I came across this very important piece by Gerald Nwokocha from the daily Trust newspaper and decided that it will be nice to share this very interesting piece with all prospecting corp members. Enjoy
About this time last year, I was preparing to serve my fatherland. I didn’t have knowledge of most of the things that may be required of me. I spent a whole lot of cash in camp due to unpreparedness. If the prospective Batch ‘C’ corps members heed my advice, they will have no regrets.

Below are the list of things you will likely need:

• 16 Photocopies of statement of result, school ID Card, passport photo and Call-up Letter.

• 10 plain sheets of paper

• A Pen

• Stapler with your own pins

• Glue and Tipex (they say everything at the camp is for sale, you want to save as much as possible)

• A Cardigan

• 4 Round-necked white T-shirts

• 2-3 extra pairs of white shorts (all white)

• A pair of plain white Sneakers

• 2 pairs of white socks

• A pair of slippers

• Disinfectant

• Towel (bring from home. At least you know it’s clean. Anything you buy from Mami market may or may not be secondhand).

• Bed-sheets, pillow cases, and a pillow (bring from home). Again, the peace of knowing what you’re sleeping on is clean. Mattresses will be provided by NYSC. It is best to “double up” the mattresses, as they are about only one to two inches thick.

• Waist bag (try to buy this before you get to the camp, very essential, you have got to put all your money in it and tie it round your waist, because some people won’t come to camp with money and will steal)

• Torchlight and batteries

• Painkillers, medication for malaria, allergies (bring from home. You do not want to make the mistake of getting ill on camp. The camp clinic is a big joke!)

• Sun glasses/face cap: (It can get really sunny, especially in the North, but I’ll advice all to take sun glasses since you’ll be standing on the parade ground for long hours, unless it’s rainy season)

• Mosquito net (my friend says the camp is the headquarters for mosquitoes)

The Camp Commandant (the soldier in charge) and the other soldiers may tell you that if you participate in parade, play volleyball, and do all they want you to do, you will end up being posted to a favorable place for you Primary Assignment - lies! Soldiers haven’t got that power at all, maybe the Camp director and some NYSC officials can help, but not all of them have the powers they claim. Try and always be jovial and make good friends, you never can tell who will help you.

• Have fun but never agree to be manipulated or coerced into anything by anyone.

GERALD NWOKOCHA

Just finished serving as a Batch C Corps member