For the lucky few of us who served in the navy during national service, it’s a bittersweet experience. On one hand, you were introduced to a whole new military culture. (The navy is a small force, which means it feels like a family. Except that this family mans warships and hi-tech weapon systems.)

On the other hand, after you ORDed, it is hard to find people who you could legitimately talk to about your NS experience. You don’t understand all that talk about fire trenches, jungle warfare and how carrying a GPMG around was a total nightmare.

But don't worry navy folks, you're not alone. Here are some things that those army folks will never understand.

1. Learning strange words such as Coxswain, Heads, Rounds

Your army friends came out of NS with a unique language understood by most Singaporean men.

In the navy, you learn an extremely specialised language understood only by seamen, people working in marine offshore, and 3,000 navy personnel. Which is like 0.1% of all Singaporeans.

So, what’s a Coxswain (please don’t say ‘Cock’s Wayne’, it’s more of a cock-son instead)? Well, it’s the senior non-commissioned officer who’s in charge of discipline, and just about everything the officers aren’t.

Otherwise known as the sergeant-major of the navy.

Here are some other terms you might find interesting

Heads: The naval way to say ‘toilet’ or ‘washroom’

Bulkhead: As apt as the name might sound, your friend who sniffs protein powder isn’t a bulkhead. The term refers to the walls a between separate compartments inside a ship.

Rounds: The naval way to say stand-by-bed, or stand-by-area, or stand-by-ship

2. Knowing you have the best uniform of all SAF personnel

Have you guys even seen a navy themed wedding?

3. This sound

The fanciest whistle ever.

4. Wincing painfully when people say “STAR BOARD”

It's pronounced Star-berd. But okay, can't expect normal people to know.

5. Looking at the ocean and knowing what those green and red lights mean

For the uninformed: Green lights go on a vessel’s right side. Red lights on the left. By viewing the position of the lights, sailors can figure out which direction the vessel is facing, especially at night.

6. Being especially familiar with the Singaporean territorial waters

Sultan Shoal, Raffles, St John’s, Sisters Island, ALGAS. When people ask you to go on a cruise around the island you politely say no. Cause see enough already.

7. These otherwise decorative flags

Some venues use this flags as decoration, so people often think they’re just pretty pieces of cloth. But navy personnel know otherwise – at least the important ones. Red bravo flag? Danger. Oscar flag? Man overboard.

Can you still remember the rest of the meanings?

8. That feeling when someone says Bravo Zulu or RTB or Secure

Translation:

Bravo Zulu: Somehow means ‘good job’ or ‘well done’, even though the letters G, J, W, D aren’t even remotely in the term.

RTB: Return to base.

Secure: Kinda like booking out, but better, because navy.

Bonus: Free gangway (you are free to go)

9. Repeatedly having to answer what this white mask thing is

For the last time,it's anti flash gear that protects your face and hands from explosions, because nobody wants to look like Freddy Krueger. No, we don't wear it just to look cooler.

10. Realising how important the sea was until you joined the navy.

To the regular person at East Coast park looking at all the merchant vessels parked offshore, all they see are pretty lights.

By you know better. Your food arrives by sea. Your hi-tech gadgets arrive by sea. The fuel and gas that powers our homes also arrive by sea. As a maritime nation, Singapore's fortunes are greatly dependent on ensuring the sea remains open for everyone's use.

11. Being part of a group of NSmen who have been on actual operations

Not a lot of people understand a lot of the work that's done in the navy.

That's why you might have a harder time explaining to people why you don't have a unit or a battalion. Or how come you never once went outfield during your NS.

But when it came to serving your country, you gave just as much. When you're out there in the sea, you weren't training, you were protecting Singapore from threats that most people don't even know exist.

At the end of the day, you can walk away knowing that you've defended a huge part of Singapore's rice bowl.

Bravo Zulu.

This sponsored post in collaboration with the Republic of Singapore Navy reminds the Mothership.sg’s writer of this his in NS and how awesome it was to sail from Singapore to other countries around the world.