Me, a snitch (2)

Let me tell you about one of my funny experiences.

A jammer cuts off communications. If it is turned on, it will cut any communication channels within its range. Communication by phones or walkie-talkies is not possible when a jammer is used. It is especially used in convoys, parades and motorcades to prevent remote control mines and bombs. This is just one of the many uses of a jammer.

Due to poor management of SAC’s leaders and low fighting capabilities of soldiers, there were lots of casualties when the battles began. They sent more troops but there was no improvement. Even the commander of the bureau of special operations had to come down and instruct directly.

The higher the ranks, the more they are afraid of dying. So, the superiors use a lot of jammers wherever they go. They bring jammers with them and use them all the time. They even asked if the jammers are on when they had to go to the toilet.

There is a hall upstairs of our command centre. It is some sort of a war room.

The higher-ups gather and give commands from there every day. Second Commanding Officer, Tactical Operations Commander, Battalion Commander, G1, G2, G3, etc. are all in there.

Shoutings and swearings would cover the whole room every day. They were never satisfied. As battles raged day and night, more casualties were unavoidable. Only more and more swearing would come after every casualty report. They ordered a lot and no one could rest even a bit.

One day, out of nowhere, our security team was also chewed out. You see, we have to follow them everywhere. I was like a personal assistant to the Second Commanding Officer. Whenever we go outside, I had to open the jammer. That day, I forgot to do that when we went to the military hospital. I only remembered when we got back. Nothing happened and we arrived back safely. But we got scolded because I forgot to open the jammer once.

I was a bit irritated because of nothing serious. So, I opened the jammer for the whole day.

When I check back on it in the evening, it was heating up. I shut it down immediately in fear of breaking it unintentionally.

Shortly after I turned it off, their war room is filled with shoutings. So I sneaked up and asked what happened. They said there was a battle ongoing for a long time. The uppers were calling and there were lots of casualties on the battlefield. Only now the calls were coming in.

The frontline calls were like, “Aba. We must retreat. A lot of us are hit. We need further orders. If this goes on longer, all of us will be dead. We don’t have artillery cover fire. We can’t call the artillery division.” The uppers were saying “You dog. Why do you guys turn off your phones? We are not that free to call for nothing. There are misfires on our positions and we lost many of them. Damn bloody fools.” “Yes sir. This won’t happen again sir.” and things like that. It was noisy enough to not hear your own thoughts.

Then I understood what happened. It was me. I let the jammer on for the whole time so they can’t communicate with any of us. I was chilling, thinking it is so quiet and peaceful and there were no battles. When I turned the jammer off, all of the calls came in continuously. So, I sneaked back down and blew air on the jammer to cool it off.

No one needs to know it was my doing. I have to be smart.

The point is you don’t look down on anyone. Everyone has their value. Or they have their domain. We have to respect each other’s specialities.

The next thing is karma bites you back instantly. My upper who chew me out had to taste their own medicine instantly. His uppers were threatening him with jail time. He couldn’t even sulk. All he can say was “Yes. Yes sir. I know sir.” That’s karma for you. “You reap what you sow,” as the saying goes. This should be a good moral lesson. As I told you, I was a snitch after all.

Thank you everyone for reading.

Htet Myat

Translated English to Anynoumus