A fortnight ago I was away from civilisation and its luxury for a week, I took part in Ex Pacat Lenggeng, a Counter Insurgency Warfare (CIW) aka Jungle Warfare training exercise.
Ex. Pacat Lenggeng is actually a training exercise designed for the army cadets, with the objective to equip them with knowledge as a platoon commander to command their troops for combat in the jungle, which includes ambush, anti-ambush, insurgents' camp attack, defence position, reccee etc. For airforce cadets like me, since we don't really use these knowledge when we enter service as an airforce engineer, our role in this exercise was to become the enemy, aka insurgents, aka PENGKOM (Pengganas Komunis). Our second role in the exercise, though unwritten, is to become balachis, because we work tirelessly day and night to the whims and fancy of our instructors to make this exercise a successful one.
Our role as the enemy is quite an easy one, because basically our job is to harrass and make life out of the army cadets. And since we are not evaluated for this exercise unlike the army cadets, our life in this exercise is more relaxed and we are not under pressure to perform. Besides that, an extra priviledge as the enemy is that we are allowed to bring extra ration such as maggi, campbell's soup, instant porridge etc, besides the standard-issue combat rations. Uhm-mmm, sipping a cup of instant Nescafe Gold in the morning in the jungle taste extra good!
Why the name Pacat Lenggeng? Because the exercise is held at the Lenggeng Forest Reserve, Negeri Sembilan and supposedly there are many leeches (pacat) there. However. we are lucky because the our camp site that we were designated has got no leeches as it is situated by a hillslope and near a water stream. The water stream is a real bonus because the water is cool and crystal clear, so using it for cooking, bathing and poo-poo is no problem at all.
At the campsite, each of us set up our own individual hammock, and a common area for cooking, eating and chit-chatting. All in all, this exercise was a great experience for us and the esprit de corp among the airforce cadets has improved greatly.
Morning cuppa.
Resuscitating and foot stomping at the same time.
By the waterfalls
Eating bullets for breakfast.
Night guard duties.
Green is in!
End of exercise.
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