Book Review: Boot
Title: Boot
Author: Daniel da Cruz
ISBN: 0-312-90060-0
Fact: Most Singaporean Male between the ages of 16 1/2 and 20 would be heading off to serve National Service (NS). The most terrifying period would be the first phase affectionately known as BMT.
Fact: Most Singaporean Male knows that one of the most decorated and well-known military units in the world is the United States Marine Corps.
Why bring up these two facts?
When you put any group of Singaporean men together, the stories and talk will be about their time in NS. Regardless of their race, unit served, religion, and even when they served. There is a seemingly timeless bond. One thing that ties them together is the BMT phase, where everyone learns the same thing, has the same strict Platoon Sergeant, run the same obstacles ...
In the book "Boot", author Daniel da Cruz takes the readers into a similar world. The world of the equivalent of BMT for the US Marine Corps (USMC). Though the book was written about 1985, and there have since been changes in some of the overall curriculum of boot camp, the rigours and experiences are - as with our local BMT - timeless.
Author da Cruz is himself an ex-Marine and he brings us through the 11-week journey of Platoon 1036 on Parris Island.
In an engaging way, the reader is brought right into the world which the recruit faces. The first thing that hits a Singaporean reader is that the USMC is an all-volunteer force (as opposed to our mandatory/compulsory enlistment). This means that there is a very high level of entry requirement, though on the onset the recruits will probably be of the same "sotongness" as those found on Pulau Tekong.
While we are introduced to the USMC's tough yet refined approach to turning boys into men through da Cruz's narration, we also see letters home by the recruits describing their experience. Some of them are clear indications of their feelings and others show how they have changed throughout. Readers will see the same complaints about 'stupid' policies and descriptions of sabo-kings. Taken with a pinch of salt, it thoroughly brings back memories of BMT.
The Drill Instructor (DI) is the man in charge of making sure that the recruits measure up. One reads how demanding it is to be a DI and even briefly describes DI School. And DIs continually upgrade themselves - for example, one DI gave instructions to
quote:
"shave everything between your ears and your shoulders" only to have a recruit report with eyebrows shaved off. Now he adds "-except your eyebrows."
end quote
One can just imagine the kind of letters Mindef would be receiving if one of our NSMen came back from BMT without any eyebrows.
It is definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who has an interest in military matters. For the guys waiting for BMT, it is an interesting look into what was happening elsewhere. For the gals with friends/boyfriends in BMT, it is an eye-opening read - until we have a local author writing about SAF's BMT.
The book's main focus is of course the initial training of the elite USMC. Yet, in the final chapter, it takes a quick look at how other elite units handle their recruits. To quote: "By the standards of many foreign military leaders, American recruit training - even that of US Marines - is soft."
The comparison is done with the French Foreign Legion, the British Royal Marines, and the Soviet Union/Russian Naval Infantry. It may not be a fair comparison - as these are truly elite units - that are probably closer to the US Rangers or the Airborne Brigades. Though the author probably took these foreign units as a benchmark due to their amphibious capabilities.
Finally, for everyone who has an opinion about the necessity of National Service, the ending of the book gives food for thought:
"The Romans are sure of victory ... for their exercises are battles without bloodshed, and their battles bloody exercises."
Happy Reading!
Endnote:
For those who are interested, there is a VCD titled "On the Inside: Marine Corps Boot Camp" available. This VCD is from a documentary by the Discovery Channel in the USA.
If interested in obtaining a copy of the VCD, please contact LTA(NCC) William Aw at [anwarasw at gmail dot com]. Each VCD will cost SGD2.00.
Author: Daniel da Cruz
ISBN: 0-312-90060-0
Fact: Most Singaporean Male between the ages of 16 1/2 and 20 would be heading off to serve National Service (NS). The most terrifying period would be the first phase affectionately known as BMT.
Fact: Most Singaporean Male knows that one of the most decorated and well-known military units in the world is the United States Marine Corps.
Why bring up these two facts?
When you put any group of Singaporean men together, the stories and talk will be about their time in NS. Regardless of their race, unit served, religion, and even when they served. There is a seemingly timeless bond. One thing that ties them together is the BMT phase, where everyone learns the same thing, has the same strict Platoon Sergeant, run the same obstacles ...
In the book "Boot", author Daniel da Cruz takes the readers into a similar world. The world of the equivalent of BMT for the US Marine Corps (USMC). Though the book was written about 1985, and there have since been changes in some of the overall curriculum of boot camp, the rigours and experiences are - as with our local BMT - timeless.
Author da Cruz is himself an ex-Marine and he brings us through the 11-week journey of Platoon 1036 on Parris Island.
In an engaging way, the reader is brought right into the world which the recruit faces. The first thing that hits a Singaporean reader is that the USMC is an all-volunteer force (as opposed to our mandatory/compulsory enlistment). This means that there is a very high level of entry requirement, though on the onset the recruits will probably be of the same "sotongness" as those found on Pulau Tekong.
While we are introduced to the USMC's tough yet refined approach to turning boys into men through da Cruz's narration, we also see letters home by the recruits describing their experience. Some of them are clear indications of their feelings and others show how they have changed throughout. Readers will see the same complaints about 'stupid' policies and descriptions of sabo-kings. Taken with a pinch of salt, it thoroughly brings back memories of BMT.
The Drill Instructor (DI) is the man in charge of making sure that the recruits measure up. One reads how demanding it is to be a DI and even briefly describes DI School. And DIs continually upgrade themselves - for example, one DI gave instructions to
quote:
"shave everything between your ears and your shoulders" only to have a recruit report with eyebrows shaved off. Now he adds "-except your eyebrows."
end quote
One can just imagine the kind of letters Mindef would be receiving if one of our NSMen came back from BMT without any eyebrows.
It is definitely a worthwhile read for anyone who has an interest in military matters. For the guys waiting for BMT, it is an interesting look into what was happening elsewhere. For the gals with friends/boyfriends in BMT, it is an eye-opening read - until we have a local author writing about SAF's BMT.
The book's main focus is of course the initial training of the elite USMC. Yet, in the final chapter, it takes a quick look at how other elite units handle their recruits. To quote: "By the standards of many foreign military leaders, American recruit training - even that of US Marines - is soft."
The comparison is done with the French Foreign Legion, the British Royal Marines, and the Soviet Union/Russian Naval Infantry. It may not be a fair comparison - as these are truly elite units - that are probably closer to the US Rangers or the Airborne Brigades. Though the author probably took these foreign units as a benchmark due to their amphibious capabilities.
Finally, for everyone who has an opinion about the necessity of National Service, the ending of the book gives food for thought:
"The Romans are sure of victory ... for their exercises are battles without bloodshed, and their battles bloody exercises."
Happy Reading!
Endnote:
For those who are interested, there is a VCD titled "On the Inside: Marine Corps Boot Camp" available. This VCD is from a documentary by the Discovery Channel in the USA.
If interested in obtaining a copy of the VCD, please contact LTA(NCC) William Aw at [anwarasw at gmail dot com]. Each VCD will cost SGD2.00.
posted by Global Citizen at 8:48 AM
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