Making The Cut: Guards Conversion Course

Making The Cut: Guards Conversion Course
Country of origin	Singapore
No. of episodes	7 episodes
Production
Production location(s)	Bedok Camp
Running time	6 to 8 minutes
Release
Original network	YouTube
Original release	December 28, 2011 – February 09, 2012
External links
Website

Making The Cut: Guards Conversion Course is a Singaporean documentary released in 2011. Filmed at the Bedok Camp. 122 soldiers from all walks of life attempt to survive the toughest challenge in 3 weeks to get the Guardsman tab. 7 episodes were released. The first episode airs on 28 December 2011 on YouTube, subsequent episodes were released on Every Thursday, each clip lasted for 6 to 8 minutes.

The series was filmed by Lance Corporal (LCP) Jake Nam, a Full-Time National Serviceman from DMC. Mano Mahendran serves as narrator of the show.

Plot

To earn the Guardsman tab, all personals must endure this 3 weeks compulsory training, all 122 personals from all walks of life, from an active regular to a NSF's 3SG, although not all will survive the training, but the toughest one will then be given the final honour and can be a highly trained specialised troopers who are always "Ready to Strike".

The Trainees

Below are the cast in this documentary:

Names

• 2LT Ng Li Bing - Guardsman
• 2LT Karan Kapoor - Guardsman
• 3SG Elamaran - Guardsman
• 3SG Alvin Lim - Guardsman
• 3SG Syahrul Nizam - Guardsman
• 3SG Chester Lim - Guardsman
• 3SG Hari Krishnan - Guardsman
• 3SG Tan Jun Wen - Guardsman

Their Trainers

• SLTC Clifford Keong - Commander, 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade
• MAJ Fredie Tan - Commanding Officer
• 1WO Saravanan - Course Commander and Regimental Sergeant Major
• 3WO Johan Bin Kassim - Sergeant Major
• 1SG Devandran - Cadre/Trainer
• 1SG Alvin Thomas - Cadre/Trainer

Episodes

Episode No.	Episode Title	Original air date
1	"Making The Cut Part 1"	December 28, 2011
Taking 15,000 quick steps in full battle order that weighs almost 30kg is anything but easy. This is just one of the key tasks every trainee must pass to go to the next level of training in this intensive and tough 3-week Guards Conversion Course. Making the Cut looks at 122 full-time national servicemen and regulars from various SAF units, coming together for a single purpose, to attain the coveted khaki beret and to be part of the Guards family. In this first episode, watch how the Guardsmen trainees adapt to the high standards of discipline and training required of every Guardsman and their introduction to the dreaded 12km fast march. And watch how some try and overcome their fear of heights when they're introduced to cliff rappelling, every Guardsmen's staple of operations.
2	"Making The Cut Part 2"	January 05, 2012
They take blisters, abrasions and pain in their strides as they race against time to complete the 12km fast march in under 108 minutes. This is their final test. There is no second chance and no room for failure. Watch how these trainees push themselves hard to pass this test of endurance which is one of the key tasks they must complete to obtain the coveted Guards tab. Also in this episode, the trainees are introduced to tower rappelling, a feat not for the faint hearted. While some breeze through it, others try hard to overcome their fear of heights.
3	"Making The Cut Part 3"	January 12, 2012
The strong downwash from the helicopter rotors adds to the adrenaline rush. There is no margin for error as the Guardsmen trainees conduct one last safety check before they rope down from the Super Puma helicopter hovering about eight storeys high. Check out how the soldiers execute their first helicopter live descent. As the sun sets, the soldiers look forward to a well-deserved night out of Bedok Camp, especially after the rigorous and strenuous training. Will they get to book out or is there something else in store?
4	"Making The Cut Part 4"	January 19, 2012
The soldiers emerge from a thick plume of smoke with a cacophony of gunfire as they aggressively attempt to take out "enemies" holed up in a series of buildings. Amid heavy gunfire, smoke grenades and the relentless rain, things don't really go according to plan and the soldiers desperately try to find their footing to synergise their attacks. One thing's for sure - they're determined not to repeat the same mistakes twice.
5	"Rite Of Passage Part 1"	January 26, 2012
Their bodies tell them to stop but their minds are in overdrive as the Guardsmen trainees are given task after task, all to be completed within a given time limit. The Rite of Passage pushes the limits of every Guardsman trainee’s mental and physical endurance. Will the soldiers' spirit of camaraderie and their will to overcome bring them closer to donning the coveted khaki beret?
6	"Rite Of Passage Part 2"	February 02, 2012
Lasers from the SAR21 assault rifles pierce through the darkness like a scene from an ominous science fiction movie. The air is filled with the smell of gunpowder and smoke from grenades. And amid these, the sweet smell of success, as the Guardsmen trainees take out the well-concealed "enemies", one by one, in a dilapidated building. As the firefight comes to a close, it seems to signal the end of their mission. Or is there something more in store?
7	"Rite Of Passage Part 3 (Finale!)"	February 09, 2012
There seems to be no end in sight. For these soldiers, it's one mission, after another and they haven't slept for over 60 hours. And to add to the chaos and confusion, their tasks seem insurmountable and almost impossible to achieve. With just hours away from the Guards Graduation Ceremony, the soldiers put mind over matter and push themselves to their limits to make the cut and earn the right to be called Guardsmen.

External links

• Official website