It is the last round of ICT (In camp training) before MR (Military Reserve). It was a second, and unexpectedly, the last mission of being the enemy team to the Rangers instead of the second last. Have to be grateful to our counterpart, which is another team of our reservist men along us who had volunteered to fight the last mission today as the enemies of the Rangers. The Rangers (trainees) are a general mixture of Commando NSFs and regulars of Commandos plus any other regulars from other units that are 'on' and 'fit' enough to take up the challenge. Ultimately, they want to earn the right to don the ranger tab on their shoulders and be part of the Special Forces. Those who cleared Rangers are deemed to be the tough and respectable nuts. Failure rate seems to be 30% to 50%. The Rangers went through the toughest time during the period of training, to work under stress and fatigue, with combat rations mostly as their meals, and hardly any baths available, not forgetting, any risk of abrasions, blisters, superficial injuries or infections. They are also being verbally abused by the Cadres, as apart of the boot training. But with their slim body features at this phase of training and tender age, things would be fine.

The Rangers would have to cut their hair like a recruit, and remove their ranks to signify humility and 'everyone's equal', so that the Cadres would not recognize the ranks of the individual and able to deal with the Rangers impartially. The Rangers went through the attributes of hardships such as to work under intense stress, both physically and mentally, while the 'mind over body' comes in. At an initial phase of time, they are heard to be well fed, and then the next period of time, all are fed with U.S combat rations, or even limited to no food for them, which test their hunger limits. However, what I felt the whole wing lack of, is the further Research and Development on their battle tactics syllabus. Also I am not sure about is during the Haze, the Rangers are not being issued any N95 marks (whether it is to signify being a tough nut, one do not need the N95 mask, or was it due to the mission requirement that as long as they do not see or hear any physical hazardous from the trainnes, N95 mask should not be used). At least the Commando NSmen have been issued the N95 mask, when next to the Rangers.

As a Commando NSman myself, I see that the Ranger training as almost similar, but most probably added on is the syllabus of the CSLC course and concentrated a little more with demolition and 1 men night TOPO. If I am still updated, all Rangers should at least went through a leadership course or with at least the rank of a 3rd Sergeant and above. As for me, a Commando NS man, it has always been a pride and glory to be part of the Special Forces once in the 2 years, and once again, every ICT. Though it had never meant to be 'men in black' with 'balaclava' in the Special Operations Force or the 'men in green' in light strike vehicle plus 'balaclava' in the Regular Force, it is good enough to be a gurung 'man in green' with camou and jungle hat as an elite basic Commando. Sometimes, I think we could almost shift abit more to 'Rambo kind' of image. In fact, this is what I am, someone who is a fanatic of Special Forces and on milder side, Security. The Commandos formation is the elite unit of SAF. Because trainees have to put in more effort in everything to train harder, run faster, march further, fight harder, and never say die, not forgetting leave no men behind, and foster brotherhood and team work in the detachment. Training includes sea by boat, air by jumps, land by covert operations with limited but heavy loads to survive long range and to conduct convert strikes and to avoid detection and minimize detection.

Upon reflection as an enemy simulation, the urban battle tactics of the Rangers might cause high casualty rate among themselves, if they did not make enough surveillance, and raid by miscalculation. The enemies who has been on their ground and location would be much familiar than the Rangers and the security perimeters and fortress would have been built by then to prevent raids, or at least longer and thicker layers of infiltrations, which the enemy has the time to react. Therefore it takes much more than that to raid a location.

Scenario: 3 Huts in urban area to raid. 1 is the HQ with high value target as hostage but unknown to the Rescuers. Fortress such as con wires installed around the buildings with real time security cameras around. Doors all locked and closed in HQ with highest security. Fake target boards all in front of the closed doors to distract all rescuers. All time prowlers around. Sentry stationed at most point of the building. Inside the building how many sentry, unknown. Best raid time, Dawn.

Accuracy of fatigue level of the Rangers and Enemies, 40%. By dawn, the Rangers would have stood good choice, given the enemy like only the 2 prowlers are moving around. Most enemies would have slept, so it is better to really attack at dawn then late evening during the exercise.

To avoid casualty in the Good Force? Depends on luck, but likely not possible.

My after action reviews of them:

First Team action: First Ranger Team attack unexpected with MG from a dark distance in bushes. Enemy decoyed. Rangers attack in buddy pairs from a few points. Enemy scattered. Enemy MG at a location can fire openly at any available Rangers if sharp enough. Random casualty rates, yes. Stretcher through con wire to get through the front. Rangers Mission success rate. 70% possible, but with 1 to 3 casualties.

Second Team action: Second Ranger Team attack unexpected from a far distance in the second level of building. Most enemies takes cover in building including QRT, while the few waited outside the perimeter. Enemy MG standby. Sound was heard breached only into the HQ building of fortress. Enemies had some times to standby all in the main area upon hearing the noise of the Rangers raiding the back 2 compartments one by one, before coming into the main area, which the enemies had sufficient time to off the lights and take cover in an ideal position to standby for the last door to open to the main area. All Rangers main detachment attack from the same side, and only 1 at another building parallel. Once door opened, enemies all fired from different angles and position into the 1 door. Random casualty rates, yes. Mission success 50% possible, with at least 3 to 5 Rangers casualties shot during the last breach of doors to the main area. In real, the second Rangers team would have sustained high casualty rate with most like the 4th or 5th Rangers putting up the fire fight and retreating.

Lucky all the above firing mentioned was with blanks, so arguably, it will not be accurate enough to determine the success or failure rate until test set, paintball, or live rounds has been used.

Anyway, these are all my personal views from my angle of interpretations at the point of observation.
More development such as the usage of correct breaching and banging tools can be deployed before raiding the rooms, or at least the opening of doors should be more tactical, eg open from the side and the rest take cover at side with one prone in front or a smoke grenade can be deployed before entry, to gather for any shots or responses from enemy.

For Honour and Glory.