A MARCH TO REMEMBER

All recruits go through this final 24km route march at the end of their Basic Military Training (BMT), but for the graduating batch of recruits in October, it has greater significance as the venue is moved from Pulau Tekong to the main island.

While most people were sound asleep on the night of 1 Oct, about 3,000 recruits marched through eastern Singapore to their graduation parade, which was to be held in the heart of the city, at the Marina Bay Floating Platform, the next morning.

The recruits passed various sites linked to Singapore's success and were reminded of what they were being trained to protect during BMT.

"Memories of happy times spent here with family and friends came to mind as I walked through East Coast Park," said Recruit (REC) Karthik Rajanindran of Taurus Company.

"It was then that I realised this was what we had been training to protect: our families, loved ones and the country we grew up in," he added. "If we don't do our part to defend them, who will?"

The new venue is also more easily accessible, and can accommodate more family members and friends who want to witness the recruits' graduation, noted Colonel Simon Lim, Commander Basic Military Training Centre.

"This is an important thing they are doing and a fitting finale to their BMT," said Mr Manoj, businessman and father of REC Rishi Manoj Kumar of Scorpion Company. When PIONEER spoke to him at 1am on 2 Oct, he had already been waiting two hours for his son to pass through East Coast Park.

Later along the route at 2am, Mr Chua Kim Lay and family were spotted waiting for the recruits to appear. "Being able to see him walking the fabled 24km gives us a sense of involvement," said Ms Serene Chua, sister of REC Daniel Chua from Leopard Company.

In total, 13 companies graduated on 2 Oct after completing the 24km route march.

8.16pm - The recruits taking a breather along Changi Coast Road, their first rest point.
Specially-cordoned rest areas dot the route every 4km where recruits take short breaks to hydrate.