I (26M) ran 1 hour for my IPPT 2.4km run and disgraced all Guardsmen.
For context on how much I’ve changed since ORDing from the army, I used to be really fit and had 6 pack abs during my NS, and my uniforms were all sized XS.
I was from the elite Guards unit, and the gruelling training was more than enough to toughen me up to the absolute zenith of my physical abilities.
Back then I could score Guards gold easily, where the requirement was 90 points for IPPT. I used to max my push ups and sit ups, doing 60 for each station before running 9.30++ for my 2.4km
But after I ORD and left the army, i became so busy with work that I completely stopped exercising. I picked up heavy drinking because my boss at the time kept asking me out to drink, and how do you say no to your boss?
Not surprisingly, I failed my first IPPT after ORD. But I only failed by a few points and I was still considered quite fit. When I went out drinking, girls would still take a second look at me. I wasn’t horribly fat, yet.
But then the pandemic happened soon after, the circuit breaker kicked in and I lost my job because my boss was having cash flow problems.
I started spending all my time looking for a job and had completely no time to exercise, I soon found a job and threw myself completely into my work because during my unemployment period, I exhausted my savings and had to earn it all back.
I didn’t attend IPPT or RT because it was cancelled at the time due to the pandemic and they gave NSMen a waiver, i didn’t get charged for it.
But as I fully immersed myself into my work, my size ballooned from S to XXL. Yes, I jumped 4 sizes and even XXL is now starting to feel a little tight.
So anyway back to my IPPT misadventure, it was about 1 week before reservist and I realised that I haven’t taken my IPPT yet, and this time I wouldn’t have any waiver and would be charged if I didn’t take the test.
So I really bopian, headed down to my old camp and took my IPPT, and really tried my best. The result?
Push ups: 13 (0 points)
Sit ups: 27 (12 points)
2.4km run: 59.59 mins (0 points)
Just to be clear, I didn’t literally run for 1 hour to cover the whole 2.4km, I only ran 2 rounds and just fell out because I was so fat and I was literally feeling dizzy, and they gave me the maximum timing.
I feel disgusted when I look at myself in the mirror now. I don’t have time to exercise and lose weight because it’s all work work work for me, but a huge part of me feels like I disgraced my entire unit of Guardsmen.
Thank you for listening to my story, hope it can inspire you not to walk down the same path as me.
Images source: Reader submission (left) and The Singapore Army Facebook (right)