy, it has taken many lighthearted twists to the story, which seemingly tones down the strictness and rigor of training.

As a final word, Ah Boys To Men gives a very realistic take on not only the technical aspect of BMT but also the softer side such as the relationship problems faced by many trainees during the course of BMT. During the course of the film, the director and producers have taken great care to ensure the life-likeness of the movie and I’d give it 9 out of 10 for its portrayal of BMT, despite some obvious gaps in logic such as falling magazines!



References: 
  1. Ah Boys To Men. Dir. Jack Neo. K & L Media Pte Ltd, 2012. DVD.
  2. Ah Boys To Men 2. Dir. Jack Neo. K & L Media Pte Ltd, 2013. DVD.
  3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ah_Boys_to_Men
  4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ah_Boys_to_Men_2
  5. http://stcommunities.straitstimes.com/movies/2013/02/26/ah-boys-appeal
  6. http://www.mindef.gov.sg/army/bmtgraduation/page/the-journey-begins.html
  7. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/ns-men-pay-raise-april-134607125.html
  8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Singapore_abbreviations
  9. Lucas Wong, personal communication, September 20, 2013
  10. Timothy Teh, personal communication, September 19, 2013